drug/alcohol tests

[mnwanabe]

ok so i know wheres been a few questions about this already and no, i am not looking for tips on how to pass one and no i do not do any sort of illegal drugs but id like to know how often i have to pee in a cup or have some of my my hair pulled out :P like i know it happens randomly at college but how does it work while on your ship? is it like every few weeks? or is it not common?

thanks

[Brimbo]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

Its always a urine sample, hair samples are far to expensive to be carried out on that scale It totally depends on your company, SSTG does testing once in every never, ive just had my 2nd test and ive been in phase 3 for 2 months now,Clyde is a bit more frequent, and companies such as bibby, trinity house etc. are usually less often, a lot of cadets i know haven't been tested at all during there cadetship!

[chris]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

I've not had one with TH, but the ship I'm going on requires one, getting it on Wednesday

[jsamp]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

What about blood tests? Do different colleges not have different drug testing policies?

Cheers

Joe

[AlternativeNavs]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

What about blood tests? Do different colleges not have different drug testing policies?

Cheers

Joe

It mainly down to the sponsoring company to dictate as to what method they prefer. You will almost always find urine samples being the one most widely used.

As for on-board ship. The captain may have a breath test monitoring kit.

[Chiefy]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

I would suggest every ship now a days carries some sort of testing kit for alcohol, whether it be swabs from the mouth or a breath in the bag / breath machine or pee in a cup.

Most companies go for pee in the cup in the first instance, they also take 2 samples (well actually split the one sampl into 2) so if the first is worrying them they can re-test on the second, should they both prove posative, then they may will escalate the testing, assuming what they find isnt bad enough to warrant instant dismisal.

Blood test may be asked for on your medical depending who you work for and what ships you are on, some chemical tankers carry cargos where the body has an upper tollerance limit that never recovers, ie death at say 400ppm, you are tested at 200ppm you stay that way for life, therefore you only have another 200ppm to play with for life. They may also tox-screen at the same time BUT the doctor will tell you what the sample is for and how it is to be used / tested.

Simple answer dont put your self in a position where you have any doubt what so ever about whether you can pass a drug test, as for the drink test, we all like a scoop or 9, just have to be sensible and think ahead. really it isnt rocket science

[GuinnessMan]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

Its actually a requirement that all ships carry a breathlyser now. If you don't have one then vetting inspectors will give you remarks for it and PSC might pull you for it.

The major oil players now demand that all companies that manage their vessels have a fixed zero alcohol policy. They have a sort of ranking system, and if you allow alcohol on your vessel's then you really do fall down in the rankings.

When it comes to drug testing, a lot of companies now use outside contractors. They won't inform the ship or the office, they will just turn up at the vessel and initiate a drug test. Usually through urine analysis and they are incredibly strict so if you are a fan of the illegal drugs, be warned.

[chris]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

I've got a test on Wednesday. I took a lot of strong painkillers (Tramadol, Ketanol) for a ski injury about a year ago. I presume I just inform them of that before hand in case they show up in my sample.

[Chiefy]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

If they are still in you wee a year later I'd be more worried.

However relax when you take the test they tell you how long back to list what you have taken, I seem to think 7-14 days and they want the chemical name and not the trade name (especially if test taken outside of uk) So you tell them, then if they find it there "may be" qustions BUT in this instance you will have covering paperwork so it's all good (apart from why are they in your system a year later )

Remember we are all human and taking Nurofen / Paracetamol / Byndryl / Night Nurse / Anti-hystamines are are normal things, you tell just tell them, oh and keep away from anything that has an (il)leagal classification

[Jenn]

Re: drug/alcohol tests

im on a product tanker at the moment and we get breathalysed once a month