‘Strong concerns around the potential use of alcohol or drugs while driving’ have emerged in a report into the safety of City of Edinburgh Council’s heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
In May, councillors requested an audit into the fleet’s safety after an incident in Edinburgh involving a commercial HGV resulted in the death of a child.
The audit has provided only ‘limited assurance’ on the management of risks within the council’s HGV fleet.
According to the audit report, discussions with fleet and operational services revealed the concerns about potential drug and alcohol use.
It also raises concerns that there are no ‘evidence-based procedures’, such as random or ‘with cause’ testing, for managers to deal with suspected instances.
The report states: ‘Managers expressed reservations to allege colleagues for alcohol/drugs consumption at work, based only on suspected behaviours, and they are unable to take concrete actions where the concerned colleagues deny the consumption.’
The authority’s internal audit has recommended that alcohol and drug testing is reconsidered after the policy and sustainability committee decided last year that ‘testing at work was invasive and unnecessary.’
At that time, the committee also agreed that ‘drug and alcohol testing would not ever be reviewed unless a motion requesting such a review was passed at full council or there was a legal requirement to do so’.
