Drug Test Required For Using an E-Cig?????

[bassthumper]

Personally I agree, but it's probably not worth it. It's unfortunate because they have the guy by the throat. If you exercise your personal right and tell them it's none of there business, they can just come back and say your being suspicious. They'll probably go into company policy and ban there use on the grounds, and make the guys work environment miserable.

I dunno. If it were me, I could care less about what the safety inspector thought of me. I'm trying to quit smoking. He did what he was asked, and anything else is just plain STUPID. it would take TWO MINUTES TOPS to find out what an ecig is online. Show me a computer, and then I'll show you the door.

 

[technomeek]

This is ridiculous. I've never even heard of this kind of harassment.

 

[bjannr]

My shift supervisor allows us to vape while working. I do work the midnight shift, and none of the other employees have had a problem with it as of yet. As a matter of fact most will sample some of my flavors every now and then. One morning the head of our department came in early and asked me where the smoke was coming from. I showed him my PV, and expected him to tell me it wasn't allowed. That was two months ago and we are still vaping. If I worked in the main plant, I do not think it would be allowed. We are a tobacco free company and I don't know where they would draw the line.

 

[Darkwitless]

I showed a friend who is a cop my pink eGo - he admitted that if he saw me vaping it at stop light he'd probably pull me over for a look-see. They've seen so many exotic pipes for illegal drugs that he'd want to check it out. It's made me think twice about carrying my standard 3ml travel bottles of juice when I'm out and about. They're unmarked because I know what's in them - but to someone else, they're just tiny bottles with liquid. They could be anything.

I wonder if he pointed him to a vendor website if it would help?

 

[Frick]

I can tell a lot of people in this thread must either own their own business, or have a very secure work position.

On harassment: the safety inspector is in CYA mode. If you were standing there puffing on a one-hitter, he'd be remiss if he didn't notice and do something about it. His job would be on the line if management walked by and saw it, and he wasn't aware of it. He's responsible for the safety of the employees, and if a guy is standing there getting high, he'd better put a stop to it or his job is no more. He has a responsibility as safety inspector to verify what it is you're 'smoking'. To him, if it's not a cigarette/cigar/pipe, you need to explain what exactly it is, and why you should be allowed to 'smoke' it in the building, or he's not doing his job.

Does anyone not realize how precarious the job market is? They'd rather fire you quick for making a stink about them questioning what exactly you were doing, and replace you the next day than have a perceived safety issue on their hands.

On suing them: good luck finding a lawyer that would touch that case with a very long pole. As the employee, you have zero damages to claim. The SI hasn't harmed you or your livelihood, and you're not out any money = no damages. Harassment has a relatively narrow definition in the eyes of the law. Asking you for proof of what exactly you're 'smoking' on company property doesn't constitute harassment.

I own a company, and I employ drivers. They are drug tested annually, for their CDL licenses. If I saw one of them vaping, and I was unaware of e-cigarettes, I'd definitely want some verification what exactly he's consuming.

And "look it up online" is full of pitfalls. There are plenty of pro-vaping sites, and plenty of anti-vaping as well. He might stumble on an FDA warning and ban vaping outright.

 

[deusXmchna]

1) Here's one of the best scienc-ey papers I've found to date, it's a study by Ruyan: http://www.healthnz.co.nz/RuyanCartridgeReport30-Oct-08.pdf
I'd hand this over. If he understands it, great, it covers the bases of the basics. If he doesn't understand, great, technobabble
is your friend.

2) The MJ community has been using e-vapers widely for longer than we have. Admittedly the newer ones look like ours. I could see some concern... but not multiple tests concern.

3) It's part of working for a company. They say "pee", you say "How high, sir?!"... or something to that effect.
Now, if he got fired or something, then there would certainly be cause for legal intervention.

 

[757girl]

If I were in the situation, I would provide documentation and a sample of juice. I wouldn't do a drug test unless he made the others do it as well. The safety inspector needs to do some research on e-cigs.

 

[yoyoma_mda]

can we use the inspectors studies against the FDA's findings? it probably cost the company a few hundred bucks and probably yielded truly accurate findings as opposed to the FDA's multi-million dollar smear campaign

 

[SeanRP]

I can tell a lot of people in this thread must either own their own business, or have a very secure work position.

On harassment: the safety inspector is in CYA mode. If you were standing there puffing on a one-hitter, he'd be remiss if he didn't notice and do something about it. His job would be on the line if management walked by and saw it, and he wasn't aware of it. He's responsible for the safety of the employees, and if a guy is standing there getting high, he'd better put a stop to it or his job is no more. He has a responsibility as safety inspector to verify what it is you're 'smoking'. To him, if it's not a cigarette/cigar/pipe, you need to explain what exactly it is, and why you should be allowed to 'smoke' it in the building, or he's not doing his job.

Does anyone not realize how precarious the job market is? They'd rather fire you quick for making a stink about them questioning what exactly you were doing, and replace you the next day than have a perceived safety issue on their hands.

On suing them: good luck finding a lawyer that would touch that case with a very long pole. As the employee, you have zero damages to claim. The SI hasn't harmed you or your livelihood, and you're not out any money = no damages. Harassment has a relatively narrow definition in the eyes of the law. Asking you for proof of what exactly you're 'smoking' on company property doesn't constitute harassment.

I own a company, and I employ drivers. They are drug tested annually, for their CDL licenses. If I saw one of them vaping, and I was unaware of e-cigarettes, I'd definitely want some verification what exactly he's consuming.

And "look it up online" is full of pitfalls. There are plenty of pro-vaping sites, and plenty of anti-vaping as well. He might stumble on an FDA warning and ban vaping outright.

I've stated the same thing about how he was doing the right thing as far keeping his job, so i won't go into that.

The problem I have with what this particular safety inspector / company policy is the 3 drug tests over a two week period, plus the added "bonus" of being asked to produce evidence that he isn't, in fact, doing anything wrong. If i tried doing that to somebody in the shop I work for now, the union would have a field day with my ....

The other thing, the OP stated that he was in a designated smoking area with other employees. It's not like the guy was sitting at his machine and puffing away on it.

 

[STLDiceDealer]

Funny thing, I was just telling my girlfriend how I plan to try and switch any and every person I work with that smokes over to PV's (2 tonight alone!). She commented that she feels, as soon as I start getting more and more people to switch (and vaping indoors), the company would probably outlaw the use of PV's indoors, so we'd be banished back outside lol.

 

[afrazier5]

While I agree with the comments of harassment you also need to understand the industry and their position on safety. I for one, work in an industry that will result in injury and death if safety is not taken as paramount. The Safety Inspector was simply doing the job to protect the interests of the company and ultimately other staff. All companies have HR rules that state random drug tests can and will be issued if they feel it is necessary. When I started vaping (after the 1 week mark) I tracked down my safety manager and pulled him into a conference room to talk to him about it. I did the same with other managers in the building that knew I was a smoker. It was more to brag and be proud about the switch but also to let them know what it was.

I also do not and will not vape at my desk but will go into the men's room stall and have a seat while vaping and playing a game on my iTouch. There is going to be a perception of smoking for years and I feel if we continue to push this, it will cause more problems except for our own selfish desires.

My recommendation to you is to educate your HR and Safety departments on the products. Let them see it, touch it, heck even use it.