A British train technician working in safety for Network Rail was let go in 2022 after drinking a South American herbal tea caused him to fail a drug test at work. Paul Glenholmes had purchased “Inka tea” in 2020 from a market stall to assist with digestive problems related to his medication. He was unaware the tea contained coca leaves, which possess cocaine in them.
Several weeks after regularly consuming the tea, Mr. Glenholmes underwent a drug screening and tested positive for benzoylecgonine – a byproduct signalling cocaine use. He was promptly suspended pending further inquiry per Network Rail’s strict controlled substance rules.
Upon researching the tea after the fact, Mr. Glenholmes informed his employers that the coca leaves were likely the reason behind the results. He admitted to not having researched the ingredients beforehand due to the tea relieving his digestion issues.
Mr. Glenholmes was subsequently invited to a disciplinary hearing for purportedly knowing there was cocaine in the tea when he drank it. Citing sickness, he did not attend and later asked for the original urine sample to be retested.
The second examination showed he was over 4 times the cutoff for misuse. Nearly 2 years after the initial failed test, another disciplinary proceeding was held and Mr. Glenholmes was formally terminated.
He appealed the dismissal which was rejected. Mr. Glenholmes then initiated an employment tribunal lawsuit against Network Rail for unfair termination. He did not dispute consuming the tea blindly, but claimed proper investigation was lacking regarding his overall culpability.
The judge ruled that Mr. Glenholmes deserved blame for intentionally ingesting an unknown foreign substance against policy. His dismissal was deemed reasonable, although procedural flaws meant his legal challenge prevailed. Still, the court awarded no compensation. An auxiliary wage deduction complaint from Mr. Glenholmes was also discarded.
The Benefits of the 10 Panel Drug Test for UK Employers
Employing a comprehensive 10 panel drug screen provides UK employers with an efficient, accurate, and cost-effective way to help ensure a drug-free workplace. This test quickly screens for 10 of the most commonly abused drug groups, providing peace of mind with reliable results.
Detecting a Wide Range of Substances
The key advantage of a 10 panel test is its ability to detect many of the most popular recreational and prescription drugs misused in the modern UK workplace. This includes both illegal substances like cannabis, cocaine, and heroin, as well as commonly abused prescription medications.
Fast and Reliable Results
With results available in just 5 minutes, employers can make timely decisions regarding an employee’s drug test outcome. The tests also provide a high level of accuracy. They are designed specifically to detect substances down to the cutoff levels typically used for UK employment drug screens.
Long Shelf Life and Easy Storage
These 10 panel cassettes come with long expiry dates, making them convenient to store onsite for regular, random, or post-incident testing programs. Their shelf life allows companies to buy in bulk while maintaining reliability.
Comprehensive and Cost-Effective
Testing a single sample for 10 substances is more affordable than testing for each one individually. It saves money on equipment and staff time. The test detects all the most critical drug groups, removing the need for additional niche tests in most scenarios.
Complies with Quality Standards
The 10 panel test meets extensive international quality certification standards like CE, FDA, ISO, and more. This provides assurance the devices are manufactured to the highest specifications. The test is appropriate for any UK industry requiring pre-employment or ongoing drug screening.
Zoom Testing is a leading UK drug testing company and a supplier of Drug Test Kits.
