Australia to take ice drug test on construction sites

Drug tests could soon become mandatory on Australian construction sites, with unions raising concerns about the increased use of crystal methamphetamine, known as "ice."

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation it is finalizing trials of a drug-testing system.

CFMEU spokesman Dave Noonan said the union was worried about the increasing use of ice by workers.

"We are aware there have been some near-miss incidents which have occurred in the construction industry in the last couple of years, which we believe may have an association with the use of ice and that really worries us a lot," he said.

The CFMEU is developing saliva-testing trials at some construction sites.

"We've taken a uniform national approach and we're talking to some of the large construction companies now about rolling out proper impairment testing right across the country," he said.

"It should be mandatory and it should be blanket."

In a recent report, the Australian Crime Commission said the latest national drug survey showed the reported use of ice in the wider community more than doubled from 2010 to 2013.

Employer group Australian Industry Group (AIG) last week said the ice epidemic was affecting the manufacturing, construction and transport industries, and called for more drug testing at work. Endi