More British workers face drug testing

The number of British staff facing drug tests at work is set to rise dramatically. A report published today tells of an "explosion" in cheap DIY kits used in the workplace to pick up traces of alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.

The Independent Inquiry into Drug Testing at Work claims that bosses are also set to scrutinise employees' private lives in a "Big Brother" role likely to alarm human rights campaigners.

A MORI poll conducted on behalf of the inquiry found that almost 80per cent of employers would consider drug testing if they believed that drugs or alcohol were affecting staff productivity.

The inquiry assessed the implications for Britain following the expansion of testing in the United States where 15 million people are tested at work each year.