12% of construction workers tested positive in BAA’s most recent drugs and alcohol tests at Heathrow Terminal 5.
The results are down on the 20% recorded when the project began in 2002, and below the national average. Less than 1% tested positive for alcohol; most carried traces of recreational drugs.

The airport operator runs a strict zero-tolerance policy. BAA carries out 50 random tests each month on workers across all areas of the project. A spokesperson said: “Our policy makes it clear that testing for alcohol and drugs will be undertaken across the whole programme and we carry out both random and ‘for cause’ testing.”

Amicus London regional secretary Frank Westerman warned: “Any of our members found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will no longer be working on T5.”

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor