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A SHOCKING study reveals one in four maintenance workers on Scotland's busiest roads have tested positive for drugs.

The Record can reveal that a quarter of staff at BEAR Scotland who were randomly selected failed a drug test.

But a letter to all employees, passed to the Record, confirmed that boss Bill Taylor took no action against his workers despite admitting the figures were "alarming".

The managing director also stated: "All of the people who failed tests work on the high-speed trunk road network and some operate large vehicles and equipment."

Last night, politicians, road watchdogs and drugs agencies called for a probe into the "astonishing and unacceptably high" numbers, claiming lives were being put at risk.

The firm employ 440 staff to carry out safety repairs and maintenance for Transport Scotland after being awarded two five-year multimillion- pound contracts for the north and south-east.

In the north, they look after major roads leading to Inverness, Fraserburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Stirling, including the busy A90, A92, A9 and M876 route to Kincardine Bridge.

And in the south, they maintain the M8 from the outskirts of Glasgow to Edinburgh as well as key routes from the capital to the Borders.

They are also responsible for the M9 motorway from Edinburgh and Stirling and the M90 between Edinburgh and Perth.

In his letter, BEAR chief Taylor stated: "The recent random tests produced a failure for illegal substances of over 25 per cent which, I have to say, I find alarming."

He went on to confirm that "on this occasion only", no employee would be disciplined in their shocking first round of random testing.

Politicians were astounded when they heard about the percentage of workers who tested positive for illegal substances.

Shadow Scots justice secretary Richard Baker said: "The fact that this involves road safety makes it a particularly serious issue.

"I am astonished that so many workers, many of whom work with heavy machinery, failed drug tests and yet no disciplinary action appears to have been taken.

"Any employee working on a busy road, or with machinery, who is under the influence of drugs, puts themselves, their colleagues and the public at risk."

BEAR Scotland said two more tests have been taken since their first set of random samples last March which produced the 25 per cent failure rate.

This time they insisted that the failure rate had dropped to 7.5 per cent - around one in 12 - and the workers involved had been disciplined.

A BEAR Scotland spokeswoman said: "In March 2008, 32 employees were randomly tested for drugs. Of those tested, eight indicated potential failure.

"Since then, two more sets of random tests have been carried out which have resulted in a failure rate of 7.5 per cent.

"All cases have been dealt with in line with our internal disciplinary procedures and Transport Scotland has been kept informed of these issues. We are continuing to work strenuously to have this rate further reduced.

Hazardous

"Bear Scotland treat drug and alcohol misuse with the highest concern.

"In developing our policies, we take account of the hazardous environment in which we work and the safety of both our own staff and of road users."

But politicians insisted that the number of workers still failing the tests was "unacceptable". Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: "I am extremely concerned for the public safety as 25 per cent testing positive for drugs. is quite astonishing and, as Mr Taylor said himself, 'alarming'.

"While Mr Taylor can justifiably claim that the number has fallen significantly since the first test, a one-in-12 failure rate is still unacceptable.

"The message sent out after the first random test is one of ludicrous leniency."

Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman Alison McInnes said: "Illegal drugs and driving can be a lethal combination anyway but when heavy equipment and high speeds are included, then the risk of serious accidents becomes even greater.

"The Transport Minister needs to look into this. We need to be reassured that those who operate heavy machinery and maintain our roads are not themselves a safety risk."

An RAC spokeswoman said: "I would be very concerned for the safety of everyone who uses those trunk roads if 25 per cent of the workforce maintaining them were on drugs.

"I don't see the point in taking the random tests if they are not going to take action against employees who take drugs. I think there is a need for the Scottish government to investigate as a matter of urgency."

Former director of Scotland Against Drugs, Alistair Ramsay - now chairman of consultancy firm Drugwise - said it was "very alarming" for every motorist.

He added: "These figures are much higher by any employment standards and are totally unacceptable and should be investigated."

Transport Scotland, who awarded the contracts to BEAR, said the company were under no obligation to alert them to a drugs problem among staff.

A spokesman said: "While we expect employees of our operating companies to perform their duties in a safe and professional manner, o u r c o n t r a c t s w i t h t h e s e companies make no stipulation that employees be subject to random drug testing.

"Results of any random drug tests are a matter for BEAR Scotland."