ACCORDING to a new survey, employers would consider testing their workers for drugs if they thought productivity or health and safety was being affected.

A survey of 204 firms published today found that only a handful test their staff, but half of those questioned said they did not believe testing sent the wrong message to staff and only a third saw any conflict with workers' human rights.

The chairwoman of the Independent Inquiry into Drug Testing at Work, Ruth Evans, said: "There is growing pressure on employers to carry out workplace drugs testing but little evidence or guidance to help them decide if, when and how they should do it."