Drug-positive tests at JCB sniffer dogs used

Exclusive: A ‘significant’ staff dismissed after drug and alcohol screenings

JCB, a major UK manufacturer, is probing drug use among its headquarters’ workers and has dismissed a “significant” number, according to a Guardian exclusive.

A message from JCB’s group human resources director, Max Jeffery, disclosed ongoing investigations into substance misuse over two months, leading to a “small but significant number” leaving the company. Titled “Substance Misuse and Workplace Safety,” the message highlighted the use of sniffer dogs by private security at turnstiles, production lines, and offices at the Staffordshire headquarters. Investigations are ongoing.

JCB, represented by its legal team at Schillings, reported that 22 employees either tested positive for drugs or alcohol or declined to undergo a drugs test after being identified by sniffer dogs deployed at its sites within a week.

Approximately 75% of the 22 workers tested positive for cannabis through urine testing, and additional laboratory tests are underway to analyze the results.

JCB clarified that the implicated staff did not occupy senior management positions. However, the company did not specify whether other drugs, including alleged usage of class A substances like cocaine among workers, were identified in any of the conducted tests.

It was reported that an additional 11 UK employees were either terminated or resigned between April and December for declining to participate in routine drug and alcohol testing or testing positive.

JCB asserted that it faced the “inverse” of a drugs problem, emphasizing that no drugs were discovered on its sites. The company maintained a “zero-tolerance approach to drug use and alcohol abuse.”

While there have been concerns about staff using drugs on site, investigations have allegedly led to workers being removed from production lines. JCB’s legal representatives stated that comprehensive and continuous investigations within the company revealed no evidence of drugs being consumed or stored on site.

JCB’s legal representatives stated that it is “technically accurate to say that our client has not proactively informed the police (because their thorough investigation has not found evidence of illegal drugs on any JCB site).” They added that local authorities were “aware of the situation” after a local newspaper alerted the police about sniffer dogs at the site.

According to JCB’s lawyers, the number of workers who tested positive was relatively small compared to estimates of drug use in the broader UK population. They argued that this indicated the company had the “inverse” of a drugs problem. The JCB group employs around 8,000 people in the UK across its factories in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Wrexham, and approximately 15,000 people worldwide.

The revelations about drug use and related allegations present challenges for the company, owned by the Bamford family, known for their significant donations to the Conservative party. Workers in industries like automotive and manufacturing often undergo random drug tests due to the potential safety implications of their work.

Following inquiries from The Guardian, JCB’s lawyers mentioned on Tuesday that the company had investigated allegations of managers being supplied with drugs in October. The company was shown alleged screenshots of messages dating to July 2023 indicating three employees buying and using drugs. JCB concluded that these were likely “prescription-based drugs,” and the screenshots’ veracity was “never fully substantiated.” The individuals named in the messages reportedly tested negative for drugs.

JCB stands as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of agricultural and construction machinery, exporting approximately 75% of its total UK production and generating export revenues of around £1.35 billion, as per the company’s website.

Anthony Bamford, the Brexit-supporting chairman of JCB, has been a significant donor to the Conservative party and holds directorships for various JCB group companies. Founded by his father, Joseph Cyril Bamford, in 1945, the company has played a prominent role in the industry.

As a Tory peer, Bamford has been a notable supporter of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, financing and hosting Johnson’s recent wedding at the Bamford family’s Daylesford estate. Additionally, he funded the Vote Leave campaign advocating for the UK’s exit from the EU.

In October, The Guardian disclosed that Lord Bamford and his brother Mark were under investigation by HMRC regarding their financial affairs.