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Fortescue executive admits "drug problem"

A Hedland-based Fortescue Metals Group executive has admitted there is a "drug problem" at its worksites just weeks after methamphetamine and $25,000 cash were allegedly found in a company-owned workers' village.

Fortescue port and rail HR manager Richard Kinnane last week told Hedland business leaders soaring drug use in the community appeared to have penetrated the company's workforce.

"As you are probably aware, (in) Port Hedland at the moment, there appears to be a bit of a drug problem … well the drug problem that seems to be at our sites," he said.

"I'm assuming it is the same in the community."

His comments come as police last month alleged they found $25,000, scales and methamphetamine during the search of a 31-year-old man's room at the Fortescue-owned Hamilton Village fly-in, fly-out workers' camp.

The man was not a Fortescue employee, but his arrest added to drug seizures made by Customs and police this month during a major operation in which they targeted Hedland drug trafficking by searching airport passengers, road trains and port shipping.

East Pilbara Detectives officer-in-charge Tony Langer acknowledged police had been seizing more drugs in Hedland lately but refused to blame FIFO workers.

He said only one person arrested on drugs charges in the past five months was "physically staying on mine site property".

Safe Work Laboratories managing director Mal Beacham said his company tested workers for drug use on behalf of companies around Australia, including BHP Billiton and Fortescue.

"FMG are a client of ours ... our observation would be that they have a pretty clean workforce," he said.

However, Mr Beacham said general methamphetamine use was soaring around Australia, and anecdotal evidence suggested it was now the second-most common drug his group detected when testing workers for clients across the country.

Earlier, Mr Kinnane had entered the debate on drugs in Hedland when revealing Fortescue had introduced a new program called Speak Up.

While Fortescue workers cannot test positive to alcohol or illegal substances when working on the company's sites, the new program would allow those who admitted to a drug problem before testing positive the chance to avoid the sack.

They could then go on three months unpaid leave to seek treatment.

When contacted for further comment, a Fortescue spokesman said the company had a zero-tolerance attitude towards use or possession of illegal drugs.

"Anyone who uses or possesses illegal drugs on a Fortescue site is putting the safety of themselves and their mates at risk, which is totally unacceptable," he said.