Is your company following Department of Transportation Regulations for Substance Abuse?

On February 15, 1994, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued new regulations calling for alcohol and drug testing for transportation workers in safety sensitive positions.  Examples include workers who drive trucks containing hazardous materials or construction equipment, tow trucks, city buses, school buses, or any driver of a vehicle with a double axle (26,000+ gross weight or buses with 15 or more passengers).

On January 1, 1995, the rules became effective for public and private organizations with 50 or more covered transportation workers (20% of the total US workforce); on January 1, 1996, the rules became effective for organizations with fewer than 50 covered workers (the other 80% of the market).

The regulations require that employers develop a written policy for drug and alcohol testing.  They must set up operational mechanisms for education and testing interventions and services.  Employers also need to refer any employees or applicants to substance abuse professional (SAP) services by certain professionals who are qualified under DOT rules.  As an Employee Assistance Program that has served Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties (NY) for more than 20 years, EAS has the professionals who are qualified under the DOT regulations to provide SAP services.

When your organization or municipality decides to join the other 130+ in the North Country who use EAS services, you will receive:

·         A bimonthly Employer Brief with updated DOT/Human Resources information to the employer contact at your municipality

·         Face-to-face assessments & referrals as well as short-term counseling services daily in our Plattsburgh office as well as in satellite locations on a weekly basis which include Malone, Westport, Paul Smith’s and Saranac Lake and access to both male & female counselors

·         Counseling personnel on an “as needed” basis for any incidences of trauma in the workplace (sudden deaths, major accidents, etc)

·         24/7/365 telephone access to our staff for crisis and emergency situations (both D.O.T. and non-D.O.T.-related situations)

·         Counselors who provide direct contact with supervisors regarding specific employee work behavior issues

·         Assurance you are in compliance with the D.O.T. Regulations Title 49 CFR Part 382 by:

1.       Reviewing your written policy

2.        Conducting the required 2-hour training for supervisors on alcohol and controlled substance as required by Part 382.603 (available on a monthly basis)

3.       Holding the 60-minute training sessions for all CDL’s and safety-sensitive employees subject to these regulations; issue informational booklets to all DOT-regulated employees upon completion of training which explains the different forms of testing and the testing process, and reviews the different types of drugs and their effects on the body.  This addresses the 11 topics required by Part 382.601(b)

4.      Assuring each attendee at the employee training sessions signs an acknowledgment receipt to be placed in the participant’s training file at your location as required by Part 382

5.       Providing wallet cards to all DOT-regulated employees upon completion of the 1-hour training session as verification of training

6.       Providing the required evidence of training for all who participate in the 2-hour alcohol & controlled substances Reasonable Suspicion Test training

7.       Maintaining employee listing, as updated by the employer, of all DOT-regulated employees for random testing purposes and notify the designated supervisor/manager of the selection

8.       Conducting and documenting “scientifically valid” random testing selection compliant with Part 382

9.       In the case of long-haul drivers, assure the employer is connected with a nationwide testing service for all post-accident situations out of town  

10.  Providing the employer with an annual calendar year summary of results of its alcohol and controlled substances testing program as required by Part 382.403

11.    Conducting the required face-to-face assessments by a qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) with those who have tested positive; two SAPs are on staff (you can check www.saplist.com or www.go2asap.com for national/regional listings of SAP who are now qualified under the updated D.O.T. regulations effective 1/1/04)

12.    Assuring policy compliance with return-to-duty and follow-up testing ordered by a qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)

• Assistance in reviewing your organization’s or municipality’s policy statement regarding your EAP services
• Providing supervisors with training in how to use this EAP service relating to employees’ job performance issues
• Providing informational brochures which give a synopsis of our services for all employees as you need them for distribution to new hires
• Providing posters for reminders of the EAP benefit which you can post throughout your location(s)
• Publishing a bimonthly newsletter for distribution to all of your employees covered under the EAS employee benefit

Let’s talk about how EAS can work with you to comply with the D.O.T. Regulations Title 49 CFR Parts 40 and 382.  Click here to contact our Program Director to arrange a meeting this month.