Transcript Developing a Compliant Substance Abuse Training Program

Developing a Compliant
Drug and Alcohol Education Program
Presented by Diana Byrnes,
Substance Abuse Management Specialist; CUTR
Today’s discussion will:
Outline the three drug and alcohol
education and training components
required under FTA Regulation 655.14
 Provide each attendee with suggested
training materials
 Provide sample training agendas
 Provide each attendee with a copy of
Clean, Sober and Safe; employee drug
awareness video

FTA Regulations
FTA Regulation §655.14 requires:
1. Education Component- Display and
Distribution of material
2. Covered Employee Drug Awareness
Training
3. Supervisory Training for Reasonable
Suspicion Referral
1. Education Component
Education Component
49 CFR Part 655.14 reads:
“The education component shall include
the display and distribution of
informational material and community
service hot-line telephone numbers for
employee assistance, to every covered
employee.”
Education Component:
Display

Community hot-line numbers for
assistance with drug and alcohol issues*

Obtain from local
phone book,
websites and/or
your EAP
* Included in materials packet
Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
1(800) 870-3795
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters
www.al-anon.alateen.org
1(800) 356-9996
Drug Help National Help Lines
www.addictioncareoptions.com
1(800) 784-6776
Narcotics Anonymous
www.na.org
1(818) 773-9999
Narcotics Anonymous
www.na.org
1(818) 773-9999
National Cocaine Help Line
www.800cocaine.com
1(800) COCAINE
Education Component:
Display

Items for Display can include any or all
of the following:
Posters
 Flyers
 Newspaper clippings
 Magazine articles

Be creative, but be accurate!
Education Component:
Distribution

Items for distribution MUST include:
 A copy of your agency’s Substance Abuse Policy

Items for distribution can include any or all of the
following:
 Employee Assistance Program brochures
 Flyers
 Postcards
 Magazine and/or newspaper articles; books
 Messages in payroll envelopes
 Creative messages (candy, wrist bands, etc.)
Resources for Display and
Distribution Materials

Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration


National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)


www.samhsa.gov
www.drugabuse.gov
National Institutes of Health

www.nih.gov
• Street Drugs (Images, stats, great information)
• www.streetdrugs.org
Resources Continued




Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheet.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
Driving While You Are Taking Medications. National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
Drug Facts. Office of National Drug Policy Control
(ONDCP) www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov.
Prevention On-line. National Clearinghouse for
Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
www.health.org.
Best Practices for Meeting the
Education Component

Keep material fresh


Use a variety of media


Messages lose impact after only a few
months
What attracts one employee may not
attract another- message delivery methods
should be varied
Include messages in safety meeting

Repetition increases effectiveness
2. Training for all Covered Employees
Training for Covered
Employees
49 CFR Part 655.14 reads:
“Covered employees must receive at
least 60 minutes of training on the
effects and consequences of prohibited
drug use on personal health, safety,
and the work environment, and on the
signs and symptoms that may indicate
prohibited drug use.”
Who’s your Trainer?

Who is qualified to conduct the training
for covered employees?
Anyone equipped with knowledge about
the drug and alcohol testing program and
access to training materials
 FTA does not require the trainer to obtain
or hold any certification or educational
credentials

Suggested Training Materials
Substance Abuse Policy specific to your
agency
 Video or other visual media, such as

Clean Sober and Safe (specific to FTA
covered employees)
Employee Drug Awareness manual
 Employee Drug Awareness Assessment
Quiz

Training Materials

Substance Abuse Policy Review





Inform employees of the five prohibited drugs under
the regulation
Inform employees that the regulations prohibit the use
of alcohol 4 hours prior to performing safety sensitive
duties and at all times while performing safety sensitive
duties or on call to perform safety sensitive duties
Inform employees that adherence to the drug and
alcohol testing program is a condition of their
employment
Inform employees of the test types they are subject to
Inform employees of System Contacts for further
questions regarding drug and alcohol
Training Materials

Clean, Sober and Safe; a CUTR produced
video, approved by FTA and available free
of charge
http://www.cutr.usf.edu/byrnessamsite
Training Materials

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and
Drug Information (NCADI)
 CDs
 Videos
 Web-casts
 PowerPoint
presentations
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov
Training Materials

Employee Drug Awareness Manual

Review the manual with employees
highlighting the effects and consequences
of prohibited drug use on personal health,
safety, and the work environment*
Training Materials

Employee Drug Awareness Assessment Quiz*
Provide employee with a quiet area
 Review the completed quiz with the employee;
correcting any inaccuracies
 Return the completed and corrected test to the
employee

Additional Training Topics
(not required; but suggested)

Urine Collection and Breath Alcohol
Testing Process


Shy bladder or shy lung situations
Laboratory process
(assure employees of the
quality and accuracy of the testing- DHHS
certification)
Discuss the MRO interview, as it relates
to prescription medication
 Discuss the employee’s right to split
specimen

Sample Training Agenda for
Covered Employees
10:00 a.m.
Distribution and oral review of substance abuse policy
key points; employee documentation of policy receipt
10:15 a.m.
Distribution of Clean, Sober and Safe Handbook
followed by viewing of Clean, Sober and Safe video
10:40 a.m.
Distribution and review of Employee Drug Awareness
Manual
10:50 a.m.
Distribution of Employee Drug Awareness
Assessment Quiz (open book)
11:10 a.m.
Oral review of assessment quiz
11:30 a.m.
Collection of sign in sheet; adjourn
Best Practices for meeting
training requirements
Exceed the 60 minute minimum
 Conduct the training as part of the new
employee orientation
 Provide varying forms of training media
 Conduct refresher training annually
 Foster an “Open Door” policy to
encourage employees to seek help if
needed

3. Training for Supervisors
Training Supervisors
49 CFR Part 655.14 reads:
“Supervisors and/or other company officers
authorized by the employer to make
reasonable suspicion determinations shall
receive at least 60 minutes of training on
the physical, behavioral, and performance
indicators of probable drug use and at
least 60 minutes of training on the
physical, behavioral, speech, and
performance indicators of probable alcohol
misuse”.
Who’s your Trainer?

Who is qualified to conduct the training
for covered employees?
Anyone equipped with knowledge about
the drug and alcohol testing program and
access to training materials
 FTA does not require the trainer to obtain
or hold any certification or educational
credentials

Training Material

FTA has produced a video and training
manual, available via web:
http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/safety/datesting/
ReasonableSuspicion.asp
Training Materials
Photos
 Web-casts
 Drug Paraphernalia
 Role Playing Scenarios
 Training material available via CUTR
website


http://www.cutr.usf.edu/byrnessamsite/
Additional Training Topics
(not required; but suggested)
In house protocol to follow when making referrals
 In house protocol for transporting employees to
collection sites when referrals are made
 FTA Post Accident Criteria- Decision and
Documentation Form*

 Windows
for testing
 How to contact on-site collectors for after hours testing
 In house protocol for supervision of employee until
testing takes place
Sample Agenda for Supervisor
Training
10:00
Distribute FTA Reasonable Suspicion Workbook; View
FTA Reasonable Suspicion Video
12:00
Question and answer session following FTA Video
12:15
Discussion on identifying prohibited drugs and drug
paraphernalia (use of props, images, etc.).
Distribution and discussion of “Analysis of Employee
Behavior”.
12:45
Role play, acting out reasonable suspicion scenarios
using FTA documentation form
1:15
Closing remarks from management.
Optional Discussion of Post accident testing
procedures and protocols
1:30
Adjourn
Best Practices for Supervisor
Training




Supplement FTA’s material with other media;
images, drug paraphernalia etc.
Incorporate role playing, act out scenarios
Equip supervisors with a form for
documenting the reasonable suspicion
referral*
Emphasize the support management is
prepared to give supervisors in making
referrals
Conclusion
Exceed FTA minimum training
requirements
 Vary the delivery method
 Send the message often
 Create an atmosphere that encourages
employees to seek help if needed
 Support supervisors

Question and Answer Period
Thank you for attending!