Transcript DOT Alcohol and Drug Testing Rules

DOT Alcohol and Drug Testing Rules
What Supervisors Need to Know
Massachusetts Healthcare Self-Insurance Group, Inc.
Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services
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Session Objectives
You will be able to:
Understand the requirements of the
DOT alcohol and drug testing rules
Recognize the performance effects
of drug and alcohol use
Identify signs and symptoms of substance
use on the job
Make proper reasonable-suspicion
determinations
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DOT Regulations
– What do the
regulations require?
– To whom do the
rules apply?
– What is prohibited?
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DOT Regulations (cont.)
What must we test for?
– BAC at or above 0.02
– Illegal drugs, including:
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Marijuana
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Opiates
PCP
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DOT Regulations (cont.)
Employees immediately removed after:
Positive drug test results
Verified tainted or substituted drug
test results
Alcohol test >0.04
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DOT Regulations (cont.)
Employees temporarily removed after:
Alcohol test between 0.02 and 0.39
Diluted specimen
Invalid drug test requiring second test
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Training Requirements
Employee training:
– Information about
substance abuse
– Substance abuse policy
– Testing requirements
– How to get help
Supervisor training includes
all the issues covered in
this session
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What Else Do Drivers Need
To Know About the Rules?
Name of person who can
answer questions about
substance abuse and rules
Who is subject to
requirements, and when
When and how testing will
be conducted
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What Else Do Drivers Need
To Know About the Rules? (cont.)
Refusal to submit
to testing
Consequences
for violating rules
Effects of
substance abuse
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When Testing Is Required
Preemployment
Post-accident
Reasonable-suspicion
Reasonable suspicion
Random
Return-to-duty
Follow-up
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What Happens if an Employee
Tests Positive?
Employees who test positive
must be:
– Removed from safetysensitive duties
– Evaluated by a substance
abuse professional
– Treated for their
abuse problem
– Able to pass a
return-to-duty drug test
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Alcohol and
Drug Test Records
– Confidentiality
– Retention
requirements
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Drug and Alcohol Testing
Rules: True or False?
Alcohol use on or off the job by CDL
drivers is absolutely prohibited by.
Drivers with a BAC of 0.02 or more must
be removed from safety-sensitive duties.
Drivers may refuse to submit to a drug
or alcohol test under the DOT rules.
Suspended drivers must pass a
return-to-duty test before they can
resume safety-sensitive duties.
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Drug and Alcohol Testing Rules
Do you understand:
– Requirements of the
DOT regulations?
– Employee training and
education requirements?
– When testing is required?
– What happens if an
employee tests positive?
– Basic rules covering
employee drug and alcohol
test records?
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Reasonable-Suspicion Testing
– Alcohol abuse
– Drug abuse
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Performance Effects of
Alcohol and Drug Use
Substance use can
negatively affect:
– Vision
– Reflexes
– Coordination
– Emotions
– Aggressiveness
– Judgment
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Signs and Symptoms
of Alcohol Abuse
• Evidence of presence — beverage
containers, drinking from paper bags,
odor of alcohol
• Physical symptoms — poor reflexes,
slurred speech, loss of coordination,
unsteady gait
• Behavioral symptoms — more
talkative and less emotional control,
distorted judgment, impaired thinking
and memory, and impaired driving
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Signs and Symptoms of
Drug Abuse: Marijuana
• Evidence of presence —
smoking paraphernalia, odor
• Physical symptoms — red eyes,
fatigue, cough, slowed speech,
impaired coordination, altered
perception, increased appetite
• Behavioral symptoms — impaired memory,
time-space distortion, euphoria, panic or
paranoia, careless attitude, false sense of power
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Signs and Symptoms:
Amphetamines
• Evidence of presence — pills,
storage containers, syringes
and needles
• Physical symptoms — dilated
pupils, sweating, dizziness, dry
mouth, blurred vision, insomnia
• Behavioral symptoms —
confusion, talkativeness, restlessness,
anxiety, moodiness, and false sense of
confidence and power
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Signs and Symptoms: Cocaine
• Evidence of presence —
bags or vials, razor blades,
straws or rolled bills, spoons
and heating apparatus
• Physical symptoms — dilated
pupils, runny or irritated nose,
sweating, tremors, needle tracks,
restlessness, talkativeness
• Behavioral symptoms —
increased activity, secretiveness,
defensiveness, mood swings, difficulty
concentrating, false sense of power
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Signs and Symptoms: Opiates
• Evidence of presence —
packets, balloons, bloody
tissues, syringes, matches
• Physical symptoms —
constricted pupils, sweating,
nausea and vomiting, needle
marks, slurred speech and
slowed reflexes, drowsiness
and fatigue
• Behavioral symptoms —
mood swings, impaired
coordination, depression
and apathy, stupor, euphoria
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Signs and Symptoms: PCP
• Evidence of presence — packets, tablets,
capsules, or powder residue
• Physical symptoms — dilated pupils, jerky eye
movement, drooling, sweating, dizziness,
drowsiness, impaired coordination, disorientation
• Behavioral symptoms — anxiety, aggressive or
violent behavior, confusion and agitation, mood
swings, poor judgment
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Reasonable-Suspicion
Determinations
– Determinations must be
based on specific, current,
objective observations
– Observations must be made
by a supervisor or manager
– Observations must be made
in connection with safetysensitive functions
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Reasonable-Suspicion
Determinations (cont.)
• Test should be performed promptly after the
determination is made
• Action under DOT rules must be based on
a drug or alcohol test, not just observations
• You must prepare a written and signed
report describing your observations
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Direct Observation
Direct observation of urine collection
required when:
– Employee attempts to tamper with specimen
– MRO orders direct observation
– Test is for a “return-to-duty” or “follow-up”
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Direct Observation (cont.)
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Observer must be same gender
Check for prosthetic or other device
Follow strict requirements for observation
Give notice and document when a device
is observed
– Failure to permit direct observation is a
refusal to test
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Reasonable Suspicion:
Q&A
Q. What must suspicions be based on?
A. Current, specific, objective observations.
Q. When should reasonable-suspicion tests
be conducted?
A. As soon as possible after the observation.
Q. Can you base reasonable suspicion on something
an employee reports but you haven’t actually seen?
A. No. You have to observe the evidence,
appearance, behavior, or odor.
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Reasonable Suspicion
Do you understand:
– Grounds for reasonablesuspicion testing?
– Performance effects of
alcohol and drug use?
– Signs and symptoms
of substance use?
– Reasonable-suspicion
procedures?
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DOT regulations prohibit alcohol and
drug use by CDL drivers
We must test drivers for substance use
when they are performing safetysensitive duties
You play a key role in compliance
with the DOT rules
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Massachusetts Healthcare Self-Insurance Group, Inc.
Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services