Employees of DOT-regulated employers who perform or could perform tasks that have been defined as "safety-sensitive" are subject to drug and alcohol testing. This includes over 12 million workers employed as airline pilots, bus drivers, commercial truck drivers, crew members on cargo ships, train engineers, and many others. Employers are required to implement a Drug and Alcohol Program and provide clear explanations of company policies and DOT testing regulations. They must also employ a Designated Employee Representative (DER) to administer the program, receive test results, remove employees from safety-sensitive duties when required, and answer questions about the program and testing process.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
- State the purpose of DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations
- Describe who is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations
- Identify the components of a DOT-compliant Drug and Alcohol Policy
- Discuss DOT alcohol limits and testing procedures
- Discuss DOT drug specimen collection and testing procedures
- Describe the qualifications for and consequences of a "refusal to test"
- Describe the six different types of DOT-mandated drug and alcohol testing
- Describe the roles of Designated Employee Representatives, Medical Review Officers, and Substance Abuse Professionals