Key Questions
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What types of tests are used to test employees for alcohol use?
A breath test is normally used, though in some cases, a saliva or blood test may be used.
Do DOT regulations only apply to the misuse of beer, wine, spirits, and other alcoholic beverages?
No. The misuse of cough syrup, mouthwash, and other alcohol-containing ingestibles can also endanger workers and the public, so DOT regulations also apply to these.
Why do DOT regulations refer to the "misuse of alcohol" and the "use of drugs"?
This difference stems from the fact that while alcohol use is legal in the U.S., the use of the DOT-designated drug classes is not.
What other types of drug and alcohol tests does the DOT require of safety-sensitive transportation workers?
These workers must also submit to DOT-mandated pre-employment, random, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol tests.
What happens if an employee refuses to submit to a breath alcohol test?
The DOT considers a refusal to test equivalent to a positive test result, and the consequences are the same.