Source: http://www.fta.dot.gov/TSO/12533_12644.html
Timestamp: 2015-03-28 11:04:17
Document Index: 560873644

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'ART 40', 'art40']

FTA - Drug & Alcohol Program - Drug & Alcohol Newsletter Issue 15
Updates Issue 15, page 3 Revised FTA Substance Abuse Policy Checklist ! Proof of policy adoption by the appropriate governing body with effective date indicated. ! Identity of the person designated by the employer to answer employee questions about the anti- drug and alcohol misuse program. !Categories of employees who are subject to testing. ! Period of the work day covered employees are required to be in compliance and when employees maybe tested. ! Prohibited behavior, including when the regulations prohibit the use of alcohol and drugs. ! Testing circumstances for drugs and alcohol (i. e., pre- employment, random, postaccident, reasonable suspicion, return- to- duty, and follow- up testing). ! Drug and alcohol testing procedures will be consistent with 49 CFR Part 40, as amended. ! Description of the behavior and circumstances that constitute a refusal to take a drug and/ or alcohol test and a statement that refusals constitute a verified positive test result. ! Description of the consequences for a covered employee who has a verified positive test result. If the system has a second chance policy, a description of the evaluation and treatment processes must be included. ! Description of the consequences for covered employees found to have an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater but less than 0.04. ! Information concerning the effects of alcohol misuse on an individual�s health, work, personal life, information concerning signs and symptoms of possible alcohol misuse, and methods of intervening when an alcohol problem is suspected. ! Elements of an anti- drug or alcohol misuse program that are in addition to those required by FTA. Any such additional policies or consequences shall be clearly and obviously described as being based on the employer�s authority independent of FTA authority. Part 40 Update FTA Drug and Alcohol Regulation Updates Issue 15, page 4 Where to Find? ..... 49 CFR Part 40, Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug Testing Programs Amended: February 15, 1994 Federal Register Vol. 59 Pages 7340- 7366 Primary Topic: DOTAlcohol Testing Procedures Procedures for SplitSample Procedures for Drug Testing August 19, 1994 Federal Register Vol. 59 Pages42996- 43018 Primary Topic: Clarified Urine Specimen and Collection Procedures and Clarified Alcohol Testing Procedures April19, 1995 Federal Register Vol. 60 Pages19535- 19537 Primary Topic: StandardizedChain of Custody and ControlForm April20, 1995 Federal Register Vol. 60 Pages19675- 19681 Primary Topic: EstablishedProcedures for Useof Non- evidential Alcohol Screening Devices The information presented on this page should be used to update Chapters 7 and 8 of the Implementation Guidelines. The Department of Transportation published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in December 1999 to revise 49 CFR Part 40, the regulation that defines detailed procedural requirements for drug and alcohol testing. The comment period expired on April 7, 2000. The commentors represent a wide variety of individuals and organizations most of which represent individual service agents (MROs, SAPs, laboratories and collection sites), trade associations, third party administrators, and employers. In all nearly 400 commentors responded making in excess of 3800 individual comments. Commentors from the transit industry represented a very small proportion of the overall comments. The comments addressed a number of issues often reflecting conflicting points of view. Among the issues that generated the most interest were the training requirements for collectors, MROs, BATs and SAPs. Additionally, the proposed provision requiring mandatory adulteration and substitution testing received many comments, as did the �stand down� provision that would require an employee that has a laboratoryconfirmed positive to be removed from his/ her safety- sensitive position while awaiting the MRO verification. The conflict of interest restrictions and Public Interest Exclusion provisions were among the most controversial. A summary of the proposed provisions were summarized on pages 5- 6 of Issue 14 of the FTA Drug and Alcohol Regulation Updates. Those who would like to view the docket comments in their entirety are directed to http:// dms. dot. gov/ search/ and to look under docket code number 6578. The final rule is expected to be published by the end of the year or shortly thereafter. Mary Bernstein, director of the DOT�s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance stated �the regulation will be published as soon as possible, but that the quality of the rule will not be compromised to meet this timeline. If additional time is needed, then so be it.� Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case The Supreme Court has agreed to clarify when courts can overrule arbitrators who require a company to keep an employee in a safety- sensitive job despite testing positive for illegal drug use. The case that will be brought before the court is Eastern Associated Coal v. United Mine Workers of America. In this case, an arbitrator reinstated a coal- company truck driver to his safety sensitive position on two separate occasions following positive drug tests for marijuana. In the case, the company argued that there was a �well defined and dominant public policy� against performing safety- sensitive jobs under the influence of illegal drugs. The 4 th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, however, ruled that courts �overwhelmingly defer� to arbitrators� decisions in labor disputes (http:// www. uscourts. gov./ links. html click on 4 th Circuit). Federal appeals courts have disagreed over when courts can overturn such arbitration awards, and thus, the Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case in their 2000- 01 term that begins in October. PART 40 NPRM Comments Received In 1997, FTA sponsored the development of a training program for transit supervisors entitled �Reasonable Suspicion Referral for Drug and Alcohol Testing�. The program included a leaders guide and a video. Due to its popularity, the supply of materials including the video was soon exhausted. In response to the on- going demand, FTA has reprinted the program including the video. The program is available by contacting the FTA Office of Safety and Security at (202) 366- 2896. Reprint of Video Available Prescription & OTC Drugs FTA Drug and Alcohol Regulation Updates Issue 15, page 5 Where To Find?..... Part40Amendments, Cont. July 16, 1996 Federal Register Vol. 61 Pages37015- 37017 Primary Topic: Use of Labs Outside the U. S. July 17, 1996 Federal Register Vol. 61 Pages37222- 37224 Primary Topic: Expansion of SAPDefinition July 19, 1996 Federal Register Vol. 61 Pages37693- 37700 Primary Topic: InsufficientSpecimen November 25, 1998 FederalRegisterVol. Pages65128- 65129 PrimaryTopic: Opiate Threshold Notice of Proposal Rulemaking December 9, 1999 Federal Register Vol. 64 Pages 69075 - 69136. Primary Topic: Enhance testing procedures and incorporate past interpretations and guidance. The information presented on this page should be used to update Chapter 5 of the Implementation Guidelines. Nuria Fernandez, Acting Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration issued a Dear Colleague letter to all grant recipients encouraging them to educate transit operators about the risks associated with the use of prescription and over- the- counter medications. Specifically, grantees were encouraged to 1) review current policies with regard to operators� use of over- the- counter and prescription medications which could result in public safety being jeopardized and 2) institute educational programs that address the potential dangers of taking certain types of medications. Ms. Fernandez reemphasized the FTA�s commitment to safety and requested that the educational programs be implemented immediately. The educational programs should address medications that cause drowsiness or could impair the operator�s cognitive or mental abilities. As part of the educational program it is recommended that safetysensitive employees be encouraged to enter into a dialogue with their physician or pharmacist regarding the side effects of medications and to inquire into potential alternative treatments that will not jeopardize the individual�s ability to safely perform their job functions. A list of some of the medications that have been identified by the National Transportation Safety Board and FTA as medications of concern is provided below. This list is not definitive or all- inclusive, but is provided as a starting point. The best source of additional information on these or other prescription and over- the- counter medications is your Medical Review Officer. FTA Encourages Education On Dangers of Prescription and Over- the- Counter Drugs Analgesics Aspirin w/ codeine, Codeine, Darvocet, Darvon, Demerol. Dilaudid, Empirim Compound w/ codeine, Levo- Dromoran, Methadone, Morphine, Percocet, Percodan, Soma Compound s/ codeine, Talacet, Talwin, Tylenol w/ codeine, and Vicodin. Anti- Motion Sickness Antivert, Dramamine, Marezine, Phenergan, Transderm- Scop Tranquilizers & Sedatives Ativan, Denadryl, Centrax, Compazine, Dalmane, Diazepam, Equani, Halcion, Haldol, Libritabs, Librium, Limbitrol, Paxipam, Phenergan, Prolixin, Serax, Stelazine, Thorazine, Tranxene, Valium, Vlarelease, Xanax. Antidepressants Adapin, Amitriptyline, Asendin, Deprol, Desyrel, Elavil, Endep, Etrafon, Limbitrol, Lithium, Ludiomil, Marplan, Nardil, Norpramin, Pamelor, Parnate, Petrofrane, Sinequan, Surmontil, Tofranil, Triavil, Vivactil. Barbiturates Alurate, Butisol, Dilantin, Mebaral, Nembutal, Pentobartital, Phenobarbital, Secobarbital, Seconal, Sedapap, Tuinal. Skeletal Muscle Relaxants Flexeril, Parafon, Soma Non- Prescription Cough & Cold Remedies, Antihistamines Bendadryl, Bromfed, Chlrotrimetron, Comtrex, Contac, Deconamine, Dimetapp, Dristan, Drixoral, Externdryl, Fedahist, Kronofed, Naldecon, Nolamin, Novafed, Ornade, Phenergan, Rondec, Rynatan, Sinubid, Sinulin, Tavist- D. FTA Drug and Alcohol Regulation Updates Issue 15, page 6 Resource Materials FTA home page: www. fta. dot. gov FTA Office of Chief Counsel: www. fta. dot. gov/ office/ counsel FTA Office of Safety & Security: http:// transit- safety. volpe. dot. gov FTA Letters of Interpretation: www. fta. dot. gov/ library/ legal DHHS- Certified Laboratories: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention: www. health. org/ labs/ index. htm FTA, Office of Safety and Security: (202) 366- 2896 Drug and Alcohol Consortia Manual Drug and Alcohol Testing Results: 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 Annual Reports Random Drug Testing Manual Implementation Guidelines for Drug and Alcohol Regulations in Mass Transit Identification of Drug Abuse and/ or Alcohol Misuse in the Workplace: An Interactive Training Program USDOT Drug and Alcohol Documents FAX on Demand: 1 (800) 225- 3784 USDOT, Office of Drug Enforcement and Program Compliance: (202) 366- 3784 Urine Specimen Collection Procedures Guideline SAP Procedures Guidelines for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs Produced by: FTA - Office of Safety and Security 400 7th Street SW Washington, DC 20590 Published by: USDOT- John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center Kendall Square Cambridge, MA 02142 Edited by: RLS & Associates, Inc. 3131 South Dixie Highway Suite 545 Dayton, OH 45439 Illustrated by: Dan Muko Bulk Rate U. S. Postage PAID Dayton, OH Permit 1012 Who Should Be Receiving This Update? In an attempt to keep each transit system well informed, we need to reach the correct person within each organization. If you are not responsible for your system�s Drug and Alcohol program, please forward this update to the person (s) who is and notify us of the correct listing. If you know of others who would benefit from this publication, please contact us at the following address to include them on the mailing list. This publication is free. RLS & Associates, Inc. 3131 South Dixie Hwy., Ste. 545 Dayton, Ohio 45439 Phone: (937) 299- 5007 FAX: (937) 299- 1055 rlsasc@ mindspring. com RLS & Associates, Inc. 3131 S. Dixie Hwy, Ste 545 Dayton, OH 45439 Return Service Requested A A A Contact Your Local Region