Author: csdesign

The 1991 Omnibus Transportation Employees Testing Act as well as regulations by the DOT and FAA require drug testing of safety-sensitive aviation employees. This mandatory testing requirement helps keep the public and the airspace safe. To ensure the aviation industry complies with drug and alcohol testing laws, the Drug Abatement Division of the FAA performs on-site inspections, provides guidance to companies, and establishes policies to enhance the program’s effectiveness.

Responsibility

The Department of Transportation recognizes the critical role pilots, truck drivers, subway operators, and ship captains play in safeguarding public safety. Compliance with federal drug regulations is critical for ensuring the public isn’t endangered. The FAA and DOT employ strict drug and alcohol policies to ensure performance in these important positions isn’t compromised through drug or alcohol use.

Accidents

Over time, the DOT has noticed a decline in the number of accidents and crashes linked to drug and alcohol use among safety-sensitive employees. However, government officials recognize that human risk factors still play a large role in accidents. Even though the number of drug and alcohol related crashes have declined, the DOT hopes to eliminate the entire risk of illegal drug use and alcohol misuse in the transportation industry.

Safety

The Department of Transportation values safety as its highest priority, so it works to ensure transportation employees are drug and alcohol free. The DOT requires employers to educate their transportation employees on the consequences of drug and alcohol misuse. In addition, supervisors must undergo required training to identify the signs of drug use and alcohol misuse among their employees.

Drug and Testing Program

The DOT also requires employers to implement a strong drug and alcohol-testing program. If an employee has violated the drug policy, the employer must remove him or her from safety-sensitive duties immediately. Additionally, employees cannot return to their safety-sensitive duties until they have successfully complied with treatment recommendations.

Oschmann Employee Screening Services is a national provider of drug and alcohol testing programs. In addition to Arizona drug testing, we offer DOT Compliance Services. For more information, please call (520) 745-1029 or (800) 224-8532.

Designated Employer Representatives make decisions about their aviation employer’s drug and alcohol testing program. Not only does the DER conduct drug and alcohol tests, but he or she also educates employees and ensures that the drug-testing program complies with FAA and DOT regulations. By ensuring all employees comply with required drug and alcohol testing regulations, DERs help maintain safety in the aviation industry.

Conduct random testing.

Employers must ensure that every safety-sensitive employee is in the random testing pool. This random testing pool is subject to a minimum annual testing rate, which the FAA publishes each December on its website. For at least two years, employers are required to maintain random testing records, which includes the list of employees in the random pool, the selection list, and documentation of the testing. The FAA recommends that employers establish a process for updating the random testing pool before each selection process.

Notify employees.

It’s essential for employers to make sure the selected employee and the collection site are available before notifying the employee to report for testing. For each selected employee, an employer needs to document notification to that employee and include any reason the employee might be excused from the random test. Small or single owned operations may find it very useful to outsource this process to a third party testing administrator who can help manage the random testing program.

Conduct follow-up test.

An employer may not conduct a return-to-duty test until receiving written initial and follow-up evaluation reports. This includes the substance abuse counselor’s follow-up testing plan. Before an employer allows the employee to return to duty, he or she must receive a negative return-to-duty test result. The follow-up testing plan must be administered in exact accordance with the substance abuse professional’s recommendations.

Since 1996, Oschmann Employee Screening Services has been a national leader in developing, managing, and servicing drug-free workplace programs. We help employers comply with DOT and FAA drug and alcohol testing requirements. Call (520) 745-1029 or (800) 224-8532 to learn about our Arizona drug testing services.

While some companies have always required drug testing before hiring employees, the new final rule amendment from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) now requires all employees who serve in safety-sensitive positions and operations control roles to pass a drug test. Keep reading to learn more about the positions this affects and how it changes federal regulations.

Helicopter Pilots

The final rule specifically deals with helicopter air ambulances, commercial helicopters, and other general helicopter positions. Due to an increase in fatalities resulting from air ambulance accidents, the FAA is now being stricter than ever in regards to regulations for pilots. These new regulations are in place to try to prevent unnecessary accidents and further loss of life and the FAA is holding companies responsible for implementing the new standards.

Control Centers

The final rule also requires certificate holders that have at least 10 helicopter air ambulances to create an operations control center. These certificate holders must also give all employees drug and alcohol testing to ensure that they are ready for flight. The operations control centers must constantly communicate with the pilots, update them about current weather conditions, and watch over flights. They should also provide information about risk assessments and other safety information that can help prevent a serious safety issue.

Better Training Standards

Another important element of the final rule is its increased training standards. The FAA wants companies to provide the best training for their helicopter pilots to ensure that they are ready for any scenario when they get into the air. This improved training should help pilots have a wider range of safety standards that prevent unnecessary incidents.

If you need to provide your staff with drug testing, Oschmann Employee Screening Services is here for you. Whether you want to do random employee drug testing or laboratory based drug testing, we can help. To learn more about our screening services, visit us online or call (520) 745-1029.

If you have never made your employees take drug tests, it might seem difficult to start a new program. Use the following tips to start up a thorough and effective FAA-approved drug and alcohol-testing program that you can use to screen your employees.

Partial 119 Certificate Holders

Companies that hold a part 119 certificate and have the authority to operate under parts 121 or 135 must first get an antidrug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program Operations Specification. You can obtain one of these specs by calling your local FAA Principal Operations Inspector.

Air Tour Operator

Air tour operators must find a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to start implementing a drug and alcohol-testing program. You can find this letter at the nearest Flight Standards District Office.

A Non-FAA Air Traffic Control Center

If you run an air traffic control center that is not operated by the FAA or under a contract with the United States Military, you will first need to register with the FAA, Office of Aerospace Medicine, Drug Abatement Division in Washington, D.C. before you can start your testing program.

A Contractor Who Wants to Do His or Her Own Drug Testing

If you want to implement your own drug and alcohol-testing program, you must also register with the FAA, Office of Abatement Division in Washington, D.C. to get the permission you need to start running your program and screening your employees before they start working for you.

Whether you need to abide by FAA regulations or you just want to start testing your employees for drug and alcohol use, Oschmann Employee Screening Services makes it easy to get the tests you need. We even provide on-site testing to ensure that it is as convenient for you as possible. With some of the best drug testing in Arizona, we help you hire the most reliable employees. To learn more about our drug and alcohol testing services, visit us online or call (520) 745-1029.

Running a business is no easy task. In addition to building up your customer base by providing excellent products and service, you have to make sure you have a reliable, hard-working team of employees. Depending on what sort of business you’re in, you may have a need for breathalyzer units in the workplace. Law enforcement offers aren’t the only ones who use breathalyzers—they can be used in schools and by private employers, as well. Keep reading for a look at Lifeloc breathalyzers offered by Oschmann Employee Screening Services.

Lifeloc FC-10 Portable Breath Tester

This portable breathalyzer is approved for use by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is easy to use, which makes it ideal for a number of different settings. Hospitals and emergency rooms may use the Lifeloc FC-10 to determine if a patient is intoxicated, while law enforcement agencies may also use it for the same purpose. The FC-10 is accurate and economical, and is easy to use. After receiving training with this device, your team will be able to use the FC-10 in whatever setting you need.

Lifeloc FC-20 Portable Breath Tester

The FC-20 Portable Breath Tester offers the same capabilities as the FC-10, with additional features and functions. This breathalyzer also offers passive sampling, and has the capability of printing when combined with the specialized printer kit. It can store over 500 results of tests, calibrations, and verifications, and with an added-on memory option, even more.

Lifeloc Phoenix 6.0 & 6.0 Bluetooth Edition

The Phoenix 6.0 is approved by the Department of Transportation for both screening and confirmation testing. Like its counterparts, the Phoenix 6.0 is portable and easy to use in a variety of situations. It is also the most affordable Department of Transportation Evidential Breath Alcohol Testing available today. If you need printing capabilities, the Phoenix 6.0 is equipped to handle them.

Oschmann Employee Screening Services is proud to be an authorized distributor of Lifeloc Technologies. In addition to equipment, accessories, and supplies, we also provide training to get your staff certified in using these breathalyzers. Call us at (520) 745-1029 to find out more.