Workplace safety is of utmost importance, and this is even more true when the place your employees work is on the road. If your company employs drivers, you should take every precaution to make sure they keep themselves and other motorists safe every time they work. Thanks to the Omnibus Employee Testing Act of 1991, employees in transportation industries must undergo drug and alcohol testing performed by a certified facility. Keep reading to learn more about the Omnibus Employee Testing Act and how it affects your business.

Background

The Omnibus Employee Testing Act of 1991 was put into place because of a subway train that derailed in New York City. Not only was the train operator intoxicated with alcohol at the time of the crash, but it was found that his blood alcohol percentage was still at 0.21 hours after the crash occurred. The legislation originally included only testing employees for alcohol, but eventually expanded to include a larger list of other drugs that must be tested for.

Who Gets Tested

The U.S. Department of Transportation put the Omnibus Employee Testing Act into effect, which requires employees in “aviation, trucking, railroads, mass transit, and pipeline industries” to be tested. In other words, essentially anyone who operates some kind of vehicle in a commercial capacity is covered under the Act. Testing happens before a person is hired, if they are suspected of being under the influence during the course of employment, after an accident, or at random times determined by the employer.

How Testing Works

If you are running a company that has employees that fall under the Omnibus Employee Testing Act of 1991, you will probably need to outsource the testing to an independent agency. Drug testing works through urinalysis, and breath or saliva tests are used to test for alcohol. Various industries have different rates set for how often tests must take place, which is another reason it’s wise to have an experienced outside agency working with you.

Make sure your Tucson company stays compliant with all Department of Transportation regulations with the help of AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services. Contact us at (520) 745-1029 to learn more about the products and services we provide to help your business stay on track.

Your business is your lifeblood, and it takes a lot of work to keep it running smoothly. In addition to providing your customers with superior service, you need to have a team of employees that represent your company in a positive and safe light. A drug-free workplace is very important to many employers, and drug testing in the workplace exists for that very reason. State and federal drug testing regulations apply to certain professions, but not others that are left to the private sector. Read on to learn more about employee drug testing laws.

State and Federal Regulations

You may be surprised to learn that most employers in the country are not required to have their employees drug tested. Additionally, there are statutes in place that limit drug testing in the workplace unless it is specifically required by law for certain types of jobs, such as those in transportation. Though private employers are usually not required to test their employees for drugs and alcohol, most still have a right to do so if they choose. Working with an outside drug testing agency can help you put an appropriate substance policy and subsequent testing and enforcement into use.

Testing Procedures

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has established standardized procedures for federal agencies that drug test their employees. A Medical Review Officer evaluates the tests as part of the mandatory guidelines for said testing. Private employers don’t have to follow these same SAMHSA, but it’s a good idea to do so to help stay within the bounds of the law.

Non-Unionized Workers

If your company is non-union, your company may be allowed to administer drug tests to people before they are hired, and while they are employed with you. It’s always a good idea to consult with a legal advisor as well as a drug and alcohol screening service to make sure your testing policies are safe, fair, and legal.

AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services of Tucson is here to help you make your business and workplace as safe and reliable as they can be. Call us at (520) 745-1029 to learn more about drug and alcohol testing for your workplace.

Sports are becoming more competitive every year, and every year athletes seem to be getting bigger, stronger, and faster. Driving factors behind this evolution in sports include more advanced training methods as well as increased nutrition. Then there are anabolic steroids, which have tainted the recordbooks in several sports recently, most notably baseball.

Steroids can be tempting for athletes who want to compete at a top level, especially if they see their competitors using them to gain a competitive advantage. While it is true that steroids can make an athlete bigger, stronger, and faster, there are also a host of dangers that should dissuade anyone from succumbing to the urge to seek performance enhancement from a vial, particularly teenagers.

Anabolic steroids are derived from synthesized testosterone, the male hormone largely reponsible for strength, muscle size, and aggression. By increasing the amount of testosterone in the body, it becomes easier to put on lean muscle mass, shed fat, and perform longer and harder in sports. However, that is where the benefits of artificially throwing off hormone levels end and the serious risks begin.

For men, supplementing with exogenous testosterone causes the body to shut down its own production, which can result in testicular atrophy, infertility, and sexual dysfunction. Also, it is possible for the excess testosterone to convert to the female hormone estrongen, resulting in a condition called gynocomastia, or puffy, enlarged breasts.

In women, elevated testosterone levels can result in irregular menstrual cycles, increased body hair, and the deepening of the voice.

Steroid side-effects affecting both genders include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Steroids are especially dangerous for teenagers because they signal that the body is already fully developed which causes growth plates to close prematurely, stunting growth.

Steroids can increase speed and strength resulting in temporary glory on the field or track, but is it worth the permanent health damage that follows? It makes much more sense to gain that edge the natural way, with smart eating and lots of hard work!

AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Services of Tucson is here to help you make your business and workplace as safe and reliable as they can be. Call us at (520) 745-1029 to learn more about drug and alcohol testing for your workplace.

In 2012, over 10,000 Americans were killed in a drunk driving related crash. That’s over one third of all traffic fatalities, and an average of one alcohol related death every 51 minutes.

Drunk driving is a serious offense. But it doesn’t just affect the person behind the wheel, or even just the people involved in alcohol related car accidents. The impact is extensive, and involves everyone.

In 2011, over 1.2 million Americans were arrested for driving under the influence. Arrests, prosecution, and the consequences of traffic accidents, such as insurance, emergency services, hospital and repair costs, add up to an astounding financial price everyone has to pay: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drunk driving costs each American taxpayer more than $500 every single year.

The rate of alcohol related crashes is much higher during holidays, with a high percentage of people attending parties and enjoying time off work with family and friends. New Year’s Eve is the number one day for DUI arrests every year.

Fortunately drunk driving deaths have decreased dramatically since the 1980s, with nationwide efforts to raise awareness, encourage use of designated drivers, create serious consequences for offenders, and increase the availability of technology and services that prevent these types of accidents altogether.

Today employers can use state of the art testing devices and programs like AZC Drug Testing Employee Screening Service’s alcohol testing management software to help inhibit alcohol related accidents. AZC Drug Testing background screening and driver qualification file maintenance programs help businesses keep careful track of drivers’ safety records and hire the right people for the job. Their training services can ensure that all company drivers are well educated about the effects of drunk driving.

AZC Drug Testing Screeningalso offers a variety of Lifeloc breath alcohol testing systems. The availability of a device that shows drivers how close they are to the legal limit for blood alcohol content isn’t just about employment obligations, it’s about personal responsibility. Buzzed drivers who can check themselves are much less likely to get on the road, endangering themselves and others. That’s a gift everyone can appreciate.