FTA Drug And Alcohol Regulation Updates

Issue 20

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published its final rules on prohibited drug use (49 CFR Part 653) and the prevention of alcohol misuse (49 CFR Part 654) on February 15, 1994. Shortly thereafter, the FTA published the Implementation Guidelines for Drug and Alcohol Regulations in Mass Transit to provide a comprehensive overview of the regulations.
Since the Guidelines were published there have been numerous amendments, interpretations, and clarifications to the Drug and Alcohol testing procedures and program requirements.
This publication is being provided to update the Guidelines and inform your transit system of all of these changes. This Update is the twentieth in a series.

 

Inside....

     We may not realize the full impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks for a long time. Our country, our society, and our lives have been changed in many different ways, some obvious and some subtle. One of the unfortunate outgrowths is an increase in substance and alcohol abuse as individuals attempt to cope with these events. In response to this concern the Department of Transportation issued the following statement encouraging employers to keep focused on safety:

“The Department of Transportation realizes that many employers have been forced to refocus and reprioritize efforts and resources in light of the challenges caused by recent events—events that have effected our entire Nation. While changes may well be warranted, we ask that you consider the possible adverse impact upon public safety if appropriate attention is not paid to your ongoing safety efforts. As you know, a number of individuals may mistakenly turn to drug use and more frequent alcohol use in their attempts to cope with the stresses (both personal and professional) associated with the terrorist acts and continuing threats. Some of these people may work in safety-sensitive jobs within the transportation industry. Therefore, employers should not reduce their drug and alcohol testing efforts. In fact, employers may be wise to increase prevention -education and counseling opportunities for their employees.”

Part 655 Briefings Offered

     The Federal Transit Administration is holding daylong briefing sessions on Part 655 at various locations throughout the country. The objective of the course is to update participants on the regulatory changes and provide them with the technical knowledge necessary to modify their drug and alcohol testing programs to ensure compliance with the new rules. The intended audience is Drug and Alcohol Program Managers.

     The sessions are held free of charge, but advanced registration is necessary. Representatives from the FTA Office of Safety and Security and the FTA audit team will conduct the training sessions. Topics that will be addressed include the types of testing required by FTA, test outcomes, the role of the medical review officer, the role of the substance abuse professional, policy requirements, vendor compliance and contractor compliance.

     You may register on-line at http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/training/Conferences.asp or by calling Ms. Jennifer Whalley at (617) 494-3798. The remaining dates and locations are: