Policy Checklist

FTA Drug and Alcohol Regulation Updates
Issue 8, page 3

FTA Substance Abuse Policy Checklist
     The FTA drug and alcohol regulations require employers to develop and disseminate a policy statement describing their prohibited drug use and alcohol misuse programs. This statement must be adopted by the local governing board of the employer or operator, and be made available to each covered employee.
     The rules require policies to include a detailed discussion of a number of different items, as outlined in Sections 653.25 and 654.71. To assist in clarifying, or identifying missing or incorrect information in existing policies, the FTA has developed this checklist regarding policy contents. The checklist includes regulatory requirements, as well as “best practice” recommendations; it is not to be construed as the “last word” in drug and alcohol policies - it merely provides guidance.
  • The policy must be current with all amendments to parts 653, 654, and 40.
     
  • Proof of policy adoption by the appropriate governing body.
     
  • Effective date of policy.
     
  • Identity of the person designated by the employer to answer employee questions about the anti-drug and alcohol misuse program.
     
  • Prohibited substances for which employees will be tested.
     
  • Categories of employees who are subject to testing.
     
  • Documentation of how the employer determined which employees were safety-sensitive.
     
  • Narrative describing what period of the work day covered employees are required to be in compliance and when employees may be tested.
     
  • Requirement that participation in the testing program is a condition of performing a safety-sensitive function.
     
  • Prohibited behavior, including when the regulations prohibit the use of alcohol and drugs.
     
  • Testing circumstances for drugs and alcohol (i.e., pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing).
     
  • An indication of when employees are subject to pre-employment/pre-transfer drug testing, and that applicants for a safety-sensitive position may not be hired before a verified negative drug test result is received.
     
  • A basic description of the random testing process (including selection and notification.
     
  • A description of the criteria which must be satisfied for conducting FTA mandated post-accident testing, an indication of who must be tested when those criteria are achieved, and time frames for conducting post-accident testing.
     
  • A description of the reasonable suspicion decision-making process, and the fact that only trained supervisors may make reasonable suspicion referrals.
Where To Find?..........

49 CFR Part 654, Prevention of Alcohol Misuse in Transit Operation

February 15, 1994
Federal Register Vol. 59
Pages 7532-7571

Amended:

May 10, 1995
Federal Register Vol. 60
Pages 24765-24766
Primary Topic: Suspension of Preemployment
Alcohol Testing

August 2, 1995
Federal Register Vol. 60
Pages 39618-39620
Primary Topic: Exemption of Volunteers and Post-Accident Testing Provision

January 6, 1998
Federal Register Vol. 63
Pages 418-419
Primary Topic: Random Alcohol Testing Rate Changed to 10 Percent

Technical Corrections:

March 6, 1995
Federal Register Vol. 60
Pages 12296-12300
Primary Topic: Corrections and Clarifications

 

 

The information presented on this page should be used to update Chapter4 of the
Implementation Guidelines.
 

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