A transportation
worker who has violated DOT regulations must follow a specific procedure before
being considered for return to a safety sensitive function.
The process
conducted by a qualified Substance
Abuse Professional (SAP) includes:
The
SAP conducts an initial face-to-face clinical evaluation, including the use of an approved assessment tool. DOT’s rule
requires a recommendation for treatment and/or education in every case. The SAP must send an initial evaluation
report to the DER (Designated Employee Representative) of that employer.
The
SAP provides the employee with an approved treatment provider, and helps assist
in arranging for those services.
The
SAP maintains regular contact with the treatment provider to monitor the employee’s
treatment progress and their level of participation in the program.
The
SAP will conduct a face-to-face follow-up clinical evaluation, including the
use of standardized testing, to determine if the employee has complied with the
SAP’s recommendations, and to measure the success of treatment. If the employee is in compliance with the SAP’s
recommendations, the SAP will send a follow-up report to the DER of the
employer, including the SAP’s recommendations for a program of aftercare if
necessary and the follow-up testing schedule.
For your convenience
here are some useful links
Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and
Alcohol Testing Programs
The Department of
Transportation's (DOT) rule, 49 CFR Part 40, describes required procedures for
conducting workplace drug and alcohol testing for the federally regulated
transportation industry.
