Blog Wednesday, April 22 2020
We are in challenging times. Drug testing businesses, like WorkPlace Screening Intelligence (WSI), are essential businesses and are serving those that require drug testing in these challenging times. There have been some changes at some of our partner providers as they continue to serve during the Pandemic and continue to protect their employees as well as the public in the spread of COVID-19 Cornonavirus. Effecitve immediately, all Quest Patient Service Centers will begin to thermoscan each individual as they enter the PSC. They will also require that each individual wear a facecovering (mask, bandana, tee-shirt, etc...). If the individual has a temperature of 100.3 or higher they will be asked to leave. Also, if they don't have a face covering they will be asked to leave and return with a face covering. Many people have questions about drug testing during the COVID-19. Do I really have to test under these circumstances. See below for what the DOT says: What Does DOT Say About Random Drug Testing? There have been no exemptions to the DOT random drug testing requirements. The DOT Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy Compliance (ODAPC) and all the DOT agencies have issued guidance on drug & alcohol testing. Each of these guidance statements can be viewed using the links below: Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy Compliance (ODAPC) Guidance FTA and FRA - See DOT COVID-19 Guidance All of the guidance issued is fairly similar. The regulations for drug and alcohol testing are in effect. The federal government continues to require drug testing of employees in certain safety sensitive industries such as transportation. Here is a summary of the DOT guidance:
Employers should not use the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse to not get their random testing completed. As this is the first month of the second quarter of the year, employers operating on quarterly random testing have until June 30th to complete selections provided for the 2nd quarter. What is important is that you do not notify the employee of his or her random test until you are ready to send them for immediate testing. The regulations require that upon notification of selection the employee reports immediately for testing. Specific FMCSA guidance for the trucking and bus industries include the following:
So bottom line is that every effort should be made to complete required DOT drug and alcohol testing. What circumstances would be appropriate to not complete testing?
Using COVID-19 as an excuse for not complying with the regulations could lead to violations, fines and penalties. |
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