Those in positions of authority such as supervisors and company officials have the sole responsibility of overseeing employees. Reasonable suspicion training is a course that should be taken by those in the following industries; railroad, pipeline, airlines, trucking, and transportation.
The Federal Department of Transportation expects all company supervisors and company officials to receive this training so that it is best determined if an employee needs to undergo reasonable Suspicion drug or alcohol test. This course is designed to educate supervisors and all company leaders to be able to quickly recognize the effects of drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace.
What to Expect in the Reasonable Suspicion Training Course
- Learning the role of the supervisor in making a determination
- Studying the observations needed to require a test
- Observing the signs and symptoms of various drugs of abuse
- How a supervisor will establish when is the right time for a test
- How to handle confidential matters
- How to document a situation and much more
There are two types of training often provided; online and class training. The course will provide a supervisor with the necessary tools to make sound reasonable suspicion determinations as well as meet other Department of Transportation (DOT) agency requirements.
Substance abuse while in the workplace environment is increasingly becoming a problem for most employers. Thus, supervisors have a duty in ensuring the safety of the public. Through the training, a supervisor will get access to various free resources and therefore prepare him to properly handle their position of responsibility while documenting determinations effectively. It better equips company managers to handle the reasonable suspicion drug test process. The advantage of choosing an online course is that you can take the course at your own pace individually.
Random Drug and Alcohol Testing
Sometimes it might be hard to detect if a number of employees are working under the influence of alcohol or drug especially if there are hundreds of workers. This can be an extremely dangerous situation both to the user and coworkers. Random drug testing can be an effective way to curb this situation and reduce the incidence of substance abuse in the workplace. A supervisor will also notice users who may present the obvious signs indicating an existing problem.
It is important for supervisors to implement a random drug and alcohol test so that the number of incidences involving drug abuse is reduced and therefore promote a safe culture for everyone in the workplace. Employees found to have a problem will also undergo treatment.
The random compliance Tool Kit will include:
- An employee random authorization participation form
- Random alcohol policy standard
- Medical review office services ‘
- Oral urine lab and breathalyzer
- SAMHSA approved lab testing
The Different Types of Tests
Lab-Based Urine
It is easy to detect all levels of multiple drugs through a simple urine sample test. A controlled lab environment allows of secure packaging of the testing samples ensuing maximum confidentiality.
Lab-based oral fluid
This kind of testing can be done solo or in addition to express testing. The test will identify the presence of the following drugs; Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, Marijuana, Cocaine, Opiates, Methadone, Phencyclidine, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. The oral fluid sample test is then sent to a lab to be tested with standardized equipment. This is to ensure that there are defensible and quantitative results. After this test, it will be possible to determine the drug level in a person’s body. A medical review office should be able to review the final tests results. It can take up to 5 business days.
Breathe Alcohol
A breathalyzer is used to perform this test, it basically detects the presence of ethanol in every breath as it is released through the air with carbon dioxide. The gadget is mobile so this makes it easy to perform the tests on site and save time.
You do not have to perform random testing on all employees at once. A supervisor might decide to select a certain portion of employees working n a certain department. However, after a considerable period of time, each employee should have an equal chance of being selected.
How To Handle The Results
If an employee tests positive after a test then it means that the drug has been present in their system for some time. However, there are other factors that determine how long a drug’s presence can be detected. These include the method of drug administration, a person’s hydration level, and the frequency of drug use. For instance, GHB can be detected in the urine only within 24 hours after it enters the bloodstream.
After a positive test result, a medical review officer will need to spend more time with the employee for further questioning. The employee should undergo the urine drug testing so that the examiner will have an accurate history of all prescription and over the counter drugs prior to the sample collection.
There are certain herbs that may alter the results and produce false positive results due to cross-reaction with other substances. However, we are living in a time where the drug testing process has evolved greatly and such incidences are rarely experienced. After a positive result, the donor may be asked to produce a valid prescription.
Importance of Reasonable Suspicion Training
Reasonable suspicion training is the most effective way for an employer to identify if his member of staff is actually using drugs or alcohol while in the office environment. It is also a justifiable means to protect the employer and employee. An online course or in-person training will help you on how to go about the process.
If you believe one of your employees who has just reported for duty, currently on duty or immediately finished duty is under the influence of drug or alcohol, you might need eyewitness observation and any other necessary documentation. A form is used to document all these observations and will include details such as breath odor, physical appearance, and body coordination in terms of ability to walk or balance. Other important indications may also include a sudden change in the attitude of an employee or unusual behavior. Most websites have online forms where you can download.
Once these facts have been established and documented, the supervisor will then inform the employee who is suspected of delinquency that they will be taken for a drug test. It is vital that the tests are performed in a timely manner so that the test results are as accurate as possible. A service agent will escort the employee back to the testing site and back.
The Careful Catch Device
This device will simplify all the urine collections, especially for female donors. It is a cup holder which is disposable and can be used while the person’s hand is 6 inches away from the urine stream. This greatly reduces any chances of contamination and therefore the results are bound to be very accurate.
Female donors are especially vulnerable to contamination while taking urine samples. In fact, 84% of female donors will get into contact with urine while taking their sample. This process can be less messy when one uses a Careful Catch device. It is a brilliant yet simple solution to minimize the chances of physical contact with bodily fluids when taking samples for lab tests.
Stat Blue Tabs
These tabs will eliminate any chances of donors trying to adulterate their urine specimen. According to the Federal Regulations, the collection site of the specimen must be colored with bluing. Therefore these tabs provide the right environment by producing the necessary deep blue color. The drug testing program, therefore, becomes fully compliant with the current laws.
The blue color is there because collection site personnel will be alerted if an employee attempts to dilute their urine specimen with toilet water. Only one tablet is dropped into the toilet and this is enough to provide the required level of bluing while ensuring the collection site upholds integrity.
Regardless of the size and nature of organization supervisors should be able to appropriately identify possible cases of an employee abusing drugs or alcohol. The testing is not to be performed based on a mere gut feeling. Reasonable suspicion supervisor training will equip one with the required tools and skills needed to effectively handling employees showing any warning signs of substance abuse.
The course will prepare the supervisors to judge whether it is the right time to perform a test on the employees. The contents of the course documents include:
- Effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. There are times when employees may try to justify their actions by reasoning that only a small intake will do no harm. As a supervisor, you should be able to fully understand the implications of substance abuse on the workplace and what is the significance of the test in ensuring the safety of all
- Supervisors’ responsibility in a DOT testing program; there is a code of conduct expected by all supervisors who conduct the tests on their staff members and thus they should abide by these laws
- Drug and alcohol testing process; there are many things to be observed when testing employees. Even though it is a legal process, you also want to preserve the dignity of the employee during the whole process. It is also important to
- Effects of common drugs and alcohol; most of the drugs in the market are often perceived to be not as harmful as they actually are. However, this course will deeply examine the serious effects of these drugs.
- Physical, behavioral and performance cues related to substance abuse; the course will equip a supervisor to quickly detect any signs to show that an employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is important because not all people may necessarily exhibit these signs yet they may still be abusing drugs.
- A detailed description of prohibited drugs; it would be a shame if a supervisor who is expected to conduct a test on drugs does not have a clear picture of the illegal drugs. The screening process is a lengthy one and the course is designed to educate the supervisors on the exact list if prohibited drugs.
- Scenarios of dealing with suspected employees; people react differently to the use of drugs and it is vital for supervisors to know in advance how to handle such employees suspected of substance
How to Choose a DOT Specimen Collector Training Course
It is vital for the course to be written by industry professionals who are experts in their field so that the training received is of the highest quality.
A good course should also engage in a variety of training and learning tools such as quizzes and graphics. If you enjoy learning at your own pace then you can go for an online course which enables you to compete at the course at your own convenience.
Specimen collectors need to repeat their training after every 5 years. This includes observing all the rules and regulations on proper collection procedures. The training entails all the necessary steps expected of a specimen collector when collecting a sample and proper completion procedures.
There is also a reliable guide on how to handle situations that are likely to arise during the testing process such as when a donor tries to dilute the urine specimen. It is understandable that mistakes are bound to occur and in this case, there are two main types of errors. These are fatal flaws and correctable flaws. The course will explain the difference between the two and how to solve any problems that arise during the collection stage.
It is the responsibility of the collector to ensure that integrity is maintained during the collection process. The employees being tested also have a right to absolute confidentiality and privacy and a collector ensures so be it. The other main responsibility of the collector is to guarantee the security of the specimen.
