AccuDiagnostics

Posts Tagged ‘Alcohol Testing’

Post Accident Breathalyzer Test

19.2 million American workers drink alcohol before and during work. The occupations showing the highest use of alcohol on the job are in the areas of management, sales, arts/entertainment/sports/media, food preparation, serving, construction, transportation, machine operators and inspectors, and grounds maintenance. Another group, who are more likely to drink before coming to work, is employees working shifts other than a regular day shift.

13,000 Americans die from alcohol-related crashes and almost another 500,000 suffer from injuries. From the alcohol-related accidents, 3 out of 10 people will be involved in this type of crash in their lifetime. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages 2-14 and around 20% of the accidents are alcohol-related.

With these sobering statistics, post-accident alcohol testing is important to perform if an employee is involved in an automobile accident. Post-accident alcohol tests must be performed if a citation is given or there are fatalities according to the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. AccuDiagnostics can save companies time and money by performing on-site alcohol tests where the accident occurred. Alcohol testing services are available 24-hours a day through AccuDiagnostics.

The AccuDiagnostics post accident alcohol tests are conducted by breath alcohol technicians (BAT) and breathalyzers are NHTSA approved. The breathalyzer tests give immediate results with a person breathing into the machine. From a person’s breath, the blood alcohol content can be measured. Tests do not have to be analyzed at a lab, which saves businesses money when alcohol tests are performed at the accident site. AccuDiagnostics, also, offer BAT certification courses that are overseen by BAT/STT certified instructors. Other training available through AccuDiagnostics is breath alcohol test and DOT compliance training.

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Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.

Consortium Services

The Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that all drivers with a Commercial Drivers License and safety-sensitive employees, who drive commercial motor vehicles, must take  drug and alcohol tests. Some drivers and employees that the DOT regulations apply to are: drivers that own or lease a commercial motor vehicle, Federal, State and local governments, For-Hire Motor Carriers, Private Motor Carriers, Civic Organizations and Churches.

Drug and alcohol tests are required when there is reasonable suspicion, which is when a trained supervisor or company official observes behavior or appearance that an employee is under the influence. If an employee is in an accident that results in a citation due to their performance behind the wheel and all fatal accidents, this will require a post-accident drug and alcohol test. When an employee, who has used drugs and/or alcohol during working hours, has come back to work a follow-up test will be conducted. Random testing is done throughout the year and is unannounced.

For businesses and trucking companies that have a couple drivers, random drug and alcohol testing would be difficult to accomplish. The option to join a consortium will solve the issue of random testing where the names of the drivers are added into a pool of names from other companies with commercial drivers. AccuDiagnostics offers consortium services and uses an advanced computer software system that will completely randomize when the drivers need to be tested.

By joining the AccuDiagnostics Consortium Services, your company drivers can meet the Federal DOT drug and alcohol regulations. At AccuDiagnostics, they offer full-service Consortium Services. They will schedule and maintain testing schedules, plus, they will do the drug and alcohol testing. Mobile and On-site testing is, also, available through AccuDiagnostics so there will be no downtime for your drivers when they have to be tested. AccuDiagnostics consortium services are also available to non DOT-regulated drivers.

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Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.

The Nevada policy on drug and alcohol testing states that all city employees and safety sensitive workers must be tested. There must be a pre-employment test conducted on job applicants. Other times when testing is mandatory are when there is reasonable suspicion, when there needs to be a follow-up and after an accident. A city supervisor can request a Reasonable Suspicion Test based on any employee’s appearance and smell, motor skills and speech, physical inability to do the job assigned or if the facts after an accident require a drug or alcohol test. Follow-up testing maybe required for employees, who have been through a drug or alcohol program, their supervisor can request this type of testing. Post Accident Testing will be conducted eight hours within the time of the accident and is required when someone dies or is injured and in need of medical attention or if an employee is cited.

Drug and alcohol tests performed in Nevada will follow the guidelines of the Federal Department of Transportation and conducted by technicians, who are certified by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The personnel department will inform employees when they will be drug or alcohol tested.

For drug testing, a urine specimen will be collected and testing of the specimen will follow the guidelines stated in the 49 CFR 40. Employees will be taken to a testing facility to conduct this type of test. The urine samples will be separated into two samples, in case, a follow-up test needs to be conducted. Employees can request a follow-up test and this must be done within 72 hours of a positive test result. The urine sample testing will be performed by the enzyme immunochemical assay method.

Guidelines that determine a positive drug test:

Alcohol testing will be performed as a breath test and can be performed on site. Actions required if alcohol tests are at a certain level vary. With a reading of 0.02-.039% blood alcohol content requires that the employee will not be able to perform their work and can not return to work duties for at least eight hours. If the alcohol breath test is 0.04% or greater, the employee must report to a Substance Abuse Program (SAP) and SAP will recommend when the employee can return to work.

Confidentiality is enforced, but the City’s Medical Advisor, the test facility, the MRO, the SAP, and certain Department Supervisors could have knowledge of the results along with the employee. The tested employee can give written authorization to other parties to have access to their test results. The City can use the drug or alcohol test results to determine the disciplinary or other actions for the employee and they can be used in a court or administrative hearings.

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Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.