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Posts Tagged ‘DOT Collection Facility’

The Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates and regulates alcohol testing of approximately 12.1 million transportation employees in aviation, trucking, railroads, mass transit, pipelines and other major, safety-sensitive industries. The DOT has placed stringent guidelines on where a test can be conducted, how, and what type of test can be used. Only breath and saliva tests are recognized by the DOT at this time. All businesses that fall under these regulations must adhere to the following guidelines.

A valid DOT alcohol testing site can be a medical facility, mobile facility, or dedicated collection facility. Any facility must provide complete patient privacy, so that the results cannot be seen or heard by anyone not directly related to the test. It must also be secure, in that no unauthorized persons can gain access to the site. Anyone who obstructs or causes delay in the testing process must be removed promptly. Only one employee can be tested at a time in any of the accepted DOT testing facilities.

When an employee’s test has been scheduled, there is a limited window of opportunity for that employee to appear. If that employee is unreasonably late, officials overseeing the test are required to report the employee’s assumed refusal of the test. Upon the employee’s arrival, it is imperative to begin the test immediately. Every tested employee must provide positive identification, issued either by their employer or a government agency. If no identification is available, they can be identified by an employer or a business representative, so long as that representative is not a co-worker or another employee being tested.

Results from a electronic breath test are immediate. After the employee blows steadily and forcefully into the mouthpiece for a minimum of six seconds, the test result will display. The employee must be shown the test results as they appear. If the blood alcohol levels are lower than 0.02, the test is completed and the employee is free to leave. If the tests reveal a blood alcohol level of 0.02 or higher, an alcohol confirmation test will be required.

After a waiting period of 15 to 30 minutes, the test will be completely redone. During the mandatory waiting period, the employee must not eat, drink, or put anything into his or her mouth. Doing so will invalidate the confirmation test. Immediately prior to the confirmation test, the technician must conduct on air blank onto the machine, verifying that the standard reading is 0.0. Following that verification, the employee must retake the test.

A refusal to take an alcohol test has very dire consequences. Refusal to take a test is assumed in all of the following scenarios:

* Failure to appear for any test (excluding pre-employment screenings)

* Failure to remain at the testing site until the test is completed (excluding pre-employment screenings)

* Failure to provide an adequate amount of saliva or breath for any test required by the DOT, if there is no medical reason for the failure

* Failure to undergo a medical exam to discover a medical reason for a failure to produce a sufficient sample

* Failure to sign the certification

* Failure to cooperate with any part of the testing process

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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.