Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | November 23, 2016
Oral Fluid: Another Method in Drug Testing
Oral Fluid Drug Testing
On May 12, 2015 - the Federal Register published proposed guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the inclusion of oral fluid specimens in the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs.
Sounds important – but what does it mean for Third Party Administrators (TPAs) and employers?
In a nutshell the proposal:
- Establishes standards and technical requirements for oral fluid collection devices,
- Details initial oral fluid drug test analytes and methods,
- Details confirmatory oral fluid drug test analytes and methods,
- Establishes processes for review by a Medical Review Officer (MRO), and
- Outlines requirements for federal agency actions
Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | November 23, 2016
Policy Statement - Is yours up-to-date?
Is Your Substance Abuse Policy Ready?
Companies have a vested interest in maintaining a safe setting for their employees, clients, and customers while protecting the company property, equipment, operations and profitability. A compliant Substance Abuse program is a critical component of your company’s safety goals. Now is the perfect time to take out the policy, dust it off and make certain that it is up to date with all Federal regulations and state laws for 2017.
Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | August 12, 2016
OSHA and Post-Accident Drug Testing
On May 12, 2016 - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule to revise its Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness regulations that took effect August 10, 2016. The rule is part of an extensive rulemaking that concerns the tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. OSHA's regulation at 29 CFR part 1904 requires employers with more than 10 employees in most industries to keep records of occupational injuries and illnesses at their establishments. Employers covered by these rules must record each recordable employee injury and illness.
Crewmember, Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | June 30, 2016
Legalized Marijuana - A Drug Testing Conundrum?
- 25 - to date 25 states, including the District of Columbia, have legalized marijuana for recreational or medical use
- 13,500,000 – in 2014, 6.6% of adults or 13,500,000, age 26 or older, have admitted to being current users of marijuana
- 22,000,000 - Of the more than 22 million current illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2014, just over 70 percent were employed either full or part time.
- 52% - Fifty-two percent of Americans now say marijuana should be legal, while 42 percent think it should be illegal
Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | October 13, 2015
eCCF – The Pros, the Cons and Program Impact
As the DOT considers the implementation of the electronic Chain of Custody Form (eCCF) and the non-regulated industry continues to expand the use of eCCF, it is important to evaluate the pros and cons and the impact of its use in your drug-testing program.
Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | June 8, 2015
Featured Article in ARSA's Hotline Newsletter - “Recreational or Medical” Marijuana vs FAA/DOT Drug Testing
Recreational or Medical” Marijuana vs FAA/DOT Drug Testing
Nearly 50 percent of the United States currently has laws legalizing marijuana in some form. (See Map.)
How does this impact your repair station? Technically it doesn’t, if your operation performs maintenance on commercial aircraft operations including air tour for hire.
The Department of Transportation and the FAA maintain requirements that all “safety-sensitive or covered” employees (e.g., A&P Technicians, Sheet Metal Mechanics, Avionics Technicians) be subject to drug and alcohol testing. Further, regardless if marijuana was used for recreational or medicinal purposes in a state that has “legalized” the activity, detection of use will result in a positive drug test.
For more information:
http://www.dot.gov/odapc/dot-recreational-marijuana-notice
NATA Compliance Services (NATACS) is the aviation industry’s only full-service employee background investigation and HR-compliance company and an ARSA preferred provider. To learn more, visit http://info.natacs.aero.
Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | January 8, 2015
Does Your Drug and Alcohol Policy Change with Medical Marijuana Authorization?
It seems that with every election of late, more and more states vote to decriminalize medical or recreational marijuana. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have voted to legalize some use of marijuana for medical purposes or, in the case of four states, recreationally. These recent changes in state laws are throwing employers, including aircraft operators, into uncharted territory, given the fact that the federal government still classifies the drug as a Schedule I controlled substance that is illegal to use.
Despite this classification, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memo in 2008, and again in 2013, that federal government resources would not be focused on those individuals complying with state marijuana laws. To help shed some light on the issue, let’s review how these recently passed state laws affect your drug and alcohol policy.
Cargo Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Corporate Flight Department, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Blog, CrewID | November 6, 2014
Pilots Found To Be Using More Drugs
Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a study that found drug use among pilots had increased substantially since 1990. Using data collected from 6,700 pilots killed in plane crashes between 1990 and 2012, the NTSB found pilots’ use of over-the-counter, prescription, and illegal drugs all increased. While the rate crashes due to pilot impairment as a result of drug use remained steady at about 3%, the increased use of all drugs has prompted warnings about the implications and need for further study.
Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | October 27, 2014
Training and Safety Still Not Meeting FAA Expectations
A recent rash of proposed civil penalties is showing that training and safety measures taken by operators is still not meeting the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) expectations or mandates. From allowing mechanics to operate without proper training to gaps in drug and alcohol programs, to improper repairs, aircraft operators have some work to do to in the eyes of the FAA.
Airport, Fixed Base Operator, Maintenance Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Manager, Aircraft Operator, Anti-Drug & Alcohol Program Management, Aircraft Repair, Blog | August 7, 2014
Getting Your Anti-Drug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program Off the Ground
There is little room for error in the airline industry, so safety is a top priority for operators and regulators alike. It’s no surprise, then, that the airline industry is subject to numerous, complicated requirements from several different agencies. As part of the push towards safe air transportation, detecting and preventing drug and alcohol misuse is a critical component of any operator’s overall safety program. It’s also required in order to for an operator to continue business.