Drug use within the modern workplace is a pressing and continuous concern for numerous employers. Many businesses and organizations turn to mandatory screenings to ensure a safer and healthier work environment for their staff members and the public.
The majority of employers can choose to drug test current or prospective employees within their workplace drug program. However, the federal government fully requires certain workplaces to perform regulated drug screenings. What is a regulated drug screen? Let’s examine these drug-testing standards in more detail.
Non-Regulated Versus Regulated Screening
Non-government-regulated drug screening is for the average employee today. Non-regulated tests provide employers with a plethora of legal testing methods and testing panel options. Conversely, the federal government mandates testing for those that work within safety-sensitive agencies. So, what is a regulated drug screen? By law, employers must require standard screenings for workers who have a potential influence on public safety.
These safety-sensitive workplaces fall within the following organizations: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Health and Human Services (HHS), or any agencies under the Department of Transportation (DOT). The following DOT agencies must perform regulated drug screens: the US Coast Guard (USCG), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Motor Carrier Service Administration (FMCSA), and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
The Requirements of Regulated Drug Screens
A U.S. Department of Transportation rule called 49 CRF Part 40 provides meticulous details about testing requirements within a federal drug-testing program. Regulated drug screens, also known as DOT drug tests, are precise urine-based five-panel tests that screen for opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, and marijuana. Under guidelines, safety-sensitive employers must conduct these tests upon hiring or transferring individuals, after an employee is involved in an incident, upon reasonable doubt of substance abuse, and before an employee returns to work after a violation. Annual rates can also become the random basis for testing times.
For your specified drug testing needs, turn to American Screening Corp. As top test suppliers, we carry a variety of high-quality drug screening kits for employment purposes. Our drug and alcohol screening kits are fully comprehensive and provide fast and accurate results. Look through our selections of testing methods and panels for the benefit of your business or organization today.
