Reasonable Suspicion Testing: How Does it Impact My Employees?
Looking for a SAP provider in New York for your employees? If you have DOT-mandated employees, such as drivers of hazardous materials, air traffic controllers, and people in other safety-sensitive jobs in one of the transportation industries, then they are required to submit to a variety of drug and alcohol tests. These include random tests, post-accident tests, and reasonable suspicion tests, when there is a reasonable suspicion that an employee is under the influence, and a potential danger to others. As an employer of safety-sensitive employees, you’ll want to be sure you either partner with a service agent or keep an updated list of qualified SAPs in your area.
How Reasonable Suspicion Testing Affects Your Employees
If you have a reasonable suspicion that one of your DOT-mandated safety-sensitive employees is impaired, you not only have a right, but a duty to order a drug test, for the safety of the general public and the employee. Observation should be made by two reasonable suspicion trained management members. It is standard practice to relieve the employee of duties until the test results come back. Whether or not they return to duty, and how long it takes, depends on the results of the test and, if positive, the employee’s willingness to go through the SAP process.
Signs to Watch Out for
Signs of impairment can be physical, psychological, or behavioral. They include:
- Lack of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Dilated pupils
- Mood swings
- Erratic behavior
- Inability to focus
- Recurrent attendance issues
- Decline in performance
What Happens When an Employee Fails the Test? Find a SAP Provider in New York
If the test comes back negative, the employee can immediately return to duty. If it comes back positive they must be immediately removed from safety-sensitive duties and be evaluated by a Substance Abuse Professional. The SAP will evaluate your employee, recommend treatment and/or education, provide a follow-up evaluation, and, if the program has been complied with, recommend they submit to a return to duty drug and/or alcohol test. It is only after completing the SAP program that the employee will be eligible to return to work.
A SAP Provider in New York Employers Can Trust
If you employ people in DOT-mandated positions, partnering with a service agent can help your employees get back to work quickly. Call us at SAP Referral Services today to find qualified SAPs in your area.