FAA Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations: A User’s Guide
Are you a safety-sensitive employee working within the Federal Aviation Administration? There are several occasions in which you will have to submit to a drug and/or alcohol test. If you fail, you will be immediately removed from your safety-sensitive duties and will have to complete the return-to-duty process before performing any safety-sensitive work again.
Below is a summary of the FAA drug and alcohol testing regulations.
What Constitutes a Violation of the FAA’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations?
Several factors indicate a violation of the FAA’s drug and alcohol testing regulations, the first being a confirmed positive result attained from drug testing. Refusing to submit to mandatory testing is automatically considered a violation.
Additionally, misusing alcohol in the following ways is considered a violation:
- Testing for an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher
- Drinking on the job
- Drinking prior to work (eight hours prior for flight attendants, pilots, and air traffic controllers; four hours prior for all other employees)
- Drinking within eight hours of an accident
How Soon Do I Report to the Testing Site Once I’m Notified?
After notification, you must proceed to the collection site right away. Not appearing at the test location in a reasonable amount of time, which is determined by your employer, may result in a refusal to test judgement.
What Must I Do to Return to Performing Safety-Sensitive Functions After Violating FAA Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations?
The first task you need to complete in the return-to-duty process is getting a list of qualified Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP) from your employer or your employer’s assigned service agent. Once this is accomplished, the following additional steps are required:
- Meet with the SAP for an in-person evaluation. They will make educational and/or treatment recommendations to you while documenting the meeting in a written summary, which is later given to your employer.
- Once you have shown compliance, the SAP re-exams you in a follow-up meeting. If the SAP determines compliance, they issue a report to your employer.
- Before returning to work, a return-to-duty test is administered under direct observation and you must receive a negative drug test and/or an alcohol concentration result of less than 0.02.
- After returning to work, you will undergo follow-up testing under direct observation.
Who Pays for Meeting with a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and the Treatment Program?
Testing regulations do not specify who pays for the SAP consultation or care plan. The employer is required to provide a list of qualified SAPs to the employee, however, who pays for the evaluation and treatment is up to the employer.
How Do I Find SAPs in My Area? How Quickly Can I Schedule With an SAP?
Contact SRS today to find qualified SAPs in your area. We can get you scheduled with one typically within 72-business hours.