I Need a DOT SAP Evaluation, Where Can I Go?
Employees working in positions that are classified as safety-sensitive by the Department of Transportation (DOT) are required to meet set drug and alcohol testing requirements. The regulation requires employers mandated by the Department of Transportation to carry out drug and alcohol screening of prospective employees and testing of current employees to ensure the safety of the general public. Employees who fail, or refuse to take, a DOT mandated drug and alcohol screening will be removed from their safety-sensitive position until they complete the DOT’s return to duty process carried out by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). If an applicant fails a drug and/or alcohol test they will also need to complete the SAP process in order to apply, or be considered for, any safety-sensitive positions.
What is a SAP Evaluation?
When an employee is removed from their safety-sensitive position for failing or refusing to take a drug or alcohol test, they must undergo an initial SAP evaluation. The initial evaluation will determine the appropriate course of action that the employee must complete in order to resume working in any safety-sensitive position. The return-to-duty SAP process begins with a face-to-face evaluation by a trained and qualified SAP who determines the education and/or treatment that the employee must comply with. This could include things like treatment for drug or alcohol abuse, education on substance abuse, etc.
Once the SAP determines that the employee successfully complied with the treatment and/or education they will perform a follow-up SAP evaluation.
Note that while the eligibility of the employee to return to their position is dependent on a negative return-to-duty test, the decision to reinstate the employee is at the employer’s discretion.
How to Find a Substance Abuse Professional for a SAP Evaluation
When an employee is found to be in violation of the DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations, they may be provided with a listing of SAPs that they can report to for evaluation. The listing includes names, addresses, and phone numbers of the qualified SAPs. The downside to relying on an employer’s SAP list is that there is a chance the credentials and contacts may be out of date because they are self-reported.
The employee also has the option to find a SAP through a service agent, such as SAP Referral Services. This is a more dependable approach to find the right SAP largely because service agents typically keep the most up-to-date list of SAPs and their credentials. SAP Referral Services has a network of providers in over 3,000 locations – this means that employees can typically be referred to an available SAP in their area quickly.
Get in Touch with SAP Referral Services and Begin Today!
If you have been removed from your safety-sensitive job position and need a DOT SAP evaluation, you should consider the FastTrack Enrollment Program. SAP Referral Services’ FastTrack Enrollment Program takes the stress out of finding an available SAP in your area. Enrollment is quick – only a matter of 2 steps and we can typically get you scheduled within 72 business hours with a qualified SAP in your area. Click here to learn more and to enroll today!
SAP Referral Services (SRS) is the leading facilitator for mandated substance abuse evaluations. SRS maintains an extensive network of qualified providers in more than 3,000 locations nationwide for testing violations that originate from any of the DOT’s modes including FMCSA, FAA, FRA, FTA, USCG and PHMSA, or a company’s internal drug and alcohol testing policy.