SAP Provider in Colorado for FAA Employees

The FAA holds to a zero-tolerance policy for employee drug and alcohol abuse. Since aviation employees are safety-sensitive they must submit to drug and alcohol testing. Testing occurs pre-employment as well as randomly or as the result of reasonable suspicion during employment. If an FAA employee fails or refuses to take a drug and/or alcohol test, they must complete a return-to-duty process with a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). If you need a SAP provider in Colorado to help you return to work, please read on.

Why the FAA Requires Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing

Aviation employees hold safety-sensitive positions. This means they have a high level of responsibility and an inherent duty to protect people both on land and in the skies. Safety-sensitive also means the person in that position performs a function that becomes extremely dangerous if done under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. For these reasons, the FAA conducts mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

Why a Failed Drug or Alcohol Test Requires a SAP Evaluation

Failing or refusing drug and/or alcohol testing bars an employee from working in a safety-sensitive position. The FAA does lay out steps an employee can take to possibly regain their safety-sensitive job. Those steps involve first seeing a Substance Abuse Professional, or SAP.

How SAP Evaluations Work

To return to duty, the employee must meet with a qualified SAP for an initial evaluation. The SAP recommends steps the employee must take which can include things like education, treatment programs, and make recommendations for follow-up testing and aftercare if applicable.

Next, the SAP will report if the employee complied with the recommended steps. Finally, the SAP will then give their opinion on whether the employee is cleared to submit to a return-to-duty test.

Finding a SAP Provider in Colorado

So, how does an employee go about finding a SAP? The DOT requires those working in safety-sensitive positions to use a SAP with particular qualifications. This means it’s possible for someone looking for a SAP on their own to choose the wrong SAP, negating their efforts. SAP Referral Services (SRS) can help someone find a DOT-qualified SAP in their area to help get them properly evaluated and back to work.

If you are a FAA employee who needs to complete the return-to-duty process, SRS gives you easy access to a SAP provider in Colorado. Additionally, we provide access to thousands of qualified SAPs around the nation. Click here for more information about how we can help you get back to work.

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.