SAP Treatment for PHMSA Mandated Employees

Transportation industry employees who perform safety-sensitive operations must adhere to Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and guidelines in reference to drug and alcohol use and misuse. DOT tasks industry employers with the responsibility of creating and maintaining a safe environment for workers and the public. These expansive rules affect more employees than many realize. Under the DOT’s authority, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) employees must also submit to drug and alcohol testing to ensure that they are in compliance with the law. PHMSA mandated employees who refuse or fail a test must be referred to a substance abuse professional (SAP) for evaluation.

Safety and Failed Drug and Alcohol Tests

Natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and other hazardous materials pose substantial safety risks for industry workers and the public. PHMSA mandated employees who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol can compromise a safe environment. Therefore, operators and contractors who work in safety sensitive positions in the pipeline transportation industry must pass drug and alcohol tests to remain eligible to work. PHMSA requires employers to test safety sensitive employees at the time of their hiring (prior to beginning employment), after an incident, in association with reasonable cause or suspicion, at random, and upon return to duty. Employees who fail or refuse to submit to drug and alcohol testing must enter a SAP program in order to regain eligibility for employment in this industry.

SAP Programs for PHMSA Mandated Employees

Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) are specialists in DOT and PHMSA compliance. Their role is to evaluate the level of an employee’s use or misuse of drugs and/or alcohol in order to make treatment recommendations. A SAP must also monitor these employees’ continued compliance with the suggested treatment and/or education.

Ideally, substance abuse education and treatment will help employees manage their substance-related issues so they can return to work. Evidence-based substance abuse treatment has helped thousands of PHMSA mandated employees regain their good standing with their employers. By enrolling in a qualified SAP program, employees can prepare for their return to duty guided by experts who understand their specific treatment needs, as well as the industry’s strict need for compliance.

By enrolling in the FastTrack Enrollment Program from SAP Referral Services (SRS), PHMSA mandated employees can get the professional help they need to get back on track—and back to work. Click here to contact us and 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.