Looking for a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) in Your Area?
All safety-sensitive employees in the transportation industry are required to undertake a mandatory Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) program when they fail a DOT-mandated drug test. Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP) are tasked with the responsibility of evaluating employees who violate a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol program regulation. They make recommendations as to matters relating to education, treatment, return-to-duty testing, and aftercare all of which an individual must demonstrate compliance before being considered for returning to safety-sensitive duties.
Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and the Return-to-Duty Process
At SAP Referral Services, we help employees who have been removed from duty because of a DOT violation by connecting them with a qualified and trained Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) to complete their return-to-duty process.
The return-to-duty process begins with a face-to-face clinical evaluation of the employee which is conducted by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) that has met the qualification and training requirements set by the Department of Transportation (49 CFR Part 40). The SAP then provides recommendations for treatment and/or education and sends a report to the employer(s) DER, specifying the recommended actions. Upon monitoring the employee’s progress, a SAP can determine if the employee has successfully complied with the recommendations and subsequently schedule a follow-up evaluation. Based upon the follow-up evaluation, the SAP will write a written report to the employer(s) DER stating the employee’s eligibility (or ineligibility) to perform a safety-sensitive job. It must be noted that an employer is not obligated to take the employee back if he/she so wishes. If an employee is unable to comply with the recommendations successfully, he/she may not return to safety-sensitive functions for any DOT employer until the SAP’s recommendations have been fully met along with a negative result on a return-to-duty test.
If you have an employee who is in violation of the company’s drug and alcohol testing policy and is committed to ensuring workplace safety, we are happy to identify one of our Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) in your applicant/employee’s geographic location. We maintain a comprehensive network of DOT qualified SAPs to help return employees to their work duties as soon as is safely possible. All our SAPs fully understand and comply with the regulations to protect the public interest in safety.
Contact SAP Referral Services today and allow us to help you arrange for a return-to-duty program with a certified Substance Abuse Professional in your area.