|
Recent Study Published
Outreach is Important
More Information
Recent Study
Published
In an article recently released by the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA), Editor
Erin Broekhuysen cited that the highest incidence of drug and alcohol use in Department of
Transportation (DOT) agencies is by employees working for small businesses in trucking and maritime
industries. The most recently released statistics by DOT indicate that the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) have positive rates that are
significant. FMCSA has a positive random rate of 2.0%, and USCG has a positive random rate of 1.8%.
FMSCA and USCG cover the greatest number of employees working in the transportation industry, which
include 660,000 employers and over 7.4 million employees. The number of employees covered by these
two agencies combined represents 90% of employees covered by all modes of transportation. A large
number of employers in FMCSA and USCG consist of owner/operated small businesses. Given these
results, it is clear that for some of this working population, the allure of using drugs outweighs
the risk of getting caught, even when the risks include losing one’s job.
DOT’s drug and alcohol testing rules require
employees in safety-sensitive positions to stay drug free. The high random rates reported indicate
that this is not the case in these two agencies and may point to a lack of drug and alcohol programs
being run by many small businesses in these agencies.
The results of a 1999 Drug and Alcohol Testing Survey conducted by FMCSA’s Data Analysis
Division report that only 67% of motor carriers have random testing programs. Therefore, since not
everyone is covered in a testing program, the positive rate could be higher. Additionally there is a
transient and seasonal nature in the maritime and motor carrier industries resulting in employees
working for more than one employer. This could result in a higher positive rate, with the same
employee testing positive for two employers in the same year.
Employers have been using drug and alcohol testing for
over ten years and yet only two of the six agencies covered have ever seen a significant decline in
positive rates to allow them to lower their random testing rates. The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) in 1995 and the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) in 1997 reduced their
random testing rates for covered employees from 50% to 25%. Each agency may lower the testing rate to
25% of all covered employees if the administrator determines that the data received under the
reporting requirements for two consecutive years reports a positive rate of less than 1.0%.
Other agency-reported positive random rates:
-
Federal Transit Administration 1.1%
-
Federal Railroad Administration 0.8%
-
Federal Aviation Administration 0.7%
-
Research and Special Programs Administration
0.6%
Larger companies are covered by the agencies listed
above, resulting in fewer employers. These employers may employ more full-time employees and may also
be able to afford substance abuse education programs for their employees.
Outreach is
Important
DATIA encourages education and communication among drug and alcohol testing professionals,
transportation professionals, and the general public. Occupational health clinics can assist in this
effort through their newsletters, Lunch and Learn Programs, and other educational programs targeted
for this industry.
[Editor’s Note: The Random Alcohol Testing Rate for DOT remains at 10% for FMCSA, FAA, FRA, and
FTA. Random Alcohol Testing Rates do not apply to RSPA or USCG.]
Resources
Broekhuysen, Erin, Employees Working for Small Businesses in Trucking and Maritime Industries
Have Highest Incidence of Drug and Alcohol Use, DATIA, July 10, 2002.
More Information
DATIA
800.355.1257
www.datia.org
[top]
[Return to Autumn 2002 main page]
|
