OPAM Workshop: Medical Review Officer Training Course: Toxicology Testing and the MRO, A Physician's Role in the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse-285274

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session discusses DOT alcohol testing rules, emphasizing their distinct nature compared to medical review officer responsibilities. While MROs don't handle alcohol test outcomes, they must be familiar with the rules under the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, which initiated alcohol testing in DOT industries by 1995. The rules cover prohibited conduct, such as not performing safety-sensitive duties with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher, and maintaining a pre-duty abstinence period from alcohol (four hours generally, eight for flight crews). Post-accident, operators cannot consume alcohol until tested or eight hours have passed. Alcohol testing parallels drug testing modes, including random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion testing. Employers may choose pre-employment testing after a job offer. Tests utilize breath, not blood or urine, using NHTSA-approved devices. A two-test system exists: a screening test and, if positive (0.02 or higher), a confirmation test. Regulations differ slightly among DOT agencies, with details on supervisor education, record-keeping, and confidentiality uniformally enforced. Medical review officers, however, are not involved in the verification or reporting of these alcohol test results.

Keywords

DOT alcohol testing

Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act

MRO responsibilities

prohibited conduct

pre-duty abstinence

post-accident testing

random testing

NHTSA-approved devices

supervisor education