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Developing a Compliant Drug and Alcohol Education Program Presented by Diana Byrnes, Substance Abuse Management Specialist; CUTR. Today’s discussion will:. Outline the three drug and alcohol education and training components required under FTA Regulation 655.14
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Developing a Compliant Drug and Alcohol Education ProgramPresented by Diana Byrnes, Substance Abuse Management Specialist; CUTR
Today’s discussion will: • Outline the three drug and alcohol education and training components required under FTA Regulation 655.14 • Provide each attendee with suggested training materials • Provide sample training agendas • Provide each attendee with a copy of Clean, Sober and Safe; employee drug awareness video
FTA Regulations FTA Regulation §655.14 requires: • Education Component- Display and Distribution of material • Covered Employee Drug Awareness Training • Supervisory Training for Reasonable Suspicion Referral
Education Component 49 CFR Part 655.14 reads: “The education component shall include the displayand distributionof informational material and community service hot-line telephone numbers for employee assistance, to every covered employee.”
Education Component:Display • Community hot-line numbers for assistance with drug and alcohol issues* • Obtain from local phone book, websites and/or your EAP * Included in materials packet
Education Component: Display • Items for Display can include any or all of the following: • Posters • Flyers • Newspaper clippings • Magazine articles Be creative, but be accurate!
Education Component: Distribution • Items for distribution MUST include: • A copy of your agency’s Substance Abuse Policy • Items for distribution can include any or all of the following: • Employee Assistance Program brochures • Flyers • Postcards • Magazine and/or newspaper articles; books • Messages in payroll envelopes • Creative messages (candy, wrist bands, etc.)
Resources for Display and Distribution Materials • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration • www.samhsa.gov • National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) • www.drugabuse.gov • National Institutes of Health • www.nih.gov • Street Drugs (Images, stats, great information) • www.streetdrugs.org
Resources Continued • Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheet. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) www.nhtsa.dot.gov. • Driving While You Are Taking Medications. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) www.nhtsa.dot.gov. • Drug Facts. Office of National Drug Policy Control (ONDCP) www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov. • Prevention On-line. National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) www.health.org.
Best Practices for Meeting the Education Component • Keep material fresh • Messages lose impact after only a few months • Use a variety of media • What attracts one employee may not attract another- message delivery methods should be varied • Include messages in safety meeting • Repetition increases effectiveness
Training for Covered Employees 49 CFR Part 655.14 reads: “Covered employees must receive at least 60 minutes of training on the effects and consequences of prohibited drug use on personal health, safety, and the work environment, and on the signs and symptoms that may indicate prohibited drug use.”
Who’s your Trainer? • Who is qualified to conduct the training for covered employees? • Anyone equipped with knowledge about the drug and alcohol testing program and access to training materials • FTA does not require the trainer to obtain or hold any certification or educational credentials
Suggested Training Materials • Substance Abuse Policy specific to your agency • Video or other visual media, such as Clean Sober and Safe (specific to FTA covered employees) • Employee Drug Awareness manual • Employee Drug Awareness Assessment Quiz
Training Materials • Substance Abuse Policy Review • Inform employees of the five prohibited drugs under the regulation • Inform employees that the regulations prohibit the use of alcohol 4 hours prior to performing safety sensitive duties and at all times while performing safety sensitive duties or on call to perform safety sensitive duties • Inform employees that adherence to the drug and alcohol testing program is a condition of their employment • Inform employees of the test types they are subject to • Inform employees of System Contacts for further questions regarding drug and alcohol
Training Materials • Clean, Sober and Safe; a CUTR produced video, approved by FTA and available free of charge http://www.cutr.usf.edu/byrnessamsite
Training Materials • National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) • CDs • Videos • Web-casts • PowerPoint presentations http://ncadi.samhsa.gov
Training Materials • Employee Drug Awareness Manual • Review the manual with employees highlighting the effects and consequences of prohibited drug use on personal health, safety, and the work environment*
Training Materials • Employee Drug Awareness Assessment Quiz* • Provide employee with a quiet area • Review the completed quiz with the employee; correcting any inaccuracies • Return the completed and corrected test to the employee
Additional Training Topics (not required; but suggested) • Urine Collection and Breath Alcohol Testing Process • Shy bladder or shy lung situations • Laboratory process (assure employees of the quality and accuracy of the testing- DHHS certification) • Discuss the MRO interview, as it relates to prescription medication • Discuss the employee’s right to split specimen
Best Practices for meeting training requirements • Exceed the 60 minute minimum • Conduct the training as part of the new employee orientation • Provide varying forms of training media • Conduct refresher training annually • Foster an “Open Door” policy to encourage employees to seek help if needed
Training Supervisors 49 CFR Part 655.14 reads: “Supervisors and/or other company officers authorized by the employer to make reasonable suspicion determinations shall receive at least 60 minutes of training on the physical, behavioral, and performance indicators of probable drug use and at least 60 minutes of training on the physical, behavioral, speech, and performance indicators of probable alcohol misuse”.
Who’s your Trainer? • Who is qualified to conduct the training for covered employees? • Anyone equipped with knowledge about the drug and alcohol testing program and access to training materials • FTA does not require the trainer to obtain or hold any certification or educational credentials
Training Material • FTA has produced a video and training manual, available via web: http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/safety/datesting/ ReasonableSuspicion.asp
Training Materials • Photos • Web-casts • Drug Paraphernalia • Role Playing Scenarios • Training material available via CUTR website • http://www.cutr.usf.edu/byrnessamsite/
Additional Training Topics (not required; but suggested) • In house protocol to follow when making referrals • In house protocol for transporting employees to collection sites when referrals are made • FTA Post Accident Criteria- Decision and Documentation Form* • Windows for testing • How to contact on-site collectors for after hours testing • In house protocol for supervision of employee until testing takes place
Best Practices for Supervisor Training • Supplement FTA’s material with other media; images, drug paraphernalia etc. • Incorporate role playing, act out scenarios • Equip supervisors with a form for documenting the reasonable suspicion referral* • Emphasize the support management is prepared to give supervisors in making referrals
Conclusion • Exceed FTA minimum training requirements • Vary the delivery method • Send the message often • Create an atmosphere that encourages employees to seek help if needed • Support supervisors