Our good friend Dee Mason, founder and CEO of Working Partners®, recently wrote an article which was published in the DATIA focus magazine (Fall 2017) edition (DATIA merged with NDASA in 2023). The article entitled Operating a Blended Workplace: DOT vs. non-DOT is an excellent read for many employers with both DOT and non DOT drug & alcohol testing programs.
It is important to realize that there are many differences between DOT drug testing and non DOT drug testing. Dee does a great job of explaining some of the differences and some of the blended characteristics of an effective drug-free workplace program for employers operating with both DOT and non DOT employees. These employers need a DOT drug free workplace policy and a non DOT drug free workplace policy.
Some of the areas discussed where there are significant differences include:
- Accident definition warranting a post-accident test
- Tested drugs
- Random testing
- Definition of safety- sensitive functions/ positions
- Reasonable suspicion
- Testing for new employees
Click Here to read the full article.
Dee Mason is founder and CEO of Working Partners®, a consulting and training firm working with end-user employers and systems to develop and maintain drug-free workplaces. With more than 24 years of experience and servicing 1,700 clients annually, Working Partners® crafts policies, trains employees and supervisors, and connects organizations with affordable testing and assistance programs. Dee’s work includes building drug-free operational systems for large-scale applications including Ohio’s Bureau of Workers ‘ Compensation drug-free workplace premium discount program which offered the nation’s deepest discounts for over 13 years.
