Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
Oil and gas companies working on pipeline must follow DOT regulations for drug and alcohol testing. The PHMSA regulation is 49 CFR Part 199. These drug and alcohol testing regulations require operators, and their contractors, of natural gas and other gas pipeline transportation, hazardous liquids pipeline transportation, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline facilities to:
Have anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention plans and programs applicable to persons who perform operating, maintenance, or emergency-response functions covered by the DOT pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR Parts 192, 193 or 195.
For fast service for PHMSA drug testing and PHMSA Drug Free Workplace Policy
Does your company have employees that are involved with the natural gas pipeline system or the hazardous liquid pipelines here in the United States? Are you a Pipeline operator needing drug and alcohol testing?
If so, then the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration requires you to have a drug and alcohol testing program for all employees working on the pipelines.
As intimidating as that may sound National Drug Screening has a comprehensive program designed to simplify the process for employers to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR part 199, the PHMSA Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation.
Operators of pipeline facilities and underground natural gas storage facilities subject to 49 CFR parts 192, 193, and 195 are required to test covered employees for the presence of prohibited drugs and alcohol.
Part 199 applies to pipeline operators and operators of underground natural gas storage facilities and their contractors. Only concerning employees located within the territory of the United States.
The anti-drug and alcohol program required by a regulated employers policy must be conducted according to the requirements of 49 CFR part 199 and 49 CFR part 40.
National Drug Screening serves as the consortium third-party administrator, or the service agent often called a C/TPA. This is a vendor contracted to assist the employer with the administration of the PHMSA Drug and Alcohol Testing program.
A covered function means an Operations maintenance or emergency response function regulated by parts 192, 193, or 195 which is performed on a pipeline or an LNG facility. Covered employees are subject to drug and alcohol testing. The testing component for drugs includes screening for marijuana, cocaine, opiates and amphetamines/ methamphetamines and phencyclidine also called PCP.
A Few Facts About PHMSA Drug & Alcohol Testing
- Pre-employment drug testing is always required
- Random testing is required however there is no random alcohol testing
- Alcohol testing will be required for post-accident testing and reasonable suspicion testing; it may also be required for return to duty testing and follow-up testing
- After a violation, an employee will be subject to return to duty testing and follow-up testing, these are required to be direct observed
- A comprehensive drug and alcohol policy/plan is always required, often also called an Anti-drug Plan and Alcohol Misuse Plan
National Drug Screening offers a complete compliance PHMSA Drug and Alcohol Testing solution. We provide you with:
- Step by step instructions and all the required documents,
- An all-in-one great compliance manual,
- As needed, a policy statement on controlled substances use and alcohol misuse in the workplace,
- Your customized DOT drug and alcohol testing policy (Anti-drug Plan and Alcohol Misuse Plan),
- As required, educational materials to be distributed to all covered employees,
- As required, supervisor training materials and access to live or additional online supervisor training
- As required, employee assistance programs rehabilitation and treatment programs information
- As required, access to substance abuse professionals for DOT violations
- As required copies of DOT regulation 49 CFR part 47 49 CFR part 199
- As required, a controlled substances and alcohol testing program for PHMSA covered employees
- Consortium and random testing instructions
- Required random testing
- All required forms for compliance, and
- Instructions for required record-keeping.
Drug testing and policy writing are available for PHMSA regulated employers, just call (866) 843-4545
Summary
The summary highlights of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulation 49 CFR Part 199 are as follows:
Covered employee: A person who performs on a pipeline or liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility an operation, maintenance, or emergency-response function.
Types of tests for drugs: Pre-employment, random, reasonable cause, post-accident, return-to- duty, and follow-up.
Types of tests for alcohol: Post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up.
Definition of accident requiring testing: An accident is one involving gas pipeline facilities or LNG facilities or involving hazardous liquid or carbon dioxide pipeline facilities.
Reasonable-suspicion determination: One trained supervisor can make the decision based upon signs and symptoms.
Reasonable-cause determination: One trained supervisor can make the decision based upon reasonable and articulable belief that the employee is using prohibited drugs on the basis of specific, contemporaneous physical, behavioral, or performance indicators of probable drug use.
Pre-duty alcohol use prohibitions: Four (4) hours prior to performance of duty.
Actions for BACs 0.02 – 0.039: If the employer chooses to return the employee to covered service within 8 hours, the BAC retest must be below 0.02.
Employee Training
Employee training (Drugs): Employer must provide EAP education with display and distribution of informational materials; display and distribution of a community service hot-line telephone number; and display and distribution of the employer’s policy regarding the use of prohibited drugs.
Employee Training (Alcohol): Employer must develop materials that explain policies and procedures (as well as names of those who can answer questions about the program) and distribute them to each covered employee.
Supervisor Training
One-hour of training is required on the specific, contemporaneous physical, behavioral, and performance indicators of probable drug use. One-hour of training is also required on the specific, contemporaneous physical, behavioral, and performance indicators of probable alcohol use.
Find the next available DOT supervisor training or order on demand computer based supervisor training.
Additional Information
Reportable employee drug and alcohol violations: No requirements to report violations to PHMSA.
A written policy for or Anti-Drug plan is required. National Drug Screening can assist with the Anti-Drug plan that will be in compliance. Services from National Drug Screening are nationwide, call today for expert assistance.