QUALITY CONNECTION OF KOKOMO-MARION
SUBSTANCE
ABUSE PROGRAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(1)
When will the testing begin? Testing will begin in July of 2006. Approximately ten percent (10%) of the
employed local union membership will be scheduled to take their annual drug
each month until all employed members have been tested. In addition, approximately two percent (2%)
of those employed will be required to submit to a random drug test each month.
(2) Is my employer required to give
notice of drug tests? You will be notified of when you need to take
your initial annual drug test. After
that, your employer is not required to give notice for annual drug
tests, however, you will be mailed, as a courtesy, a notice from The Quality
Connection or the database administrator within fourteen (14) from the
expiration date of your drug card. In
the event you are required to report for a random drug test, either your
employer or the database administrator will notify you.
(3) How often will I be tested? Most
individuals will be tested only once every twelve months. However, there are other circumstances under
which you may be required to submit to a drug or alcohol test.
(4) What are the circumstances that
allow for testing other than the annual requirement? You
are required to be tested if your supervisor has probable cause to
believe that you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Supervisors must be qualified to make such a
determination and you are entitled to a copy of your supervisor’s documented
observations. In addition, if you are
involved in an accident or incident, your employer has the right to require a post
accident/incident drug and/or alcohol test.
A small number of employees will be subjected to a random drug
test each month in accordance with the policy.
On certain projects, you may also be required to take an owner-mandated
random drug test. If you ever have a
confirmed positive test result, you will be required to take a return-to-work
test and probably one or more follow-up tests.
If you have any
questions about whether or not you must submit to a drug and/or alcohol test,
you are encouraged to take the test and file a grievance later, since your
refusal to take a test will be considered the same as a positive test result.
(5) What are the requirements for
follow-up testing? Follow-up testing will be prescribed by a Substance
Abuse Professional as part of a treatment program and be coordinated with the
database administrator. Follow-up tests
are usually conducted without the employee’s prior knowledge.
(6) What types of drugs will I be tested
for? The drug test you will take is commonly referred to as
a “ten-panel screen.” You will be
tested for the following drugs: (1)
Marijuana, (2) Cocaine, (3) Amphetamines, (4) Opiates, (5) Phencyclidine (PCP),
(6) Barbiturates, (7) Benzodiazepine, (8) Methadone, (9) Propoxyphene, and (10)
Methaqualone.
(7) Where do I go for a urine drug test? When you
receive your drug testing notice, a list of the approved testing facilities
will be included. If you are working on
a project where an approved on-site testing facility is made available, you
could be tested there.
(8) What happens if I fail to follow the
specified procedures at the testing facility? If
you fail, or refuse, to follow the procedures and sign the necessary forms, the
testing facility will not give you a test and you will be treated as having
obtained a “confirmed positive” test result.
Please remember that you must provide photo identification, your social
security number, and your Quality Connection drug testing notice (if reporting
for your initial or annual test).
(9) How long does a drug test take? Under optimal
conditions, you should spend approximately fifteen to twenty minutes at the
testing facility. Of course, the length
of time needed to complete the test can vary.
For instance, if the testing facility is crowded or if you have
difficulty in producing a valid specimen, the process will take longer.
(10) How long will it take for my test
results to become known? Each urine sample will be given an initial
screening. If the initial screening
results are negative, that outcome will generally be known in 24 to 48 hours. If the initial results are positive, a
confirmatory test will be run. It will
take an additional 2 to 3 days before the confirmatory test results are
known.
(11) What happens if the laboratory
reports that my test is negative? If your test result is negative (meaning that
you “passed” the test), the database administrator (Midwest Toxicology) will
notify your employer of the result. You
will not be notified of a negative test result. You will be issued a new drug card that will
expire one year from the date of the test you just took.
(12) What happens if the laboratory
reports that my test is positive? In the case of a positive test result, the Medical
Review Officer (MRO) will contact you and explain the test result. At that time, you may advise the medical review
officer of any medication prescribed to you that may have affected the
result of the test. If the MRO
determines there is a legitimate medical reason for the positive test result,
the result will be treated the same as a negative laboratory test.
If you feel that the
laboratory made an error, you may have the remaining portion of the original
specimen independently retested, at your expense, by a certified laboratory of
your choice. If the independent retest is
negative, you will be reimbursed for the cost of the test plus be compensated
for any lost time.
(13) What happens after the MRO confirms
that my test is positive (i.e. “failed”)? The MRO will contact the database administrator
(Midwest Toxicology) and confirm that your test result is positive. In turn, the database administrator will
notify you and your employer. You will
be given information on how to contact a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) for
a private evaluation. Your employer will
be advised that you no longer have a valid drug card and thus, are ineligible
for work. Although you are not eligible
for work, your employment will not be terminated based solely upon the
positive test result. You will be
given the opportunity to comply with the program and return to work for your current
employer.
(14) What can I expect from an
evaluation with a Substance Abuse Professional? The purpose of
the evaluation is to determine the extent of your problem and decide upon what
treatment, if any, is necessary.
Evaluations are conducted face-to-face in a private setting and may last
from thirty minutes to two hours. The
professional you meet with is someone who possesses knowledge and experience in
the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse problems. After the evaluation, the SAP will discuss
the treatment requirements with you and answer any questions you may have. Please understand that you must fully
complete any treatment program prescribed by the SAP, even if you test negative
before completion of the program.
(15) Will I have to pay for a drug test? Under most circumstances, no. However, if you test positive, you will have
to pay for your “return-to-work” test and any “follow-up” tests. If you provide a diluted specimen, you will
be required to pay for a retest. If the
retest results are negative, you will be reimbursed (one time) for the cost of
the test.
(16) What is a diluted specimen? A diluted
specimen is usually the result of a person consuming a large volume of liquids
(i.e. coffee, water) prior to a drug test.
Diluted specimens are not acceptable for testing purposes, and if you
produce a diluted specimen, you must return to an approved testing facility
within 24 hours to provide a second sample.
A second diluted sample, without a valid medical reason, will be treated
the same as a confirmed positive test.
In order to prevent a diluted specimen, please limit your intake of
liquids at least 8 hours prior to testing.
(17) Will I have to pay for any
substance abuse treatments? Following your first confirmed positive test
result, The Quality Connection will pay for your SAP evaluation and any
subsequent treatment sessions conducted by the Employee Assistance Program
(EAP). Certain non-EAP treatments may be
covered by your health insurance.
The same will apply when you
test positive a second time. However, if
you test positive for a third time within a twelve-month period, you
will be responsible for all treatment costs.
Please keep in mind that a substituted or adulterated urine specimen, a
second diluted specimen, or use of a counterfeit drug card will be treated the
same as a confirmed positive test.
(18) What happens if I voluntarily seek
assistance without having tested positive? You are
certainly encouraged to seek professional assistance for a substance abuse
problem at any time. Seeking assistance
on a voluntary basis will not be considered the same as having obtained
a positive test result. However, don’t
be mislead into thinking that you will be granted
total amnesty. Upon evaluation by a Substance
Abuse Professional, you may (for safety reasons) be declared ineligible for
work and be required to complete a treatment program.
(19) Can I report to work without a drug
card? Yes, but only during the first year of this program
while the initial annual drug tests are being administered. After that, the answer is no. You must then
have a valid drug card when you report to work in order to demonstrate that you
are in compliance with the program.
However, if you were unemployed or working outside the jurisdiction of
the local union when your drug card expired, or if you are a Group II, III, or
IV journeyman, or a newly organized worker, you must submit to a drug test
within five (5) working days following employment. If you have been tested, but you have not
received your drug card, your employer can verify your status by contacting the
database administrator. Once you receive
your drug card, you are expected to carry it with you during work hours and show
it to your employer (or owner’s representative) upon request. If you have forgotten, misplaced, or lost
your card, you will be given 48 hours to retrieve it or show that you have
requested a replacement card.
Please keep in mind that
during the first year of this program you may have an invalid drug card
and be ineligible to work due to a positive drug test or you may be classified
as “non-compliant” for failure to follow the terms and conditions of the
written policy.
(20) What determines the expiration date
of my drug card? Your drug card will be valid for exactly one
year following the date you took an authorized drug test and the result was
negative.
(21) What happens if I have a
counterfeit drug card? If caught, you will be ineligible for employment and
may be terminated by your employer. In
order to return to work, you must follow the same procedure as if you had
tested positive.
(22) What if I am caught consuming,
possessing or selling alcohol or unlawful drugs on company premises or the
customer’s property? You will be subject to whatever discipline is
deemed appropriate by your employer (or owner), up to and including
discharge. If the activity is related to
illegal controlled substances, you may also face arrest.
(23) Who should I contact if I have a
question or need additional information? Depending upon the nature of
your inquiry, you should contact one of the following:
For questions regarding
the content or interpretation of the substance abuse program:
IBEW Local 873
(765-457-5371) or NECA (317-846-5680)
For questions regarding drug and alcohol testing or
MRO issues:
Midwest Toxicology (262-2200 or 1-800-358-8450 ask for
Tiffany Marion or Sharon Allen)
For questions regarding the Employee Assistance
Program:
Methodist Assistance Program (317-962-2622 or
1-800-745-4838) Ask
to speak directly with a program counselor.
Lost
or stolen drug cards:
Midwest Toxicology (see above)
________________
NOTE: The purpose
of this document is to provide a quick reference for questions that may arise
regarding the implementation and administration of the Substance Abuse Program
agreed upon by IBEW Local Union 873 and the