La. Admin. Code tit. 13 § V-107

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section V-107 - Drug/Alcohol Testing

A. All employees may be required to submit to drug and/or alcohol testing as a condition of employment, as a condition of continued employment, or as a condition of promotion, demotion, reassignment or detail to a safety-sensitive position. Whether announced or unannounced, tests will be administered under the following circumstances.

1. Pre-Employment. Drug tests are required of all prospective employees and appointees of this department. Each prospective employee/appointee shall be required to submit to drug screening at the designated time and place following a job offer. Pursuant to R.S. 49:1008, a prospective employee/appointee testing positive for the presence of a prohibited substance shall be eliminated from consideration for employment. Additionally, applicants for safety-sensitive positions listed in §121 shall be required to submit to alcohol testing. Applicants who test positive for the presence of alcohol shall be eliminated from consideration for employment.

2. Post-Accident/Incident. An employee may be subject to drug testing following an on-duty accident where there is reasonable suspicion that the employee was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Reasonable suspicion is a belief, based upon reliable, objective and articulable facts derived from direct observation of specific physical and behavioral characteristics (behavior, speech, appearance, odor), which causes a prudent person to suspect that an employee has engaged in drug or alcohol use. Only an appointing authority shall require an employee to submit to post-accident/incident testing. Generally, this decision will be based upon the recommendation of supervisory personnel at the scene who have objectively and thoroughly reviewed the circumstances of the accident/incident. The supervisor will fully document the facts upon which the recommendation for testing is made. Any employee directly involved in an on-duty accident shall be required to submit to drug and alcohol testing if:

a. the accident involves circumstances giving rise to a reasonable suspicion that the accident may have involved the employee's drug or alcohol use and the employee's action or inaction may have been a causative factor;

b. the accident meets the criteria of Subparagraph a and results in or causes the release of hazardous waste as defined by R.S. 30:2173(2) or hazardous materials as defined by R.S. 32:1502(5); or

c. the accident results in a fatality or serious bodily injury.

Note: When post-accident/incident testing is ordered, a departmental representative shall transport the individual being tested to and from the testing site. Under no circumstance should any employee who is reasonably believed to be impaired or under the influence of any drug or alcohol be permitted to operate a motor vehicle.

3. Random. Random alcohol and drug testing is required of all employees holding safety-sensitive positions as listed in §121 Such testing shall be periodic and unannounced, and employee selection therefor shall be by a computer-generated random selection process. All such testing shall, unless impracticable, occur during the employee's normal work hours.

4. Promotion/Reassignment/etc., to Safety-Sensitive Position. Current employees are required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to being reassigned, temporarily detailed, promoted or demoted to a safety-sensitive position as defined in §121 An offer of promotion, reassignment, detail or demotion will be withdrawn if a positive drug or alcohol test result is reported, and employees are further subject to disciplinary action as specified in these rules.

5. Reasonable Suspicion. An employee shall be required to submit to drug and alcohol testing when he/she exhibits behavior or appearance that is characteristic of drug or alcohol use. The decision to test will be by an appointing authority based upon reliable, objective and articulable facts derived from direct observation of the employee's physical appearance, behavior, speech, body odor or physical manifestations. The observation must be made by supervisory personnel (two, if possible) who shall record, in writing, the observations leading to the recommendation for testing.

Note: When reasonable suspicion testing is ordered, a departmental representative shall transport the individual being tested to and from the testing site. Under no circumstance should any employee who is reasonably believed to be impaired or under the influence of any drug or alcohol be permitted to operate a motor vehicle.

6. Return-to-Duty/Rehabilitation Monitoring. Any employee who retains his/her job following a violation of these rules shall be required, at his/her own expense, to undergo and complete any and all treatment recommended by a certified substance abuse professional. Any such employee shall be subject to periodic drug/alcohol testing. Further, any employee who voluntarily or, as a condition of continued employment, participates in an alcohol/substance abuse rehabilitation program, shall be subject to random drug/alcohol testing for a minimum of one year or longer as determined by the treating substance abuse professional. Any such employee shall be required to certify, in writing, his/her understanding and acceptance of such a rehabilitation agreement as a condition of returning to work.

La. Admin. Code tit. 13, § V-107

Promulgated by the Department of Economic Development, Office of the Secretary, LR 25:415 (March 1999).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 49:1015 et seq.