(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - According to the The Safety Specialists (TSS Inc) based in Ketchikan, effective January 1, 2018 the U.S. Department of Transportation is amending the Federal drug testing program to include mandatory testing for: hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone and oxycodone to the drug testing panel. Some common names for these semi-synthetic opioids include OxyContin®, Percodan®, Percocet®, Vicodin®, Lortab®, Norco®, Dilaudid®, Exalgo®

The test requirement will be known as a five panel with expanded opioids. Additionally, this change will add MDA as an initial test analyte and remove MDEA as a confirmatory test analyte.

At this time, urinalysis will remain as the only approved method for Department of Transportation drug test panels. The revision brings DOT regulations into harmony with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations which went into effect on October 01, 2017.

CEO of consortium management TPA provider TSS INC, Renee Schofield, says, “At a time when our nation is facing a serious public health crises in the form of opioid misuse, abuse and addiction, this is the right move by DOT to work toward solutions that not only help promote transportation safety but can save a life before it’s too late.”

The Final Rule update also requires that all employers and service agents participating in 49 CFR Part 40 drug testing join the ODAPC ListServe for pertinent industry updates and notifications. Click here for the link to join.

Quoting the TSS Inc news release, employers should make sure to update their workplace drug and alcohol policies to conform with the U.S. Department of Transportation rules, notify employees that this change will take place as of January 1st and call TSS if any other questions arise.

The DOT drug testing program has been proven effective in reducing the impact of drug and alcohol use in the workplace for over two decades and is a model for all employers on the efficacy of a drug and alcohol policy that requires responsible employee screening according to Schofield.

Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

The Safety Specialists (TSS)
www.tss-safety.com

TSS INC provides safety trainings, compliance assistance and screening services that benefit workplace and community safety, serving clients as a Third Party Administrator, with national consortiums for both DOT and non-DOT employees. The company has offices in Alaska, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, with services available nationwide.

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