Drug/Alcohol test prior to employment

[Staticport]

Does anybody know who is to conduct the blood/alcohol test prior to commencing employment at a company?

I can't seem to find an answer among the CASA publications, i suppose thats a common problem though

Thanks

[senshi]

Funnily enough, CASA don't have an answer either..

But you do have a few options.

1. A GP (doesn't have to be a DAME) may have a testing kit at their practise.
2. A GP can give you a referral to a pathologist who can conduct the test.
3. Your prospective employer may have a test kit, in which case they can conduct the test.

The above list is not exhaustive. No doubt there are other avenues to explore.

S

[Staticport]

Thanks for the advice...typical CASA :ugh:

[Oz Vegemite]

most companies will give you a referral form to take to a local independent pathology service. The results will be sent to the employer, who must keep the details on your staff file.

[YPJT]

Funnily enough I was just reading up on this when I saw the thread.

The taking of samples must done by a person approved by CASA or accredited to AS 4760.

The other problem is that the regs specify that testing for alcohol must be done by breath analysis and testing for drugs done by mouth or urine sample. Most of the path labs you go to for the D&A test will just take a p1ss test. Some may do the mouth swab test but I would think very few if any do a breath test. If a breath test is initially positive, it then requires a confirmatory test and the equipment has to meet very stringent certification requirements. Whereas the preliminary test can be done with an "approved" machine.

I thought I had this sussed but I guess I will be making a phone call to CASA tomorrow for some clarification.:ugh:

A bigger problem is the nomination of the Medical Review Officer who is required under the regs to sign off and clear a person to return to SSAA after a positive test result.

I heard recently of a guy having to travel 1000km to do a breath test.

[rep]

Most companys have employees who have done a course or something, and have a certificate from CASA saying their fit to conduct a test. Usually a senior pilot.

[YPJT]

Rep, the training and certificate you refer to is for the DAMP administrator. That is, someone who is able to form an opinion as to whether an individual may be affected by drugs or alcohol. The administrator is the one who has the authority to direct a person covered by their DAMP to undergo D&A testing. At least now the DAMP administrator training is able to be conducted online.

The taking of samples is a whole different kettle of fish. When we did the first courses with CASA last year, many of us thought that we would be the ones doing the testing. This was never intended to be the case. There would be huge ramifications from having positive samples taken by a person not appropriately trained and qualified.

Don't bother calling the CASA AOD line for advice. All you ever get on their number is an answering machine.:ugh:

[Staticport]

All CASA had to say (other than their answering machine) was the tests had to be completed by a 'qualified' organization. No advice on where to go or who to ask.

I ended up getting the test done with Dorevitch pathologists. They don't even do a mouth swab or breath test, just the urine sample.

Done, thanks for the advice