PDA

View Full Version : Drug and Alcohol Testing - New Regs


emu787
4th Aug 2007, 17:28
You have until 27th August to make a submission regarding the new Drug and Alcohol Regulations that will be passed into law and acted on immediately. The proposed start date is early 2008.

I urge all of the aviation industry participants to study the proposed regs(they will not be changed unless you comment).

You will find them as a PDF file top right corner at:

http://www.casa.gov.au/newrules/parts/099/NPRM0703SS.asp

Drugs are zero tolerance and so they should be and once busted you will not be permitted to return to work until tested zero.....I understand some of this stuff take three months to get a zero reading and you may also face loss of licence and/or the courts.

However, RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL consumption is generally an accepted way of life throughout most of the world but certainly in Australia.

BE WARNED !!!! the limit proposed is 0.02% BAC following the UK limit while they could adopt the US limit of 0.04% BAC as acceptable.

THEY WILL NOT CHANGE UNLESS THE INDUSTRY COMMENTS BEFORE 27TH AUGUST 2007!

In the proposal is to allow State Police to do random testing, airside is described as any area regardless of whether it is fenced, demerit point system and eventual revocation of your CASA Medical etc etc etc etc.

There are serious implications for all industry personnel. They are going to do a lot of random testing and not just targeting airline employees...the whole industry.

Get off your fat bums and hit the keyboard, make a responsible comment and DEMAND SAFEGUARDS be inserted into the regs to prevent overzealous, undertrained dickheads destroying your career.

YOU CANNOT REFUSE a test and you may not even be on duty and be asked to do a test......how will they determine who is on duty and who is not....etc etc etc...walking from one hangar to the next at a country aerodrome (like you have done for 30 years) after having a couple on Friday afternoon....how do you convince the man/lady that jumps out of the bushes that you are not on duty....make no mistake this will occur and you need safeguard legislation...YOU CANNOT REFUSE A TEST!

DO NOT come screaming next year that this long overdue system is flawed - its up to the industry to comment now!

pakeha-boy
4th Aug 2007, 18:27
Quote emu787
"BE WARNED !!!! the limit proposed is 0.02% BAC following the UK limit while they could adopt the US limit of 0.04% BAC as acceptable."

Great post for sure.....the FAA as you state have the 0.04%.....but my company has a 0.00%...and that is what we must adhere to when accepting a position....you sign the dotted line....

There are those who have failed the companys test(and we get them 2-3 times ayear) but have been below the FAA,s target and have used that as a defence....none have succeded.....rules and guidelines are two different things.....

woodja51
4th Aug 2007, 21:23
The only issue about what is rules and what is guidelines relates to maintaining your licence versus your job. If you fly under any CAA reg about BAL but your company imposes a more limiting one then that might mean your job but not your licence. Of course they can sack you for things like not wearing your hat if its in the FOM etc...
I personally recommend calling sick when you see the drink tester - assuming you havent signed on.. and most airlines like to keep sign on to a minimum to maximise duty times. seems when some rules suit they push it the way they like and when not push them the other way... If you believe statistics only 40% of road accidents involve alcohol ... so that implies that if you are drunk you are less likely to be in one... if you extended that to flying we would all be safer being hammered..at least until the stats caught up!! (of course tongue in cheek)

werbil
4th Aug 2007, 23:34
If you believe statistics only 40% of road accidents involve alcohol

Serious road accidents which involve fatalities or serious injuries have a very high history of significant alcohol involvement.

W

Ron & Edna Johns
5th Aug 2007, 00:09
Serious road accidents which involve fatalities or serious injuries have a very high history of significant alcohol involvement.

And aviation accidents which involve fatalities or serious injuries do NOT have a history of alcohol involvement.