RFDS Pilot Sacked
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This may take the thread away from DAMP for pilots, but it does indicate that the whole system is flawed.
The DAMP system is based around pilots and assumes that everyone including pilots is in perfect health.We all know that is not the case and even pilots are on regular (legally supplied and DAME approved) medications.But there are many duties in aviation that do not require perfect health.When all this started one CASA example was "the person washing the airport refuelling truck".Can anyone explain why that person can't be on a serious painkiller for say arthritis which will test positive for an opiate?
When I put that to CASA they said they were only doing what other industries are doing.However it appears that there are levels of health in railways with operational staff on a different level. In our industry we tacitly accept this as indicated by the fact that the only license medicals required by CASA, is for pilots. We even acccept different levels for pilots.Why do we then accept one industry standard for DAMP?
Under DAMP you could be on a prescribed medication and working as a LAME. If you are tested and found positive you go through the whole process of being stood down, medical review and reinstated. You then can be tested on your first day back and have to go through the whole process ad infinitum.
The system for anyone who has a medical condition which requires a medication that might test positive is a nightmare which CASA seems to have no interest in sorting out.
As a DAMP supervisor I find the whole system to be ill conceived and a paperwork war that in the end fails to acheive a great deal.
Wunwing
The DAMP system is based around pilots and assumes that everyone including pilots is in perfect health.We all know that is not the case and even pilots are on regular (legally supplied and DAME approved) medications.But there are many duties in aviation that do not require perfect health.When all this started one CASA example was "the person washing the airport refuelling truck".Can anyone explain why that person can't be on a serious painkiller for say arthritis which will test positive for an opiate?
When I put that to CASA they said they were only doing what other industries are doing.However it appears that there are levels of health in railways with operational staff on a different level. In our industry we tacitly accept this as indicated by the fact that the only license medicals required by CASA, is for pilots. We even acccept different levels for pilots.Why do we then accept one industry standard for DAMP?
Under DAMP you could be on a prescribed medication and working as a LAME. If you are tested and found positive you go through the whole process of being stood down, medical review and reinstated. You then can be tested on your first day back and have to go through the whole process ad infinitum.
The system for anyone who has a medical condition which requires a medication that might test positive is a nightmare which CASA seems to have no interest in sorting out.
As a DAMP supervisor I find the whole system to be ill conceived and a paperwork war that in the end fails to acheive a great deal.
Wunwing
Last edited by Wunwing; 25th Nov 2012 at 20:18.
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The drug testing regime seems to me to be an enforcement of lifestyle choices.
A test for extant primary substance in a persons body is oral fluid and breathe test.
This tells me if the person has drank alchohol or used drugs in the last 12 - 24 hours.
Urine analysis tells me if the person has used drugs in the previous weeks. Urine tests for metabolites of the substance not the substance its self. Urine test does not show that the person is under the influence at time of the test.
A test for extant primary substance in a persons body is oral fluid and breathe test.
This tells me if the person has drank alchohol or used drugs in the last 12 - 24 hours.
Urine analysis tells me if the person has used drugs in the previous weeks. Urine tests for metabolites of the substance not the substance its self. Urine test does not show that the person is under the influence at time of the test.
As a DAMP supervisor I find the whole system to be ill conceived and a paperwork war that in the end fails to acheive a great deal.
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Being on a medication that is prescribed by a doctor for a medical condition is not a lifestyle choice. In many cases its a life and death decision if you feel pressured not to take your prescribed medication.
The problem with the current DAMP process is that it assumes that all positive tests are an offence even if there is a valid medical reason. There is no provision for registering the fact that you are on a legally prescribed medication that has been determined by a CASA approved doctor to not have any effect on your work performance.
For some time there was a DAMP video that actually said that if you tested positive for any drug you had committed an offence. It now seemsto have been removed but I suspect that is still CASA's position. This CASA position seems to be questionable under the Human Rights Legislation.
As I said in the earlier post CASA is trying to work with a one "size" fits all system which in actual fact is a multi "size" environment. At the same time we have a stated Federal Govt aim to extend the working life of all Austalians and not discriminate by a number of categories including age and medical condition.
Wunwing
Being on a medication that is prescribed by a doctor for a medical condition is not a lifestyle choice. In many cases its a life and death decision if you feel pressured not to take your prescribed medication.
The problem with the current DAMP process is that it assumes that all positive tests are an offence even if there is a valid medical reason. There is no provision for registering the fact that you are on a legally prescribed medication that has been determined by a CASA approved doctor to not have any effect on your work performance.
For some time there was a DAMP video that actually said that if you tested positive for any drug you had committed an offence. It now seemsto have been removed but I suspect that is still CASA's position. This CASA position seems to be questionable under the Human Rights Legislation.
As I said in the earlier post CASA is trying to work with a one "size" fits all system which in actual fact is a multi "size" environment. At the same time we have a stated Federal Govt aim to extend the working life of all Austalians and not discriminate by a number of categories including age and medical condition.
Wunwing
Last edited by Wunwing; 26th Nov 2012 at 17:51.
Sprucegoose
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Should this episode actually be drug related, wait for the DAMP people start sprouting about how their program worked as a pilot was detected.
Trouble is it appears as though it didn't detect anything until after the pilot's passing out raised alarm bells.
Trouble is it appears as though it didn't detect anything until after the pilot's passing out raised alarm bells.
What a great job we are doing! This is proof DAMP is working! More funding anyone?
