Canadian health and safety legislation – both national and provincial – stipulates that companies must be proactive in ensuring safety in the workplace.  This obligation is not limited to public safety on the roadways, but also the safety of employees, contractors and visitors on company premises and property.  In addition to these obligations, many Canadian carriers must comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulations requiring alcohol and drug policies and testing for all drivers who operate into the United States.  Properly trained supervisors are key to meeting both the safety and regulatory obligations. This would include provision of “refresher” training for those who have not had training in this area for a few years and need to “brush up” on their responsibilities.

In addition, recent changes in federal human rights policy in this area acknowledge that all truck and bus drivers perform safety-sensitive work – whether operating into the United States or remaining in Canada.  The new 2009 Policy allows for testing of all employees in reasonable cause and post incident situations and in addition, applicant testing and random testing for CMV drivers.  As a result many carriers are extending their alcohol and drug policies to ensure all employees are fit for duty, including drivers not affected by the DOT regulations.

To meet the variety of training situations carriers now face, the OTA provides a turnkey Alcohol and Drug training solution that allows your organization to ensure supervisors have the tools to do their job as your front line to successful policy implementation.  There are three programs offered are:
 
1. Alcohol & Drugs in the Workplace – For Supervisors of DOT-Regulated Drivers and Non-regulated drivers/staff

• Carriers must ensure supervisors of DOT-regulated drivers have completed a training program on the regulations and their responsibilities, or face fines for non-compliance.  This program helps them understand:
  • alcohol and drug issues in the Canadian setting and the impacts on workplace safety
  • their legal obligations in terms of Occupational Health and Safety, Criminal Code standards and human rights considerations
  • specific requirements that must be met under the DOT regulations
  • how alcohol and drug testing is conducted, and how the process safeguards privacy and ensures accurate results
  • their responsibilities for performance management, and for investigating “unfit for duty” situations;
  • the procedures for making decisions in reasonable cause and post incident situations which have been upheld in court and arbitration rulings both for regulated and non-regulated employees.
• The program provides real life “case studies/situations” to support the procedures and responsibilities, as well as accurate application of the regulations.  These scenarios and all course material can be accessed at any time to support the supervisor in meeting their responsibilities.
• Anyone using the course can also access the refresher training at any time.

2. Alcohol & Drugs in the Workplace – Supervisors of Non-regulated staff only

• Many carriers are recognizing their obligations when it comes to eliminating safety problems associated with alcohol and drug use, and putting in place policies and testing programs independent of any U.S. regulatory requirement.  This program contains the same basic content as the DOT course, but eliminates all DOT references for those supervisors who do not have a legal obligation to have that part of the training.

3. Alcohol & Drugs in the Workplace – Tailored program for Program Administrators, Designated Employer Representatives and Safety Managers

• This is an expanded version of the DOT course to supply those administering their company’s program, and those responsible for safety management, with additional information and support to do their job.

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