Operator Obligation to Promulgate a Policy on the Misuse of Alcohol [49 CFR 199.239]

(A)A. General Requirements. Each operator shall provide educational materials that explain these alcohol misuse requirements and the operator's policies and procedures with respect to meeting those requirements. [49 CFR 199.239(a)]#

(1)1. The operator shall ensure that a copy of these materials is distributed to each covered employee prior to start of alcohol testing under this Chapter, and to each person subsequently hired for or transferred to a covered position. [49 CFR 199.239(a)(1)]#

(2)2. Each operator shall provide written notice to representatives of employee organizations of the availability of this information. [49 CFR 199.239(a)(2)]#

(B)B. Required Content. The materials to be made available to covered employees shall include detailed discussion of at least the following: [49 CFR 199.239(b)]#

(1)1. the identity of the person designated by the operator to answer covered employee questions about the materials; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(1)]#

(2)2. the categories of employees who are subject to the provisions of this Chapter; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(2)]#

(3)3. sufficient information about the covered functions performed by those employees to make clear what period of the work day the covered employee is required to be in compliance with this Chapter; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(3)]#

(4)4. specific information concerning covered employee conduct that is prohibited by this Chapter; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(4)]#

(5)5. the circumstances under which a covered employee will be tested for alcohol under this Chapter; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(5)]#

(6)6. the procedures that will be used to test for the presence of alcohol, protect the covered employee and the integrity of the breath testing process, safeguard the validity of the test results, and ensure that those results are attributed to the correct employee; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(6)]#

(7)7. the requirement that a covered employee submit to alcohol tests administered in accordance with this Chapter; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(7)]#

(8)8. an explanation of what constitutes a refusal to submit to an alcohol test and the attendant consequences; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(8)]#

(9)9. the consequences for covered employees found to have violated the prohibitions under this Chapter, including the requirement that the employee be removed immediately from covered functions, and the procedures under §6543; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(9)]#

(10)10. the consequences for covered employees found to have an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater but less than 0.04; [49 CFR 199.239(b)(10)]#

(11)11. information concerning the effects of alcohol misuse on an individual's health, work, and personal life; signs and symptoms of an alcohol problem (the employee's or a coworker's); and including intervening evaluating and resolving problems associated with the misuse of alcohol including intervening when an alcohol problem is suspected, confrontation, referral to any available EAP, and/or referral to management. [49 CFR 199.239(b)(11)]#

(C)C. Optional Provisions. The materials supplied to covered employees may also include information on additional operator policies with respect to the use or possession of alcohol, including any consequences for an employee found to have a specified alcohol level, that are based on the operator's authority independent of this Chapter. Any such additional policies or consequences shall be clearly described as being based on independent authority. [49 CFR 199.239(c)]#

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:751-757, redesignated as R.S. 30:701-707 and R.S. 30:501 et seq.#

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, Pipeline Division, LR 21:834 (August 1995), amended LR 30:1301 (June 2004).#