From the DOT Publication Best Practices for Random Drug and Alcohol Testing. Here’s what happens when an employee isn’t available for random drug testing.
Best Practices For Random Drug Test
- If you select an employee for testing and know they’ll be unavailable during the selection cycle (due to an extended absence or long-term illness), document the reason. Then make up for the shortfall by selecting another employee or making an extra selection during the next cycle.
- If you select an employee but they don’t receive notice because it’s their day off, test them during their next shift. Ensure it happens within the same selection cycle.
- Do not excuse employees from testing due to operational difficulties. Refer to your industry-specific regulations and official interpretations to determine what qualifies as a legitimate exception.
- Once you notify the employee to report for testing and the test doesn’t occur, the opportunity for random testing ends. There’s no second “bite of the apple.”
If the DOT, FMCSA, or a state regulator audits your company, the auditor will usually ask for documentation on incomplete tests.
Create and maintain clear policies about what to do when an employee isn’t available for random drug testing.
