New urine collection regs go into effect 25 AUG 2008
In a post that to some, might seem out of place on this blog, Maritime Executive brings us news of a significant change to the CFR requirements for collecting urine samples for employment positions within the DOT regulated components of the U.S. maritime industry. Those who work in the maritime industry are very familiar to submitting to drug testing quite frequently. In summary, you’ll most likely have somebody watching you pee next time.
Employers must ensure that all return to duty and follow-up tests are conducted with direct observation specimen collections. 49 C.F.R. § 40.67(b). In addition, the observer in a direct observation collection is now mandated to require the specimen donor to demonstrate that they are not wearing or using a specimen adulteration or substitution device. According to the revised regulation, the observer “must request the employee to raise his or her shirt, blouse, or dress/skirt, as appropriate, above the waist; and lower clothing and underpants to show you, by turning around, that they do not have a prosthetic device.” 49 C.F.R. § 40.67(i). After the observer has determined that the employee does not have such a device, the employee is permitted to return clothing to its proper position for observed urination.
Click here to read the revised CFR.
