11.03 - Drug and Alcohol Policy - Laserfiche WebLink

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1. INTRODUCTION AND POLICY STATEMENT In response to regulations issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA") of the United States Department of Transportation ("DOT"), the City of Pequot Lakes has adopted this Policy on Alcohol and Controlled Substances for Commercial Drivers. The City also has a separate Policy on Controlled Substance and Alcohol Testing for non-Driver employees. It is the policy of the City to maintain for all its operators of commercial motor vehicles, whether employees, independent contractors or agents, a work environment conducive to maximum safety and optimum work standards. The use, possession, manufacture, sale, transportation, or other distribution of controlled substance or controlled substance paraphernalia and the unauthorized use, possession, transportation, sale, or other distribution of alcohol is contrary to this policy and jeopardizes public safety. The abuse of alcohol and use of controlled substance may adversely affect an individual's health, work, and personal life. Using alcohol or a controlled substance can lead to a variety of physical problems, including cancer and damage to vital organs, depression and other psychological problems, social problems, and isolation from family and friends. Moreover, the use of alcohol and a controlled substance can impair essential safety skills on the job, such as vision, judgment, and coordination, and lead to increased absences, frequent accidents, decline in quantity and quality of work, lack of cooperation, poor concentration and judgment, and lack of motivation. When a substance abuse problem arises, methods of intervening include confrontation, referral to an employee assistance program, and referral to management. Given the significant dangers of alcohol and controlled substance use, each applicant and Driver must abide by this policy as a term and condition of hiring and continued employment. Moreover, federal law requires the City to implement such a policy. To ensure that the policy is clearly communicated to all Drivers and applicants to whom offers of employment or contracts have been made, and in order to comply with applicable federal law, Drivers and applicants are required to review this policy and execute the "Certificate of Receipt" portion. Because changes in applicable law and the City's practices and procedures may occur from time to time, terms of this policy may change in the future, and nothing in this policy is intended to be a contract, promise, or representation of any specific term or condition of employment except to the extent required by law. In the event that applicable DOT or FMCSA regulations governing alcohol and controlled substance use and testing are supplemented or amended, this policy shall be deemed to have been amended to conform to the applicable regulations. This policy does not in any way affect or change the status of any at-will employee. Nothing in this policy is a promise or guarantee or should be construed as a promise or guarantee that the City will follow any particular course of action, disciplinary, 1