Services

Monitoring Contractors: Compliance with Drug/Alcohol Testing

What Must an Operator Do Regarding Drug/Alcohol Testing?

As required in 49 CFR Parts 40 and 199, a pipeline operator is required to comply with regulatory requirements related to drug and alcohol testing of its employees who perform covered functions. Your responsibility to comply also extends to ensuring compliance by your contractors, subcontractors, and other agents who perform covered functions on your behalf.

How Can Veriforce Help?

Typically, operators obligate their contractors to meet all applicable drug and alcohol testing requirements. We represent you in ensuring that your contractors are meeting those requirements, track all data, and provide you with real-time access to reports.

What Does Veriforce Do?

We manage an efficient process for ensuring that your contractors and subcontractors are meeting necessary requirements. Like everything else we do, we try to build systems that operators can share -- the results we strive for are improved ability to demonstrate compliance, and cost savings for our operators, individually and collectively through economies of scale. To learn more about how our drug and alcohol tracking services save you time and money, contact us at 800.426.1604.

1. Identify Contractors
   We work with you to determine which contractors and subcontractors must meet drug/alcohol testing requirements. This list of contractors is entered into VeriSource, our online database, where it is accessible to you at a moment’s notice.
2. Communicate Requirements
   We work with you to develop written communication directing contractors to submit appropriate plans and testing statistics to us, along with the required timeframe. We become the primary contact for your contractors. We communicate requirements and answer contractors’ questions as they pertain to DOT/PHMSA Anti-Drug and Alcohol Misuse regulations.
   We provide toll-free telephone access in order to facilitate handling of contractor questions and other requests, so that you can focus on managing your pipeline more efficiently.
   All communication (outbound Veriforce-initiated correspondence and inbound contractor-initiated communication) is logged and reported to you through VeriSource.
3. Review Plans
   We review each Anti-Drug Plan and Alcohol Misuse Plan to ensure adequacy with Title 49 Parts 40 and 199 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
   In the event one of your contractors has not yet developed an Anti-Drug Plan or Alcohol Misuse Plan, or in the event the submitted plan does not meet applicable requirements, we can assist the contractor in identifying resources that may be used to develop or revise the written plan to meet requirements.
4. Collect Statistical Data
   We ask each applicable contractor to submit testing statistics for the most recent five calendar years. Contractors submit testing statistics on a semi-annual basis after the initial submittal.
   We review testing statistics submitted by contractors to ensure completeness and accuracy, enter those statistics into VeriSource, and make this information available to our operator clients.
5. Records/Reporting
   We maintain the most current copy of your contractor's Anti-Drug Plan, Alcohol Misuse Plan and testing statistics for the most recent five calendar years.
   We maintain and report the following information through VeriSource:
   
   • Contractor name, address and contact information
   • The Original Date of Implementation (date that testing began)
   • Plan revision date
   • Name and contact information for contractor's Designated Employee Representative (DER) or Drug Program Manager (DPM)
   • Name and contact information of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) laboratory(s) used for drug/alcohol sample testing
     • We will confirm that the laboratory(s) are properly certified.
   • Name and contact information of Medical Review Officer (MRO)
     • We will confirm that the MRO is certified through the appropriate organization(s).
   • Statistical Data Reports (most recent five calendar years) - Collected Semi-Annually
     • Average number of contractor employees covered under PHMSA
     • Random testing percentage
     • Number of federal drug and alcohol tests conducted broken down by test type
     • The number of verified positives in the past calendar year, broken down by test type and substance
     • Actions resulting from the positive tests - i.e. rehabilitation, termination, etc.
6. Monitoring/Auditing
   We perform comprehensive on-site audits of contractor programs. The purpose of these audits is to assess whether the contractor's drug and alcohol programs are being conducted in accordance with DOT/PHMSA regulations and your requirements.
   We work with you to communicate findings and corrective actions to the applicable contractors. To learn more about our drug and alcohol monitoring services, contact us today at 800.426.1604.