Drug Testing and Substance Abuse. 1. Statement of Purpose The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by USD 500 teachers is inconsistent both with the duty of all citizens to abide by the law and with the duty of care expected of teachers who drive USD 500 vehicles. Maintaining a drug free work place is important in establishing an appropriate learning environment for the students of the district. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, sale, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance, illicit drugs and alcohol by school professional employees at school, on or while utilizing school property, or at school sponsored activities or events is prohibited. This article is required by the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and by the 1989 amendments to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, P.L. 102-226, 103 St. 1928. Teachers are further prohibited from reporting to or remaining on duty while impaired by controlled substances and/or alcohol. Violation of this prohibition shall result in appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination and referral for prosecution. While a function of schools in a democratic society is to xxxxxx adherence to constitutional rights, USD 500 believes that its adherence to the constitutional rights of employees must be measured against its interest in regulating certain conduct of employees performing said functions to ensure the safety of the traveling public, other employees and students. Toward this end, USD No. 500 has engaged in careful analysis and has determined that its interest presents special needs beyond normal law enforcement which justify adopting a physical examination procedure designed to identify improper drug and alcohol use. The procedure selected and which is hereby implemented includes testing blood, breath, and urine as well as utilizing other diagnostic tests designed to detect alcohol and/or drugs (or drug metabolites). The inherent difficulty in detecting drug abuse, coupled with the safety concerns such use poses to the public and our students mandates the implementation of a detection procedure designed to identify improper drug and alcohol use. This procedure should include, among other things, breath, blood and urinalysis testing. Furthermore, any such procedure should be targeted toward those individuals performing “safety sensitive functions” as defined below. Our goal, therefore, and the purpose of this policy is to establish and maintain a safe workplace and a healthy and efficient workforce free from the ...
Drug Testing and Substance Abuse. Substance abuse is recognised to be a serious medical and social problem. Substance abuse not only affects the well-being of the individual employee, but in the logistics and transportation industry. may affect the safety of fellow employees and the public in general. The Company and the Union have a strong interest in encouraging employees to refrain from the use of prohibitedsubstances and, where substance abuse does occur, to promote early detection and treatment. The Company and the Union acknowledge that any employee who is identifiedas having a substance abuse problem has an obligation to seek assistance and co-operatively participate in the treatment of the problem. The Company will provide assistance to employees experiencing substance abuse problems. This article is not intended to affect the Company's ability to determine fitness for work of an employee who has experienced a substance abuse problem, nor the right of the Company to take disciplinary action in appropriate circumstances. The Union recognises that the Company is required by the laws of the United States to administer a program of random drug testing for drivers who are requiredto operate in the United States. The Company agrees that random drug testing will be limited to the group of drivers necessary to carry out the Company's operations in the United States. However, in the event that a driver operates exclusively within Canada is disciplined or removedfrom service because of drug or alcohol abuse and is subsequently returned to active duty pursuant to the Company's drug or alcohol policy, the driver will be subject to periodic testing for a period of two years following the discipline or return to active duty, notwithstandingthat all driving may be performed within Canada.
