Marine Lab Policies, Procedures and Protocols
Personnel -- Drug Testing Policy
4. Testing - 46 CFR 16.210 - .250
A. Pre-employment Testing - Duke University shall not employ or commit to employ any individual as crewmember unless he or she has passed a chemical test for dangerous drugs. An individual may be exempted from pre-employment testing if satisfactory proof is provided that he or she 1) passed a pre-employment test or periodic chemical test for a previous employer within the past six months; or 2) has been subject to an approved random testing program during the past twelve months, has not failed a chemical test and has not refused to take a required chemical test.
B. Periodic Testing - Any crewmember required to take a physical examination for license renewal or application for Merchant Mariner's Document will also be required to pass a chemical test for dangerous drugs as part of that examination. Results of this test will be forwarded to the USCG Regional Exam Center as part of the license renewal or application process. Chemical testing will not be required as part of a crewmember's periodic health review.
A crewmember will be exempted from this periodic testing if he or she provides proof that he or she has 1) passed a pre-employment or a periodic chemical test within the past six months or 2) been subject to an approved random testing program during the past twelve months, has not failed a chemical test, and has not refused to take a required chemical test.
C. Reasonable Cause - Duke University supervisors shall require any crewmember or embarked personnel who is reasonably suspected of drug or alcohol use to be chemically tested for dangerous drugs and alcohol.
This decision will be based on a reasonable and articulatable belief that the individual has used a dangerous drug or alcohol based on direct observation of specific, contemporaneous physical, behavioral or performance indicators of probable use. If possible, this belief should be based on the observation of the individual by two persons in supervisory positions.
When Duke University requires testing of an individual under this section, the individual will be informed of this fact and directed to provide a biological specimen as soon as practicable. This fact shall be noted in the vessel deck log. The individual will be relieved of duties until he or she is deemed fit by a Duke supervisor.
If an individual refuses to provide a biological specimen, this fact will also be noted in the vessel deck log. A Duke University supervisor will complete an Employee Occupational Health Service Impairment Checklist, and it will be forwarded through proper channels to Employee Occupational Health Service. These forms are found in Duke University's Personnel Policy Manual, Section D-16, Attachment A. In the case of non-Duke individuals, he or she will be relieved of duties and hisor her shoreside supervisor notified.
D. Post Accident - Duke University will test all individuals, i.e., crewmembers, and embarked personnel, who are directly involved in a marine casualty in accordance with the requirements of 46 CFR 4.05 and 4.06, for dangerous drugs and alcohol.
E. Random Testing - Duke University will randomly select crewmembers for chemical testing beginning October 1, 1991. Thereafter, any subject crewmember, without notice, may be required to provide a urine sample at any time. Duke University, as employer, is requireed to test a minimum of 50% of all subject crewmembers annually. All names will be selected by luck of the draw. A crewmember who has been tested previously has an equal chance of being selected again, eliminating any "window of opportunity" between tests.