Smart Test

Random Testing Requirements for 2017 December is the last opportunity to meet the random testing requirements for 2017. Even if the results are received after December 31, 2017, the testing date will still count as calendar year 2017 if the test occurs by end-of-day on December 31. Achieving the required 25% minimum random testing rate may mean a blitz of testing the last week of the year, which is often overwhelmed with missed tests, vacationing employees, and just getting lost in the shuffle. If you are concerned that you have not met the random requirements, contact your TPA or consortium manager and determine the number of tests required to stay compliant.  Don’t let violations develop from a few missed tests in December. Smart Test 240 Commercial Street Boston, MA 02109

Veterans and Recovery Our society is beginning to understand the effects of many of the consequences of battle and how it can impact communities. Mental health is rightfully losing its stigma, and we are beginning to talk about it more openly, providing a better road to our veterans entering the work force and reintegrating in communities and families. Recovery from substance use or abuse is often overlooked or misunderstood by society, and assisting veterans with any needed recovery effort should be a priority for federal agencies. Recovery and treatment should not fall victim to long waits and bureaucratic hurdling, but should instead be available openly to our veterans, free from judgment, and with the support of the community. This Veterans Day, make a donation to a recovery group in your area, or contact  Veterans Recovery Resources  for more information. Smart Test  gives our sincere thanks to those who have served the country.

Breath-alcohol testing determines the ratio of blood-alcohol in the body (expressed through the breath sample). The reading produced by the device describes the levels most of us are familiar with; “0.02” or “.08”, many of which are written into state, workplace, and local laws. The levels in the USDOT regulations use the same scale. What is wrong about the assumptions comes from the idea that one serving of alcohol will produce a result of .02, and that other extrapolations can be made from the reading on the device. Using simple division to determine the number of drinks someone consumed is a speculative waste of time. Employers should only be concerned with the confirmed result on a NHTSA-approved testing device, and not attempt to forensically determine the consumption profile of an employee. If an employee produces a breath specimen of .04, some may assume that it was the result of two drinks. However, that result could be because the employee just consumed fi...