I've heard that US RRs employs random drug test on their employees for a while and I have some questions Can someone point me to the incident that triggered this requirement (I think it involved someone named "Rickey Gates")? If the engineer who got the test come back "Hot", what happens to him? A related extra Question: What will happen to the engineer if his boss (Trainmaster) spots him carrying a six pack of booze into the locker room in the yard office?
In the airlines, aircrew are subject to random drug testing. I think it was a federal law or regulation that started it. I have only heard of one pilot who tested positive. One of the flight surgeons said the test was for hard drugs which aircrew never use. It is not a test for no-doze, uppers, etc. that aircrew are likely to use to stay awake and which might impair their judgement. In fact, they don't even test for alcohol (at a drug test). [edit] I just read axsxfan1's post below. You also get a drug test and a few more anytime there is an incident or accident.
Ricky Gates was a CONRAIL engineer that ignored a stop signal and colided head on with an AMTRAK metroliner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chase,_Maryland_rail_wreck
The Federal Railroad Administration requires a drug test of the entire train crew, not just engineers, after any accident causing injury. It also requires random drug testing of 2 percent of the covered employees annually. This is a problem for small railroads with fewer than 50 covered employees. Less than 5 out of 1,000 ever test positive, so this is somewhat of a burden. As to the "booze on board", it is definitely a firing offense, but in the past, the Trainmaster was just as likely to ask for a can as report it. Not so any more. I recall an incident where I took a two man train crew consisting of a railroad President and Superintendent to relive a crew "on the law" (hours of service) and they had me stop at a convenience store for a sixpack to bring aboard the engine. mg: But, that was over 25 years ago on a long abandoned railroad...
You can't even bring it on property. There's been incidents where someone bought beer or alcohol put it in the trunk of their car and stopped by the office to pick up their check. Someone (with a grudge against them obviously)reported them to RR police and they searched the car. The alcohol was found and the employee charged with violating the RR's drug and alcohol policies. Automatic 10 year probation. 2nd offense in that time and your TERMINATED!!
The answer to both questions is pretty much 'instant dismissal'. Rule G (which pertains to substance use/abuse on duty or on the property) is one of the few that will get you fired and keep you fired. It's a long fight to get your job back if you ever manage it at all. We get checked randomly so sometimes you might go a couple of years without warming up a cup but then again you might get tested twice in the same week. There's also a drug screen that goes with your engineer certification or 3 year re-certification, pre-employment, or post incident. It's no joke to most of us.
on the BNSF the random consists of breath-a-lyzer and a urine specimen. If you blow over a certain percentage on the breath-a-lyzer you are suspended pending investigation,testing positive on the 'whiz-quiz" gets you fired automatically, You are most likely to get fired on the "blow" also. You can also be tested "for cause", like for a derailment. They(the BNSF) has also "randomed" guys who were passengers in a transport van that was involved in an accident. The company thinks that they can hold their employees liable for the accident since they should have known that the driver was going to have an accident and/or failed to stop him or her from driving improperly and being involved in the accident. I AM NOT KIDDING!! This happened several years ago to friends of mine. there were 2 crews in the van(6 passenger & one driver) One of the engineers,upon being asked to take a "whiz-quiz" after the accident, refused and told the TM that he could go **** himself! Nothing ever came of that anyway except one of the young conductors got his back pretty well screwed up from it. Charlie
Depending upon the number of incidents or positive tests, the FRA sets a pre-determined number of random tests to be applied. If the statistics for a certain carrier are low enough then the FRA may not require as many random tests. A carrier with a higher rate of incidents or positive results may be required to administer even more tests in an attempt to reign in the offenders. Most carriers offer drug and alcohol treatment programs for first time offenders giving them a chance to clean up their act.
First,Gates went thru a stop signal & a switch.He pulled in front of an Amtrak going 125 mph,while he was crawling along with 4 engines on the NEC in Md.The Amtrak train came up from behind & blasted into him.The Amtrak engineer had no time to react.He was one of the dead.Gates came up dirty for pot.I believe he ended up in jail. 2nd) Any crew member is subject to random drug testing.Your relieved & brought to the medical dept.If its at the end of your shift,we're paid an extra 3 hrs. If you refuse,your admitting guilt & placed out of service & in major jepardy of losing your job.NJT has a 0 tolerance for drugs & alcohol while on duty,or 8 hrs prior to sign up.Yet,if you have a problem and seek EAP,they'll do anything to help you beat your problems.
Testing can only be done during the legal 12 hour duty time. Some guys try to beat it by saying "can't go now", also known as shy bladder. But you are forced to drink liquids (no they don't force your mouth open and pour it down) and make a reasonable attempt to urinate. Positive tests on CSX get you a 9 month vacation and a trip to rehab. You are also tested for the drug that makes you look like you have no drugs. If you get back, you are subject to unannounced randoms for 3 years at any time.
=====================================================LOL! That reminded me of another story from when I was working out of Galesburg... We had just yarded our train in Galesburg, prior to that we were told by the DSPR to report to the TM on arrival. That told us that we were probaby going for a "whiz quiz". There was also a safety blitz going on so the carrier had us for the remainder of our legal time. They had us to do the random first and then come back for safety videos and "hand-outs". The carrier also provided food and beverage,the BNSF is pretty good that way. I was a conductor at the time; my hogger asked me if I wouldn't mind testing first since we discovered that the test was being administered by a woman and the hogger took me aside and told me that he had a shy bladder. It was OK with me and I told him that I would see him later in the conference room. I finished my test and went to the safety meeting. As I was watching videos, the TM came up to me and started ragging on me wondering what was taking my engineer so long. I got a little testy with him and told him that it's not my fault, but the engineer has a shy bladder and to cut him some slack. He'll be here as soon as he can accomplish what he needs to do. Well that seemed to placate him and the hogger came in shortly thereafter. All went well, we all passed the test. I liked that engineer too, I learned a lot from him! Charlie
===================================================== I see by your avatar that you are a Cardinals fan. I was glad to see them win! I am a diehard White Sox fan, all of my life and I was hoping that the Sox would have played the Cards in the W.S. last year. It would have made for a more interesting Series! Go Cards! Charlie
I'm not sure that's necessarily correct with regards to "random" testing (but that might have more to do with how my carrier has implemented "random"). I've was called in to take a "whiz-quiz" on a day that I wasn't scheduled to work when my "number" popped. Paid time, of course... :teeth: Something interesting that you guys might not be aware of is that the requirement by the FRA to implement "random drug testing" reaches into the museum and tourist railroad/railways as well and the FRA does not make any distinction between "volunteer" and "paid" and/or Class 1 and "tourist" railroad/railway operations...
Interesting. I've never been random tested anytime other than at the start of a tour. Theoretically, it's a random train symbol, not a person that gets tagged so everybody on the crew gets tested. The guy with his trailer is waiting when you drive in and you have to blow and go as soon as possible. I know they will test anytime during your shift for cause but I haven't seen that. A trooper gave me a breathalyzer once at a crossing collision but it was voluntary on my part and he only wanted it because he didn't know what else to do. Refusal is definitely the end of the day and they only allow you to stall for about 2 hrs. before it becomes 'put out or get out'. We've got that zero tolerance too but it also includes company provided lodging, meeting rooms, vehicles etc. even if they're not owned by the carrier. The best thing that ever was was Operation Redblock for guys who got caught a little short (not the habitual types) but that went away with Big Blue. Now unless you're willing to roll the dice with your job and your crew, you better mark off or not answer your phone. The missed call is better than flat out fired.
My understanding is that is supposed to be at the individual level and that testing the entire crew, unless there is an accident, etc., is not supposed to be the norm. From what I understand, the "random" is supposed to work based on testing a percentage of the total number of train crews and within that percentage, yet another percentage of engineers verses conductors verses "trainmen" (brakeman, fireman, etc.) and the tests are (again) supposed to be conducted at a "random" (anytime) time throughout your tour (and not just when you report for duty). However, this probably varies from railroad to railroad as the only requirement (if I remember correctly) that the FRA places on the "random drug testing" is that the "plan" be approved by FRA prior to being implemented and that every railroad has to test a certain percentage of the crews... I'm going to do a bit of digging (around the web, etc.) and see if I can't come up with the "official" FRA line on this (...if for no other reason than to make sure that what I believe to be true is or isn't...).
This may be yet again another example of how carriers interpret the requirement. All of my testing has been done as part of the crew or job, and that included at least one for cause. I dont know of any instances where testing was done before the job. I dont doubt that it is done, but on the BNSF with our terminal having commuter train operation the carrier will do it when the job ties up. We did get an extra 2 hours pay for it. We would check among each other on the crew to see who had the most pressing schedule so that they could go first, otherwise it would go by rank & seniority, so I normally was stuck with testing last.Lotta high seniority guys on commuter service and on the "long" pool. Charlie
