| The Company strictly
prohibits the use, sale, solicitation, or transfer of drugs, other controlled
substances, or alcohol on any
employee from reporting or being at work under the influence of drugs (unless
medically prescribed) or alcohol, wherever such work is being performed,
including off company property and when off duty. This prohibition includes the
operation of any Company vehicle, equipment and private vehicles used in
furtherance of Company work or when off duty. PRE-EMPLOYMENT ALCOHOL AND DRUG SCREENS
The Company requires that
prior to being employed; all new full time employees must have a pre--employment
negative test for Drugs or Alcohol.
Any time the Company
suspects that you are under the influence of an illegal controlled substance or
alcohol while on duty, or otherwise have violated the Company drug policy as set
out above, you will be required to submit to a drug and/or alcohol test.
It is not the Company's
policy to measure the degree you are under the influence of an illegal
controlled substance or alcohol. If a test indicates the presence of illegal
controlled substances, or their metabolites, or alcohol, that employee is
presumed to be under the influence by such drugs and will be subject to
disciplinary action.
Because of the sensitivity,
the substance abuse test may reveal whether or not you have used certain drugs
within the recent past (in rare cases up to sixty (60) days before the sample
was taken.) As a general matter, the test cannot distinguish between recent use
and under the influence. A positive finding on any substance abuse test will
support the presumption that you were under the influence at the time the sample
was taken. Furthermore, it is Company policy to forbid the use of illegal drugs
when off duty.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROCEDURES
Company supervisors are
expected to monitor their operations and to investigate as necessary, situations
which may violate Company drug and alcohol policies. If a supervisor detects the
odor of alcohol on an employee, if the employee is found in possession of
alcohol or illegal controlled substances, or if the supervisor has suspicion to
believe that an employee's behavior is the result of being under the influence
of drugs or alcohol, then the employee will be removed from service and will be
required to complete the appropriate substance abuse testing for alcohol and/or
drugs. In all cases the employee will remain out of service until the results of
the substance abuse testing have been received.
The Company uses the Random
method of testing selection to determine both Hours of Service and Non Hours of
Service employees who will be subject to unannounced testing during the year.
Hours of Service employees are covered under Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
49 parts 40 and 219. Subpart G. Because the method of selection is random (or by
chance of the draw) some employees may not be picked to be tested more than once
and other employees may be tested more than once and other employees may not be
picked to be tested.
It is the policy of the
Company not to allow or permit employees who are suspected or have violated the
Drug and Alcohol policy, or appear to be under the influence of alcohol or other
drugs, to drive their personal vehicle or any other vehicle from the Company's
property. This policy is based upon the Company's responsibility to protect the
safety of the employee involved, and to protect the safety and health of others.
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If a probable violation of the Drug and Alcohol policy
has been found, a substance abuse test will be required. If the test
concludes that a violation has occurred, the employee will be dismissed.
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An employee who is dismissed under this policy who has
at least one or more years of service and has had no prior violations of the
Drug and Alcohol policy, may after a period of time to be determined by the
Company, re-apply for employment with the Company, and at the sole
discretion of the Company, may be reinstated on a 1 year probationary basis,
subject to drug and alcohol testing at the sole discretion of the Company in
accordance with recommendations from a Substance Abuse Professional.
IDENTIFICATION OF TROUBLED EMPLOYEES
Employees who may have a
drug and alcohol problem should, before the problem is found through testing,
talk to their supervisor and the supervisor can refer the employee to the Human
Resources Department for the identification of a Substance Abuse Professional
(SAP). The Company will not pay for any counseling or treatment programs, but
will try to cooperate with the employee to help resolve the employees' problem
as the Company deems appropriate within its sole discretion.
Whenever an employee talks
to their supervisor, this information will be kept confidential. The employee
must follow all recommendations of the Substance Abuse Professional to remain
employed with the Company. This is a one time referral only.
Co-workers should
immediately refer any employee to their supervisor or any management
representative if the co-worker feels the employee is unsafe or appears to be in
violation of the Company Drug and Alcohol policy. If the employee is found to be
in violation of the policy, the employee will be removed from service. The
employee will be given a one time option at the sole discretion of the Company
unless otherwise mandated by respective DOT guidelines to meet with a Substance
Abuse Professional (SAP) provider at the employee’s own expense. The employee
must agree to undertake and successfully complete a course of treatment as
recommend by the SAP provider at their own expense as a requirement of
eligibility for employment.
HOURS OF SERVICE PERSONNEL
Voluntary Referral Policy.
This railroad’s policy to
comply with Part 219.403 is as follows:
Employment Relationship. A covered employee who enters and follows the
tenants of this program as discussed below, will maintain his or her position
upon successful completion of the program. Before the employee is charged with
conduct deemed by the railroad sufficient to warrant dismissal, the employee
must seek assistance through the railroad for his or her alcohol or drug use
problem or be referred for such assistance by another employee or by a
representative of the employee’s collective bargaining unit.
Referral Sources. The
railroad must specify whether, and under what circumstances, its policy provides
for the acceptance of referrals from other sources, including (at the option of
the railroad) supervisory employees. Identify acceptable referral sources
besides the affected covered service employee:
The Company (Watco Companies, Inc.) has a program that allows
either self-referral or co-worker referral to the Employee Assistance Program if
an employee has a drug or alcohol related problem. Employees with drug or
alcohol problems that have not resulted in, and are not the immediate subject
of, disciplinary action may request approval to take unpaid time off to
participate in a rehabilitation or treatment program through the Company’s
Employee Assistance Program. Leave may be granted if the employee agrees to
abstain from use of the problem substance, abide by all Watco Companies, Inc.
policies, rules and prohibitions relating to conduct in the workplace. All
railroads named herein will, to the extent necessary for treatment and
rehabilitation, grant the employee a leave of absence from the railroad for the
period necessary to complete primary treatment and establish control over the
employee's alcohol or drug problem. The policy will allow a leave of absence of
not less than 45 days, if necessary for the purpose of meeting initial treatment
needs. The employee will be returned to service on the recommendation of the
substance abuse professional. Approval to return to service will not be
unreasonably withheld.
Employees with questions or concerns about substance
dependency or abuse are encouraged to discuss these matters with their
supervisor or Human Resources Department, without fear of reprisal, to receive
assistance or referrals to appropriate resources in the community. Disclosures
you make to the Company concerning your use of legal drugs or your participation
in any drug or alcohol counseling or rehabilitation program will be treated
confidentially.
Confidentiality. The
railroad treats the referral and subsequent handling, including counseling and
treatment, as confidential. With respect to a certified locomotive engineer or
a candidate for certification, the policy of confidentiality is waived (to the
extent that the railroad shall receive from the EAP Counselor, official notice
of the substance abuse disorder and shall suspend or revoke the certification,
as appropriate) if the person at any time refuses to cooperate in a recommended
course of counseling or treatment. Any drug and/or alcohol testing conducted
pursuant to this railroad’s voluntary referral policy is non-Federal testing
because a violation of Federal regulations has not occurred.
Leave of Absence. The
railroad will, to the extent necessary for treatment and rehabilitation, grant
the employee a leave of absence from the railroad for the period necessary to
complete primary treatment and establish control over the employee’s alcohol or
drug problem. The policy must allow a leave of absence of not less than 45
days, if necessary for the purpose of meeting initial treatment needs.
Return to Service. The
employee will be returned to service on the recommendation of the SAP. Approval
to return to service may not be unreasonably withheld.
Optional Provisions.
1.
The policy may
provide that it does not apply to an employee who has previously been assisted
by the railroad under a policy or program substantially consistent with 219.403
or who has previously elected to waive investigation under 219.405 (co-worker
report policy).
Identify whether you adopt this optional provision:
Watco Companies, Inc. adopts
this provision.
2.
A voluntary
referral policy may provide that the rule of confidentiality is waved if the
employee at any time refuses to cooperate in a recommended course of counseling
or treatment; and/or the employee is later determined, after investigation, to
have been involved in an alcohol or drug related disciplinary offense growing
out of subsequent conduct. Identify whether you adopt the first, second, or
both options:
Watco Companies, Inc. adopts
both provisions.
3.
The policy may
provide that, in order to invoke its benefits, the employee must report to the
contact designated by the railroad either during non-duty hours (i.e., at a time
when the employee is off duty); or while unimpaired and otherwise in compliance
with the railroad’s alcohol and drug rules consistent with 219.403. Identify
whether you adopt this optional provision:
Watco Companies, Inc. adopts
this provision.
4.
The policy may
require successful completion of a return-to-service medical examination as a
further condition on reinstatement in covered service. Identify whether you
adopt this optional provision:
Watco Companies, Inc. adopts
this provision.
5.
Other Optional
Provisions:_________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Co-worker Report Policy.
This railroad’s policy to comply with 219.405 is as follows:
Employment Relationship. A covered
employee who enters and follows the tenants of this program as discussed below,
will maintain his or her position upon successful completion of the program.
This policy applies to an employee following an alleged first offense under Part
219 or the railroad’s alcohol and drug rules, subject to the conditions and
procedures contained in 219.405.
General Conditions and Procedures.
1)
The alleged
violation must come to the attention of the railroad as a result of a report by
a co-worker that the employee was apparently unsafe to work with or was, or
appeared to be, in violation of Part 219 or the railroad’s alcohol and drug
rules.
2)
If the railroad
representative determines that the employee is in violation, the railroad will
immediately remove the employee from service in accordance with its existing
policies and procedures.
3)
The employee must
elect to waive investigation on the rule charge and must contact the substance
abuse professional within a reasonable period specified by the policy. Contact
time: No later than the next business day following the waiver.
4)
The SAP must
schedule necessary interviews with the employee and complete an evaluation
within 10 calendar days of the date on which the employee contacts the
professional with a request for evaluation under the policy, unless it becomes
necessary to refer the employee for further evaluation. In such case, all
necessary evaluations must be completed within 20 days of the date on which the
employee contacts the professional.
When
Treatment is Required. If the SAP
determines the employee is affected by psychological or chemical dependence on
alcohol or a drug or by another identifiable disorder involving the abuse of
alcohol or drugs as a primary manifestation, the following conditions and
procedures apply:
1)
Leave of
Absence. The
railroad must, to the extent necessary for treatment and rehabilitation, grant
the employee a leave of absence from the railroad for the period necessary to
complete primary treatment and establish control over the employee’s alcohol or
drug problem. The policy must allow a leave of absence of not less than 45
days, if necessary for the purpose of meeting initial treatment needs.
2)
Agreement.
The employee must agree to undertake and successfully complete a course of
treatment deemed acceptable by the SAP.
3)
Return to
Service. The
railroad must promptly return the employee to service, on recommendation of the
SAP, when the employee has established control over the substance abuse
problem. Return to service may also be conditioned on successful completion of
a return-to-service medical examination. Identify whether your railroad will be
requiring a return-to-service medical examination:
Watco Companies, Inc. will
require a return to service medical examination.
Approval to return to service
may not be unreasonably withheld.
4)
Follow-Up
Treatment.
Following return to service, the employee, as a further condition on withholding
of discipline, may, as necessary, be required to participate in a reasonable
program of follow-up treatment for a period not to exceed 60 months from the
date the employee was originally withdrawn from service.
5)
Follow-Up
Testing. If there
has been a violation of Federal regulations (219.101 or 219.102), the railroad
must conduct Federal return-to-service and follow-up tests (as described in
219.104) of an employee who waives investigation and is determined to be ready
to return to service under 219.405.
When
Treatment is Not Required. If the SAP
determines that the employee is not affected by an identifiable and treatable
mental or physical disorder, (1) The railroad must return the employee to
service within 5 days after completion of the minimum education requirements.
(2) During or following the out-of-service period, the railroad will require
the employee to participate in a program of education and training concerning
the effects of alcohol and drugs on occupational or transportation safety.
If there
has been a violation of Federal regulations (219.101 or 219.102), the railroad
must conduct Federal return-to-service and follow-up tests (as described in
219.104) of an employee who waives investigation and is determined to be ready
to return to service under 219.405.
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