Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> Board of Commissioners approved the policy effective January 1, 1996. <br /> Drug and Alcohol Testing <br /> Among other things, the policy provides for the following drug and alcohol testing: <br /> Test Type FTA Safety All County <br /> Positions Sensitive* Employees <br /> Pre-Employment Yes Yes No <br /> Random Yes Paramedics No <br /> Only <br /> Post Accident (In Specified Circumstances) Yes Yes Yes <br /> Reasonable Suspicion Yes Yes Yes <br /> *As defined in policy. <br /> Positive Test Result <br /> As to a positive test, the policy provides: <br /> 1. In the case of a positive test for illegal drugs, the employee is dismissed in accordance with <br /> the Personnel Ordinance. <br /> 2. In the case of a positive test for alcohol (if the Breath Alcohol Test indicates a 0.04 or <br /> greater concentration of alcohol) and: <br /> ✓ The department head concludes that alcohol consumption occurred while on duty, the <br /> employee is dismissed in accordance with the Personnel Ordinance. <br /> ✓ The department head concludes that alcohol consumption occurred while the employee <br /> was off-duty, disciplinary action results and a mandatory referral for substance abuse <br /> assessment and treatment is made to a substance abuse professional through the <br /> County's Employee Assistance Program. Note: Depending on the circumstances the <br /> disciplinary action may be dismissal. <br /> 3. In the case of a test for alcohol where the test result is between 0.02 and 0.04, the <br /> employee must leave the work place and not report back for 24 hours and is counseled <br /> about the requirement of reporting to work without the presence of alcohol in his or her <br /> system. (In the case of a repeat test with the alcohol concentration level at this level, the <br /> employee receives a disciplinary suspension and then, if it occurs again, is dismissed. <br /> The reason the Drug and Alcohol Task Group had recommended a difference in the policy <br /> between a positive test for alcohol as compared to a positive test for illegal drugs is that alcohol <br /> consumption is legal and may occur off duty. <br /> The FTA's minimum standard for handling a positive test requires that the employer remove the <br /> employee from federally covered job responsibilities and make a mandatory referral to a drug or <br /> alcohol treatment program. Upon successful completion of the treatment program (or with the <br />