Definition - What does Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration mean?
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in the context of alcohol and drug testing, is a government agency that sets the guidelines necessary for alcohol misuse and substance abuse testing procedures aligned with the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations surrounding the infrastructure of natural resources and hazardous materials transportation on a national level. The PHMSA, along with state and local government officials, launch initiatives tailored around environmental conservation and public health and safety.
SureHire explains Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
PHMSA-based employers prioritize alcohol and drug testing measures, given the dangerous circumstances inherent to safety-sensitive positions in an operational, maintenance, and emergency response capacity. Although employers advocate a drug-free workplace environment, the cultural landscape of recreational drug use continues to evolve, presenting obstacles that can compromise workplace health and safety standards. Hence, employers are obligated to adopt and follow alcohol and drug screening protocol in line with the 49 CFR Part 40 clause per DOT regulations where applicants and employees are subject to strict compliance.
For drug screening, the PHMSA utilizes the 5-panel drug test that involves the collection of a urine specimen to identify the presence of drug metabolites including amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opioids, and phencyclidine (PCP) for laboratory analysis. Since PHMSA employers assign individuals to safety-sensitive positions, drug testing parameters follow a set of different circumstances on variable occasions including pre-employment testing, follow-up testing, post-accident testing, random drug testing, reasonable suspicion testing, and return-to-duty testing. Individuals who fail drug testing are ineligible to occupy a safety-sensitive position and often incur disciplinary action that can lead to the suspension of license(s), among other privileges, at the discretion of the employer.
The prevalence of controlled substance abuse continues to escalate, compelling PHMSA employers to make amendments to existing drug testing procedures to facilitate the hiring of applicants and reinstatement of current employees. A health and safety policy that covers educational information about the health implications of alcohol misuse and chronic drug abuse, including signs and symptoms, legal repercussions, and therapeutic intervention strategies, is conducive to promoting an anti-drug climate in the workplace.
