Training Marbles Blog

Received a call this morning regarding a Diluted Specimen which has sparked me to post some general information for all employers. So the question becomes what to do with a dilute specimen if an employee is covered by DOT, DOT rules prevail (RETEST with MRO follow-up). If it’s NON-DOT test than this is a procedure item that need to be addressed in your companies policy.

Regarding these two categories of dilute, DOT and HHS differ as follows:

As drug free workplace programs have evolved, a parallel industry devoted to finding any and all means of hiding the presence of illicit drugs has evolved right along with it. This doesn’t mean that everyone is trying to beat the test. Employer should remain aware that there are many legitimate reasons that could cause a diluted specimens, including disease states, medications, medical advice, habits of fluid consumption, and types of fluid consumed by normal people living normal lives.

While it is important to list clear levels of  “normal urine” and remain consistent with all employee’s. Here are a few words that require your immediate attention; inconclusive, substituted, not consistent with human urine, adulterated specimen..just to name a few.

Employers should break up the group of dilute specimens (creatinines of 2 mg/dl to less than 20 mg/dl) into two categories. For simplicity we will call them “dilute” and “hyper-dilute” and define the corresponding levels and next step for your company.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is retiring it’s current Drug-free Workplace Program (DFWP) as of June 30, 2010, and is replacing it with the new Drug-free Safety Program (DFSP) as of July 1, 2010.

Program Levels:

• Basic – 4% premium discount (NO random testing)
• Advanced – 7% premium discount (15% random testing)
• No 5-year limit

Compatibility with other BWC Programs – DFSP is compatible with: 3% discount for Group-Rated w/Advanced Level DFSP; Safety Council; Wage Continuation in claims with dates of injury prior to 1/1/2011), Small Deductible Program

Safety Requirement:

• Online safety assessment of all participating companies (within 30 days)
• Advanced Level –Safety Action Plan
• Online accident analysis training for ALL Supervisors
• Online accident reporting

Policy – NO major changes

Employee Education –  MINIMUM of 1 hr. annually

Supervisor Training –  MINIMUM of 2 hrs initially and 1 hr in EACH subsequent years

Drug Testing –  Minimum requirement of 5-panel drug test. Pre-employment, post accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty follow-up and 15% random drug/alcohol testing for Advanced Level participants. SAMSHA has delayed the drug-testing requirements including adding Ecstasy until October 1, 2010

Employee Assistance

• Basic Level: Allows for termination
• Advanced Level: second chance required after 1st positive test except for specific circumstances; Employer must pay for the  initial assessment.

Application Deadline:

• Private Employers:   July Program period – last business day in JUNE (for 2010 only)   January Program period – last business day in October

NOTE: Private employers who are currently in the January DFWP program period should continue participation requirement and enroll for the DFSP program by October 29th for January 2011.

• Public Employers: Last business day in October

Training Marbles will conduct free webinars to review the requirements, answer questions and discuss the DFSP program on the following dates:

• May 6th@10am     https://www1.gotomeeting.com/join/646529225

• May 20th@10am  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/join/68123749

• June 2nd@1pm      https://www1.gotomeeting.com/join/516141801

• June 16th@10am  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/join/139117864

• June 25th@10am  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/join/876186904

Register for the webinar utilizing the corresponding link; each webinar has a unique password, once registered, you will receive a followup email. Please feel free to contact if you have any questions, concerns or to register for the free webinar contact Dyann McDowell,  (614)204-6834