While some companies have always required drug testing before hiring employees, the new final rule amendment from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) now requires all employees who serve in safety-sensitive positions and operations control roles to pass a drug test. Keep reading to learn more about the positions this affects and how it changes federal regulations.
Helicopter Pilots
The final rule specifically deals with helicopter air ambulances, commercial helicopters, and other general helicopter positions. Due to an increase in fatalities resulting from air ambulance accidents, the FAA is now being stricter than ever in regards to regulations for pilots. These new regulations are in place to try to prevent unnecessary accidents and further loss of life and the FAA is holding companies responsible for implementing the new standards.
Control Centers
The final rule also requires certificate holders that have at least 10 helicopter air ambulances to create an operations control center. These certificate holders must also give all employees drug and alcohol testing to ensure that they are ready for flight. The operations control centers must constantly communicate with the pilots, update them about current weather conditions, and watch over flights. They should also provide information about risk assessments and other safety information that can help prevent a serious safety issue.
Better Training Standards
Another important element of the final rule is its increased training standards. The FAA wants companies to provide the best training for their helicopter pilots to ensure that they are ready for any scenario when they get into the air. This improved training should help pilots have a wider range of safety standards that prevent unnecessary incidents.
If you need to provide your staff with drug testing, Oschmann Employee Screening Services is here for you. Whether you want to do random employee drug testing or laboratory based drug testing, we can help. To learn more about our screening services, visit us online or call (520) 745-1029.
