§20140 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must write rules by October 28, 1992, to require alcohol and drug testing for railroad workers who do safety-sensitive jobs. Railroads must test for illegal drugs before hiring, when there is reasonable suspicion, at random, and after accidents. For alcohol, they must test for reasonable suspicion, at random, and after accidents, and they may test before hiring. The Secretary can order that workers who are alcohol-impaired on duty or who use illegal drugs (except lawful medical use) be removed from safety work for a set time or fired. The Secretary can also require regular recurring tests if needed for safety. The rules must protect privacy in collecting samples and follow the Department of Health and Human Services technical guidelines dated April 11, 1988 (and later changes). Labs must do both screening and confirmation tests, use reliable scientific methods that give quantitative results, and follow strict chain-of-custody and certification rules. Each sample must be split, labeled in the worker’s presence, and a part kept so the worker can get a second independent test if requested within 3 days of a positive confirmation. The rules must cover breath, blood, and urine testing safeguards, keep results and medical facts confidential (except to enforce penalties), and ensure testing is fair and not discriminatory. The Secretary must set standards for rehab and treatment programs, decide when participation is required, and encourage carriers to offer programs to all employees. Rules must fit U.S. international obligations and may continue or change earlier railroad rules made before October 28, 1991.

Title 49, §20140

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, “controlled substance” means any substance under section 102 of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 802) specified by the Secretary of Transportation.

(b)(1)In the interest of safety, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations and issue orders, not later than October 28, 1992, related to alcohol and controlled substances use in railroad operations. The regulations shall establish a program requiring—

(A)a railroad carrier to conduct preemployment, reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of all railroad employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) for the use of a controlled substance in violation of law or a United States Government regulation, and to conduct reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of such employees for the use of alcohol in violation of law or a United States Government regulation; the regulations shall permit such railroad carriers to conduct preemployment testing of such employees for the use of alcohol; and

(B)when the Secretary considers it appropriate, disqualification for an established period of time or dismissal of any employee found—

(i)to have used or been impaired by alcohol when on duty; or

(ii)to have used a controlled substance, whether or not on duty, except as allowed for medical purposes by law or a regulation or order under this chapter.

(2)When the Secretary of Transportation considers it appropriate in the interest of safety, the Secretary may prescribe regulations and issue orders requiring railroad carriers to conduct periodic recurring testing of railroad employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) for the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation.

(c)In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall develop requirements that shall—

(1)promote, to the maximum extent practicable, individual privacy in the collection of specimens;

(2)for laboratories and testing procedures for controlled substances, incorporate the Department of Health and Human Services scientific and technical guidelines dated April 11, 1988, and any amendments to those guidelines, including mandatory guidelines establishing—

(A)comprehensive standards for every aspect of laboratory controlled substances testing and laboratory procedures to be applied in carrying out this section, including standards requiring the use of the best available technology to ensure the complete reliability and accuracy of controlled substances tests and strict procedures governing the chain of custody of specimens collected for controlled substances testing;

(B)the minimum list of controlled substances for which individuals may be tested; and

(C)appropriate standards and procedures for periodic review of laboratories and criteria for certification and revocation of certification of laboratories to perform controlled substances testing in carrying out this section;

(3)require that a laboratory involved in controlled substances testing under this section have the capability and facility, at the laboratory, of performing screening and confirmation tests;

(4)provide that all tests indicating the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation be confirmed by a scientifically recognized method of testing capable of providing quantitative information about alcohol or a controlled substance;

(5)provide that each specimen be subdivided, secured, and labeled in the presence of the tested individual and that a part of the specimen be retained in a secure manner to prevent the possibility of tampering, so that if the individual’s confirmation test results are positive the individual has an opportunity to have the retained part tested by a 2d confirmation test done independently at another certified laboratory if the individual requests the 2d confirmation test not later than 3 days after being advised of the results of the first confirmation test;

(6)ensure appropriate safeguards for testing to detect and quantify alcohol in breath and body fluid samples, including urine and blood, through the development of regulations that may be necessary and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(7)provide for the confidentiality of test results and medical information (other than information about alcohol or a controlled substance) of employees, except that this clause does not prevent the use of test results for the orderly imposition of appropriate sanctions under this section; and

(8)ensure that employees are selected for tests by nondiscriminatory and impartial methods, so that no employee is harassed by being treated differently from other employees in similar circumstances.

(d)The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations or issue orders establishing requirements for rehabilitation programs that at least provide for the identification and opportunity for treatment of railroad employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) in need of assistance in resolving problems with the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation. The Secretary shall decide on the circumstances under which employees shall be required to participate in a program. Each railroad carrier is encouraged to make such a program available to all of its employees in addition to employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions. This subsection does not prevent a railroad carrier from establishing a program under this subsection in cooperation with another railroad carrier.

(e)In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Transportation—

(1)shall establish only requirements that are consistent with international obligations of the United States; and

(2)shall consider applicable laws and regulations of foreign countries.

(f)This section does not prevent the Secretary of Transportation from continuing in effect, amending, or further supplementing a regulation prescribed or order issued before October 28, 1991, governing the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in railroad operations.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 20140(a)45:431(r)(5).Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, 84 Stat. 971, § 202(r); added Oct. 28, 1991, Pub. L. 102–143, § 4, 105 Stat. 957. 20140(b)45:431(r)(1) (1st–3d sentences). 20140(c)45:431(r)(2). 20140(d)45:431(r)(3). 20140(e)45:431(r)(4). 20140(f)45:431(r)(1) (last sentence). In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the words “controlled substances” are substituted for “drug” for consistency in this section. In clauses (B) and (C), the word “found” is substituted for “determined” for consistency in the revised title. In subsection (c)(3), the words “of any employee” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (c)(4), the words “by any employee” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (c)(5), the word “tested” is substituted for “assayed” for consistency. The words “2d confirmation test” are substituted for “independent test” for clarity and consistency.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1995—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–59 amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “a railroad carrier to conduct preemployment, reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of all railroad employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) for the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a United States Government regulation; and”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Controlled Substances Testing for Mechanical Employees Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title II, § 22427, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 756, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 15, 2021], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall amend the

Regulations

under part 219 of title 49, Code of Federal

Regulations

, to require all mechanical employees of railroads to be subject to all of the breath or body fluid testing set forth in subpart C, D, and E of such part, including random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, reasonable cause testing, pre-employment testing, return-to-duty testing, and follow-up testing.” Alcohol and Controlled Substance Testing of Mechanical Employees Pub. L. 115–271, title VIII, § 8102, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4104, provided that: “(a) In General.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 24, 2018], the Secretary of Transportation shall publish a rule in the Federal Register revising the

Regulations

promulgated under section 20140 of title 49, United States Code, to cover all employees of railroad carriers who perform mechanical activities. “(b) Definition of Mechanical Activities.—For the purposes of the rule under subsection (a), the Secretary shall define the term ‘mechanical activities’ by regulation.” Alcohol and Controlled Substance Testing for Maintenance-of-Way Employees Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title IV, § 412, Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4889, as amended by Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11316(j)(6), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1678, provided that: “Not later than 2 years following the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 16, 2008], the Secretary shall complete a rulemaking proceeding to revise the

Regulations

prescribed under section 20140 of title 49, United States Code, to cover all employees of railroad carriers and contractors or subcontractors to railroad carriers who perform maintenance-of-way activities.” [For definition of “railroad carrier”, as used in section 412 of Pub. L. 110–432, set out above, see section 2(a) of Pub. L. 110–432, set out as a note under section 20102 of this title.]’

§20140 Alcohol and Controlled Substances Testing

Summary

Title 49, §20140

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Regulations

Regulations

Regulations

Regulations

Citations & Metadata