Agenda - Council - 12/12/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I DRUG AND Notification: A copy of the case ALCOHOL TESTING FOR EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO HOLD COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE By: Jessie Hart, Finance Officer and the proposed policy has been forwarded to the Public Works Maintenance Workers, AFSCMt~ Local #2454 Union Steward, AFSCME Local #2454 Business Agent, Public Works Supervisor, parks/Utilities Supervisor and City Engineer as affected parties. Background: The Federal Omnil~us Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 requires drag and alcohol testing of employe~s driving motor vehicles in safety-sensitive functions. Prior to 1994, local governments were pnly required to do such testing of their mass transit employees. In February 1994, rules extended these testing requirements to other local government employees. Local governments now ~nust test any employee who is required to have a commercial driver's license (CDL) to perform! a city job. The effective date for this law is January 1, 1996 for those employers with les~ than 50 commercial drivers, which is the case at the City of Ramsey. The intent of the act and rules is to provide for safer roads, airways, and tracks by removing drivers who are impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. Studies show that drugs and alcohol are often contributing factor~ in traffic accidents. CDL's are. required to drive commercial vehicles and to drive non-commercial vehicles if they are used for a fe~ specific purposes. CDL classifications under Minnesota Statute 171.02, subdivision 2 inclddes Class CC, Class B, and Class A vehicles. Commercial vehicles include vehicles that weig~r more than 26,000 pounds, carry more than 15 passengers or transport hazardous material~. Non-commercial vehicles that require CDL's include single unit vehicles with hazardous w~te endorsement, and single, unit vehicles with school bus endorsements for vehicles designed }for 15 or fewer passengers - including the driver. Vehicles specifically exempted from thelCDL requirement are fke macks and emergency fire equipment, whether they weigh 26,000 poun[Is or not, while driven by an on-duty fire fighter. Supervisors of safer-sensitive drivers must attend at least one hour of training on alcohol misuse and symptoms an~ indicators used in making determinations for reasonable suspicion testing. Supervisors must 41so attend at least one hour of training of the signs and symptoms of drug abuse in order to. r.rn~ke appropriate determinations for reasonable suspicion testing. Supervisors and aC but one maintenance worker attended the required training on Tuesday, December 5, 1995 In conjunction with the City of Anoka training. This training was provided by Kerr Transportatiori Services, Inc.