The DOT Return to Duty Process

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If you are caught violating DOT-regulated safety-sensitive rules, you need to go through the DOT return to duty process with includes a total of five steps, including initial substance abuse professional evaluation, treatment, and education, again DOT SAP evaluation, return to duty testing, and ongoing treatment. After completing the entire steps, the employee may return to safety-sensitive functions if he wants. However, let’s take a detailed look at all the steps involves in the DOT return to duty process.

Initial SAP Evaluation

A substance abuse professional (SAP) is a licensed psychologist, social worker, therapist, licensed physician, or drug or alcohol counselor who asks the employee a wide variety of questions to understand if he has drug abuse. The SAP is someone who determines what treatment and education plan should be created for the person to help the person get back to the work.

An SAP is a neutral body; his work includes protecting public safety by creating the best possible plan for the individual’s treatment and education.

Treatment and Education

Drug abuse makes the person physically and mentally too vulnerable, so the right treatment is necessary. The treatment may include inpatient, outpatient, or aftercare services depending upon the employee’s condition. Along with the treatment, the individual is also educated so that he will not indulge himself again in drug or alcohol consumption activities. Keep in mind that DISA return to duty or DOT return to duty process is inevitable for an employee to carry out if he wants to return to safety-sensitive work.

Follow-Up SAP Evaluation

Once the treatment and education of the individual are completed, the SAP again conducts a follow-up evaluation to determine if the individual is properly treated and educated. The SAP prepares the report and sends it for further processing. This step is basically conducted to see the improvements in the individual. If the SAP finds that the individual is still in not good condition, the treatment and education are continued.

Return-to-Duty Testing

Now the individual has to take the DOT return-to-duty test after the SAP determines if the individual has to take the test. The employee needs to have the negative report in this test to get clearance. Once the individual is tested and provided a negative report, he is allowed to do safety-sensitive functions. However, it’s the employer’s choice whether he wants the employee to return to work or not.

Continued Treatment

After clearing the return-to-duty test, the employee is indeed allowed to attend safety-sensitive functions, but he still has to follow the testing plan created by the SAP. The treatment is continued even after clearing the return-to-duty test to ensure that the employee shall not indulge himself again in drug or alcohol consumption activities. The plan created by the SAP includes at least 6 tests in the first 12 months after clearing the return-to-duty test.

Bottom Line

So, these are all the steps involved in a DOT return-to-duty process that every employee must go through if he wanted to return to safety-sensitive functions. Nonetheless, if you require top-notch alcohol and drug assessment services at the most affordable costs, please feel free to get in touch with Affordable Evaluations. Thank you!