Random testing is an important part of the overall drug testing program. Random notifications are sent out to the Designated Employer Representative on the first day of every new quarter: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. You will know if you have people chosen to be tested by a notification that either includes a list of employees and what they were chosen for – drug and alcohol or only drug, or only alcohol (FAA) – or a notice that your company has no randoms chosen.
Sometimes the notification comes at what may seem like the most inconvenient time for the DER to have to send people in for testing, especially when they are in the thick of the season and the employees are busy doing their jobs. But your priority must be to get the selected people into testing promptly and with the correct form and information and to ensure all randoms are completed before the end of the quarter. It certainly can feel like a juggling act! But ultimately, staying on top of your randoms is critical for maintaining company compliance and workplace safety.
There are some steps you, as the DER, can take to facilitate the random testing process and ensure that it is done in time:
- Be aware of your list. Familiarize yourself with your random testing list at the start of the quarter so you can plan when to send the selected employee in.
- If you have multiple employees, make sure to stagger when they go in. It is best not to send them all at the same time. Remember, it is random!
- Have blank copies of your referral form to fill out and give to the employee to take to the collection site. This conveys the information needed to complete the test. Your TPA can provide this.
- If an employee is working at a different location and can’t easily get to the collection site you usually use, talk to your TPA about where they can be tested and how to get the paperwork to the facility. It may be necessary for the TPA to send a paper chain to the facility or set up a FormFox (electronic) collection for that person.
- Make sure you receive the results from your TPA and attach them to your copy of the CCF for auditing purposes. This will also verify that all randoms are complete for that quarter.
With a little preparation, communication with your TPA and the right paperwork, random testing can go smoothly and be completed without any problems so that your employees can get back to doing what they do!