BAT Breath Alcohol Technician Data Recording & Reporting 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under DOT rules, how long must employers retain records of alcohol tests with results below 0.020?
- 1 year (Correct answer)
- 2 years
- 5 years
- They do not need to be retained
Correct answer: 1 year
Records of alcohol tests with results below 0.020 (negative results) must be retained by the employer for a minimum of 1 year.
Question 2: A test result between 0.020 and 0.039 on a confirmation test requires the BAT to:
- Report it to law enforcement immediately
- Notify the employer of a positive result requiring removal from safety-sensitive duty
- Document it on the ATF and inform the employer; the employee may not perform safety-sensitive functions for 24 hours (Correct answer)
- Conduct a third test within 20 minutes to verify
Correct answer: Document it on the ATF and inform the employer; the employee may not perform safety-sensitive functions for 24 hours
A confirmed result of 0.020–0.039 requires the BAT to document it and notify the employer; the employee is prohibited from safety-sensitive functions for 24 hours but it is not a DOT violation level.
Question 3: What information about the testing location must the BAT record on the ATF?
- The GPS coordinates of the testing site
- The address or identifier of the collection site (Correct answer)
- The name of the building owner
- This information is not required on the ATF
Correct answer: The address or identifier of the collection site
The ATF must include the address or identifier of the collection site to establish where the test took place.
Question 4: When the BAT must transmit ATF results to the employer, what is the most immediate acceptable method under DOT regulations?
- U.S. Postal Service mail only
- Fax, secure electronic transmission, or telephone (followed by written documentation) (Correct answer)
- In-person delivery by the BAT only
- Submission through the FMCSA Clearinghouse portal only
Correct answer: Fax, secure electronic transmission, or telephone (followed by written documentation)
DOT allows immediate transmission by fax or secure electronic means, or by telephone followed by written documentation, to report results to the employer.
Question 5: If a subject leaves the testing site before completing the confirmation test, the BAT should:
- Record the screening result as the final result
- Document the departure on the ATF and notify the employer, treating it as a refusal (Correct answer)
- Wait up to 24 hours for the subject to return
- Discard the ATF since no confirmation was obtained
Correct answer: Document the departure on the ATF and notify the employer, treating it as a refusal
An unauthorized departure before confirmation is treated as a refusal, which must be documented on the ATF and reported to the employer.
Question 6: The screening test result on the ATF is used to:
- Serve as the final reportable result if below 0.020
- Always trigger a confirmation test regardless of the value
- Replace the confirmation test if the EBT is certified
- Determine whether a confirmation test is required (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Determine whether a confirmation test is required
The screening test result determines whether a confirmation test is required; a result below 0.020 ends the process, while 0.020 or above requires confirmation.
Question 7: Who is authorized to receive a copy of an employee's ATF results under DOT regulations?
- Any member of the public upon written request
- The employee, the employer, and authorized DOT agency personnel (Correct answer)
- Only the Medical Review Officer
- The employee's union representative automatically
Correct answer: The employee, the employer, and authorized DOT agency personnel
ATF results are confidential and may only be disclosed to the employee, the employer, and authorized DOT agency personnel as specified by regulation.
BAT Breath Alcohol Technician Data Recording & Reporting 3
Under DOT rules, how long must employers retain records of alcohol tests with results below 0.020?