FRA FRA Drug & Alcohol Testing Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FRA regulations, what is the minimum period a railroad employee must refrain from consuming alcohol before reporting for duty?
- 4 hours (Correct answer)
- 8 hours
- 12 hours
- 24 hours
Correct answer: 4 hours
FRA regulations require railroad employees to refrain from alcohol consumption for at least 4 hours before reporting for duty in a safety-sensitive position.
Question 2: What action must a railroad supervisor take if they have reasonable suspicion that an employee is impaired by drugs or alcohol?
- Remove the employee from service and arrange for reasonable suspicion testing (Correct answer)
- Issue a written warning and allow the employee to finish the shift
- Notify the employee's union representative before taking any action
- Test the employee only if they cause an incident
Correct answer: Remove the employee from service and arrange for reasonable suspicion testing
Supervisors who have reasonable suspicion of employee impairment must remove the employee from safety-sensitive duty and arrange for drug and/or alcohol testing.
Question 3: Which type of specimen is used for FRA-mandated drug testing?
- Urine (Correct answer)
- Blood
- Hair follicle
- Saliva
Correct answer: Urine
FRA drug testing under 49 CFR Part 219 requires urine specimens tested at DOT-certified laboratories.
Question 4: What must a railroad do when an employee refuses to submit to an FRA-required drug or alcohol test?
- Treat the refusal as a positive test result and remove the employee from service (Correct answer)
- Attempt to reschedule the test within 24 hours
- Allow the employee to provide a written explanation
- Contact the FRA for guidance before taking action
Correct answer: Treat the refusal as a positive test result and remove the employee from service
Under FRA and DOT rules, a refusal to test is treated the same as a positive test result, requiring immediate removal from safety-sensitive service.
Question 5: Which substance is NOT included in the FRA's standard 5-panel drug test?
- Alcohol (Correct answer)
- Marijuana (THC)
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
Correct answer: Alcohol
The FRA 5-panel urine drug test screens for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, and phencyclidine (PCP); alcohol is tested separately via breath or blood.
Question 6: How long after a railroad accident must post-accident testing be completed under FRA regulations?
- As soon as practicable but no later than 8 hours for alcohol and 32 hours for drugs (Correct answer)
- Within 2 hours for both alcohol and drugs
- Within 24 hours for both alcohol and drugs
- Within 4 hours for alcohol and 24 hours for drugs
Correct answer: As soon as practicable but no later than 8 hours for alcohol and 32 hours for drugs
FRA requires post-accident alcohol testing within 8 hours and drug testing within 32 hours of a qualifying event; if not completed in time, the railroad must document why.
FRA FRA Drug & Alcohol Testing Requirements 2
Under FRA regulations, what is the minimum period a railroad employee must refrain from consuming alcohol before reporting for duty?