Designated Employer Representative Training

A Designated Employer Representative (DER), sometimes called a Drug and Alcohol Program Manager (DAPM), plays an essential role in a company's drug and alcohol testing program. As a DER, you are the main point of contact between your employer and the drug and alcohol testing services. You handle the sensitive task of managing testing results, making critical decisions regarding employee testing, and ensuring your company's adherence to state and federal regulations.

The DER's role is not just administrative. It's instrumental in maintaining the safety and integrity of the workplace. A competent DER fosters a drug-free work environment, facilitating employee respect and fairness while minimizing the potential risks of drug and alcohol misuse. This key role ensures companies comply with relevant laws and regulations, effectively mitigating legal and financial repercussions.

Andrew Easler, Esq., a former high-school teacher turned attorney and subject matter expert in drug and alcohol testing laws, has designed our DER/DAPM training. His knowledge and experience have been distilled into a course that combines legal theory with practical application, emphasizing real-world scenarios and solutions.

Our designated employer representative training provides an understanding of the role's responsibilities and the broader landscape of drug and alcohol testing laws. However, the Department of Transportation (DOT) operates within unique regulatory frameworks. To address this, we offer tailored courses for specific DOT sectors: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Becoming a designated employer representative isn't just about professional development—it's about contributing to your organization's safety and compliance efforts. By enrolling in our training, you'll be equipped to manage these responsibilities effectively, supporting a healthy, productive, and legally compliant work environment.

When it comes to following the rules of the Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol testing, there's no room for errors. Our specialized training empowers Designated Employer Representatives (DERs) to understand drug DOT and non-DOT drug testing requirements and act as guides for their employers.

DER training provides learners with a clear understanding of how drug and alcohol testing should work, the importance of accurate record-keeping, and how to manage compliance. This is especially crucial in jobs where safety-sensitive positions are involved. 

Employers can potentially face serious legal consequences for failing to follow testing requirements, including the possibility of criminal charges in some cases, and while not all instances of non-compliance will lead to jail time, there are situations where legal actions can escalate to that point.

The severity of the consequences largely depends on the specific circumstances, the nature of the violation, and the applicable laws and regulations. In many cases, non-compliance with drug testing requirements can result in fines, penalties, loss of licenses or permits, and civil lawsuits, and in more extreme cases where violations involve intentional wrongdoing or disregard for public safety, criminal charges could be pursued against employers.

Employers must take drug testing and compliance requirements seriously and ensure full compliance to avoid potential legal and financial ramifications. DER training is a first step to complying with federal and state regulations.

Navigating the complexities of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines is pivotal for anyone managing safety and compliance within the motor carrier industry. Our FMCSA DER training, developed in accordance with FMCSA regulation 49 CFR Part 382, delivers an understanding of the drug and alcohol testing procedures, accurate record-keeping, and effective communication with substance abuse professionals.

FMCSA training covers details of drug and alcohol testing procedures, which are critical for ensuring the safety of our roadways. Learners will gain an in-depth understanding of the processes involved in selecting employees for testing, interpreting and communicating test results, and managing post-accident testing. These essential skills equip learners with the tools needed to maintain compliance and uphold the integrity of the motor carrier industry.

DER courses focus on the role of supervisors within FMCSA-regulated organizations. According to FMCSA regulations, supervisors must undergo training only once in their lifetime, but it is highly recommended that supervisors refresh their knowledge every two years to stay updated with changing regulations and best practices and provides supervisors with the tools and understanding to identify signs of drug and alcohol misuse and to make informed decisions on testing based on reasonable suspicion.

We also emphasize the importance of record-keeping and effective communication with substance abuse professionals. Learners will be guided through the intricacies of maintaining accurate and confidential records and liaising with substance abuse professionals to ensure effective handling of testing processes and results.

Our FMCSA compliance training is invaluable for anyone looking to enhance their professional skills and contribute to their organization's safety and compliance efforts by becoming a DER.

Understanding the role of a Designated Employer Representative (DER) in the maritime industry, as regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), is integral to maintaining safety and compliance aboard. Our USCG DER training course, developed in line with USCG regulations found in 46 CFR Part 16 and 49 CFR Part 40, provides learners with the knowledge and skills required to meet these specific maritime industry needs.

The training introduces learners to the unique aspects of drug and alcohol testing within the maritime industry. This includes an understanding of the stringent "zero-tolerance" policy for drug and alcohol violations aboard vessels and the impact of these policies on both employee welfare and maritime safety. The training also guides learners through the intricacies of managing random and post-accident testing protocols specific to the maritime industry.

Maritime DER training underscores the importance of handling testing results, making key decisions, and maintaining open communication with the Medical Review Officer (MRO) and other testing services. Learners gain an understanding of the DER's role in interpreting and communicating testing results, ensuring fairness while upholding the safety standards set by the USCG.

Learners are introduced to the essential responsibilities of record-keeping and documentation as the USCG requires. Emphasis is placed on maintaining confidentiality while ensuring records are accurately kept, highlighting the importance of these tasks in preserving a drug-free environment and supporting the safety of all on board.

DER training helped maintain a safe and compliant workplace in the maritime industry. By enrolling in this training, learners will acquire the necessary skills to effectively manage these responsibilities, supporting a safer and legally compliant maritime environment. 

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulations present unique challenges that require a specialized understanding of the role of a Designated Employer Representative (DER). Our PHMSA DER training, tailored to PHMSA regulations found in 49 CFR Part 199 and Part 40, is designed to provide learners with the knowledge and skills to navigate these unique complexities effectively.

We introduce learners to the intricacies of drug and alcohol testing procedures within the pipeline and hazardous materials industry. This includes managing random and post-incident testing, interpreting and communicating test results, and handling sensitive decisions in compliance with PHMSA regulations. These skills are vital to ensure safety when dealing with hazardous materials and to uphold the industry's stringent standards.

Training also covers the DER's role in fostering a drug-free work environment within PHMSA-regulated businesses. This involves recognizing signs of drug and alcohol misuse, making reasonable suspicion determinations, and ensuring adherence to PHMSA's "zero tolerance" policy for drug and alcohol violations. The course gives learners the tools and understanding to tackle these challenging situations effectively.

PHMSA DER training emphasizes record-keeping and maintaining clear and confidential communication lines with the Medical Review Officer (MRO) and other testing services. Proper record-keeping and effective communication are key to ensuring fair and accurate handling of test results, reinforcing a drug-free environment, and upholding safety standards in this high-risk industry.

PHMSA compliance training is more than just a professional development course. It's essential for promoting safety and compliance in the pipeline and hazardous materials industry. Enroll today to gain the knowledge and skills to manage these responsibilities effectively, fostering a safe, productive, and legally compliant work environment.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) presents a distinct set of regulations requiring specialized knowledge and skills for those acting as Designated Employer Representatives (DER). Our FTA DER training, based on FTA regulations stipulated in 49 CFR Part 655 and Part 40, is tailored to provide learners with the requisite expertise to navigate these unique challenges successfully.

Learners begin by acquiring learners of the specificities of drug and alcohol testing procedures in the transit industry. This includes managing random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident testing, and accurately interpreting and communicating test results in compliance with FTA regulations. Such skills are essential for maintaining safety within transit operations and ensuring adherence to stringent industry standards.

We focus on the DER's vital role in fostering a drug-free work environment within FTA-regulated entities. This involves learning to identify signs of drug and alcohol misuse, making reasonable suspicion decisions, and enforcing the FTA's strict "zero tolerance" policy for drug and alcohol violations. The training equips learners with the tools and understanding to handle these demanding situations effectively.

Training also focused on record-keeping and establishing efficient communication with all relevant parties, ensuring accurate record-keeping and robust communication are key to ensuring fair and precise handling of test results, reinforcing a drug-free environment, and upholding the highest safety standards within this vital industry.

FTA compliance training it's a significant role in ensuring safety and compliance with FTA regulations. By enrolling in this course, learners will gain the skills to manage these responsibilities effectively, fostering a safe, productive, and legally compliant work environment.