On Sept. 15, 1986, Executive Order 12564 established the foundation for a Drug Free Workplace.
This order directed federal agencies to develop a plan for achieving a DFW, while upholding the rights and protections afforded to the government, the workforce and the general public.
In support of EO 12564, the Army enacted the Civilian Drug Testing Program for Civilian employees.
EO 12564 applies to all Civilian employees and applicants tentatively selected for testing designated positions.
TDPs are sensitive positions or categories of positions that involve law enforcement, national security, the protection of life and property, or public health or safety.
A list of positions defined by EO 12564 as sensitive positions are outlined in Army Regulation 600-85 and Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-85.These positions have duties and responsibilities, which are consistent with the parameters established by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The goal of the Army's DFW DTP is to ensure that workplaces are safe, healthful, productive and drug-free. To achieve this goal, the Army has implemented drug abuse testing programs for Civilian employees.
The objectives are to:
Aca,!Ac Assist in maintaining public health and safety, the protection of life and property, national security, and law enforcement.
Aca,!Ac Deter substance abuse. Civilian Drug Testing Program
Aca,!Ac Identify illegal drug abusers.
Aca,!Ac Assist employees who are seeking rehabilitation for illegal drug abuse.
Aca,!Ac Assist in determining fitness for appointment or retention of TDPs.
The six categories of drug testing that have been established under the DFW which fully conform to EO 12564 are: Reasonable suspicion testing When there is reasonable suspicion that any TDP employee may have used illegal drugs, reasonable suspicion testing may be required of any employee in a position designated for random testing when there is a reasonable suspicion that the employee may have used illegal drugs whether on or off duty.
Reasonable suspicion testing may also be required of any employee in any position when there is a reasonable suspicion of on-duty use or impairment.
Injury, accident or unsafe practice testing In accordance with AR 385-40, employees may be subject to testing when there is an examination authorized by an appropriate installation or activity commander regarding an accident or unsafe practice.
Accordingly, employees may be subject to testing when, based on the circumstances of the accident, their actions are reasonably suspected of having caused or contributed to an accident that results in death or personal injury requiring immediate hospitalization or in damage to government or private property estimated to be in excess of $20,000.
Voluntary testing-- When an employee volunteers for drug testing, the employee will become part of a separate testing pool for volunteers, who will be randomly tested. Follow-up testing Civilian employees may be tested as a follow-up to counseling and rehabilitation.
Applicant testing-- Civilian employees may be tested before appointment to or selection for a TDP.
Random testing Civilian employees may be tested on a random basis after appointment to or selection for a TDP.
Random drug testing uses a scientifically valid system of selecting a portion of a testing pool without individualized suspicion that a particular individual is using illicit drugs.
Each employee has an equal chance of being selected for drug testing each time this type of testing is conducted. Some TDP's will be tested more frequently than others because of statistically random sampling.
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