Random drug and alcohol testing at the TTC

All employees have the responsibility to be fit for duty during their shift and while on TTC business, premises and worksites, whether they’re in a safety sensitive position or not.

The policy also applies when an employee is wearing an issued uniform or identifiable clothing in public, regardless of whether they are on or off duty.

All individuals on scheduled stand-by are expected to abide by the above standards and report fi t for duty for any and all required work.

• anyone being unfit for work because of extreme fatigue, or due to the use or after-effects of alcohol from any source, illicit drugs and medications the use, possession, distribution, offering or sale of alcohol, illicit drugs or illicit drug paraphernalia
• the illegal possession, distribution, offering or sale of medications and their intentional misuse
• consuming any product containing alcohol during the work day, including during meals and other breaks, and reporting for or remaining on duty under the influence and/or following a positive alcohol or illicit drug test result at or above the cut-off levels established in the policy.

Employees who are under the influence or behave inappropriately due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs, including medications, can threaten their own personal safety and that of their co-workers and the public.

• To report fit for duty and remain fit for duty throughout the work day or shift
• To inform your supervisor if you believe you are unfit for any reason
• To seek advice and follow treatment for any issue that may affect Fitness for Duty
• To report prescription medication.
• To seek advice and follow appropriate treatment for a current or emerging alcohol or drug problem, and follow recommended monitoring programs after attending treatment
• To co-operate with any work modification related to safety concerns and
• To co-operate with any investigations into potential violations of the policy, including any requests to participate in the testing program.

Under the FFD policy, supervisor refers to the nonunionized individual accountable for a particular area or shift who are directly responsible for the performance of employees. In addition to their ongoing performance management responsibilities, supervisors are expected to:

• notify employees when and where they have a random test
• ensure that appropriate space is made available for testing at the work location
• take any employee questions about testing
• in the case of a refusal, advise employees of the consequences
• guide employees who seek assistance for a personal problem to appropriate resources like EFAP or Occupational Health while maintaining confidentiality under the circumstances require an employee to meet with Occupational Health if, in the course of a performance management meeting, an employee says they have an alcohol or drug problem
• act when an employee discloses their prescription medication use take immediate steps to investigate any possible violation of the Fitness for Duty policy.

Managers can contact the Employee Relations team for advice on the determination and administration of any disciplinary action resulting from a policy violation.

Under the TTC’s Fitness for Duty policy, consuming alcohol or drugs during work hours and the time leading up to working hours (where the negative effects would still be experienced in work hours) is strictly prohibited.

Section 2.1 of the policy outlines that all employees must be fit for duty/work, which means mentally and physically fit to perform their assigned tasks while on duty. Being fit for work includes being free from the negative effects of drugs and alcohol.

Section 3.10 of the policy outlines for employees what is meant by the term on duty. On duty includes time spent at a work session or a conference, and lunch and break times.

There are no situations where consuming alcohol while on duty is acceptable. Employees who are on duty and at a function where alcohol is being served must not consume the alcohol. They must wait until after a function is over, and after their work time is done.

Employees may consume alcohol after the workday, for example, when on travel status, at a training event or seminar, or in any other similar business-related situation provided that the formal business is completed, they are not on TTC property, they are not wearing official TTC-issued uniform or clothing, they use alcohol responsibly, and they are not returning to work that day.