Test and Screenings

A Drug test regulated by the government – specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT). Anyone designated in DOT regulations as a “safety-sensitive” employee is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing. A safety-sensitive employee is someone who holds a job that can impact both their own safety and the safety of the public.

NON-DOT is simple; it is every company that is not labeled as DOT. NON-DOT companies have more liberty when it comes to designing and implementing drug and alcohol polices and processes. NON-DOT companies should consider the benefits that these policies and programs give to an organization by promoting safety through banning substance abuse. With the absence of DOT’s regulations, NON-DOT companies can also choose when to test their workforce for circumstances such as pre-employment, random and post- accident. On the other side of the spectrum, NON-DOT companies could chose to not test at all.

Alcohol testing is often performed post-accident, at random, or when an employer may be suspicious about a worker’s alcohol use. If found in violation, employees must immediately be removed from safety-sensitive functions of a job duty. This doesn’t mean they must be fired, but that they cannot perform safety-sensitive functions, like driving, for the time being.

COVID-19 antibody testing, also known as serology testing, is a blood test that's done to find out if you've had a past infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). An antibody test can't determine whether you're currently infected with the COVID-19 virus.

Spirometry, the most common type of pulmonary function test (PFT), is used to evaluate worker respiratory health in medical surveillance programs and to screen workers for their ability to perform certain tasks. To be compliant, pulmonary function tests must be performed by technicians who have been certified by completing a spirometry training course approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Dr. David Gehling is a NIOSH certified technician.

Chest X-rays (CXRs) are an important investigation in lung disease. Many occupational lung diseases can be diagnosed by chest radiography which is routinely used in occupational medical surveillance and screening. Chest x-rays can help detect lung abnormalities and can be a useful tool for understanding the lung health of job candidates and independently recording a benchmark prior to their hire. Common health issues that can be identified through baseline and annual chest x-rays include pulmonary disorders, cancer, cardiac disorders, and tuberculosis.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder. It refers to a condition that means you stop breathing while you sleep due to a partial or complete blockage of your airway when the soft tissue in your throat collapses. These pauses in breath can happen 5-100 times per hour and often causes fatigue. If left untreated, OSA can lead to serious health problems.