Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications Tool Kit ... - Home

Policy
System Name: Municipality of Anchorage Public Transportation Department
Contact: Gary Taylor
(907) 343-8228
taylorga@ci.anchorage.ak.us
Summary: The Rx/OTC medication policy is part of Anchorage’s drug and alcohol
testing policy. The policy covers all safety-sensitive and non-safetysensitive
employees. The policy describes the employee responsibility
for obtaining authorization from a physician to perform safety-sensitive
duties while taking medications, and describes the reporting procedures.
The policy addresses confidentiality of records. The policy stipulates
that the agency reserves the right to require proof that prescribed
medications are dispensed by a licensed health care provider.
Advantages: The policy is brief and describes a process that is low cost and requires
little administrative time. The process does not require any medical
expertise or judgment by transit agency staff and is easy to implement.
The policy places responsibility for evaluating the employee’s ability to
safely perform job duties on a medical practitioner.
Disadvantages: The policy incorrectly cites 49 CFR Part 40 as requiring a physician’s
statement prior to performing safety-sensitive functions. The policy
does not define procedures for reporting medications nor does it define
consequences for policy violations. The policy does not reference
medical professionals other than physicians who may prescribe
medications. The policy also does not define the employee’s
responsibility in relation to use of OTC medications. The procedure
relies on an evaluation made by the employee’s medical practitioner
who is not obligated to comply.