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

Procedures
System Name: Maryland Transit Administration – Baltimore
Contact: Rick Morse
(410) 767-3850
pmorse@mdot.state.md.us
Summary: All safety-sensitive employees are required to provide the prescribing
physician with a “Release to Work Form for Prescription Medicines” that
indicates the employee’s name, safety-sensitive job functions, and
medications currently being taken. The employee is responsible for
discussing his/her safety-sensitive job duties with the physician. The
employer is also responsible for discussing the potential effect of any
medication prescribed including its potential to adversely affect the safe
performance of job duties. The employee is to request alternative treatment
that does not have performance-altering side effects. The physician decides
if the employee should be medically disqualified from performing safetysensitive
duties based on the employee’s medical history, current condition,
side effects of medication, and any other indications that may pose a
potential threat. The employee is required to obtain authorization from their
physician to perform their job duties while taking the prescribed
medication. Employees who are medically disqualified from performing
safety-sensitive duties are required to immediately notify their employer,
and will be placed on sick leave. Employees who receive authorization to
return to work while taking an Rx medication must keep the authorization
form on their person. For the benefit of employees and prescribing
physicians, the Release to Work Form also lists medications that are of
concern to safety-sensitive employees. The prescribing physician’s
determination is subject to review and subsequent overturn by MTA’s
physician. MTA’s physician is the final authority.
Employees are required to read all warning labels prior to using an OTC
medication, and are instructed to seek alternatives to OTC medications
with labels that indicate the medication may affect mental functioning,
motor skills, or judgment. Employees are encouraged to seek assistance
from their physician or pharmacist in identifying alternative medications
or treatments.
Advantages: Employee procedures for both Rx and OTC medications are clearly
defined. The form provides documentation of the employee’s safetysensitive
duties and other medications currently taken for consideration by
the prescribing physician when making his/her assessment. The form also
provides the physician with a list of medications identified to be of
concern for safety-sensitive employees. The employees are ultimately
responsible for determining how a medication affects them.