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

Procedures
System Name: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA)
Contact: Mary Nugent
(213) 922-7169
nugentm@mta.net
Summary: All employees must notify their manager, supervisor, or MTA medical
personnel when they take a Rx or OTC medication that may interfere with
the safe and effective performance of their job duties. Safety-sensitive
employees are not allowed to perform their duties if their medication
carries a warning label that their mental functioning, motor skills, or
judgment may be affected unless a physician provides a written statement
that the substance will not affect the employee’s ability to perform safetysensitive
duties. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (LACMTA) provides a Medical Evaluation Form for the
employee to provide information about each medication they are taking.
The department head or division manager checks the Medication
Evaluation List to assess the appropriate action and will make one of three
determinations: (1) the medication is approved to take; (2) the employee
must wait at least 8 hours after taking the medication before reporting for
duty; and (3) the employee is prohibited from performing safety-sensitive
duties while taking this medication. If the supervisor is in doubt or has a
question, he/she is to contact the MTS medical staff for guidance.
LACMTA has allowed the use of a portion of its Medication Evaluation
List as an example only. The draft list is currently under internal review
and is not available for distribution or use. This draft list is for the
exclusive use of LACMTA. The Medication Evaluation List was
compiled from a list of the most common medications taken by MTA
employees. Restrictions were based on information obtained from the
Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR). Medications with warning sections
that indicate the medication “may cause drowsiness, do not operate heavy
machinery” were put on the restricted list. This model is an example of
the third approach described in the introduction to this section.
Advantages: The employee is responsible for reporting medication use. Managers and
supervisors have a defined list of medications that are approved and those
that have restrictions. The list is based on the PDR with MRO
concurrence. The form does not require supervisors to make medical
judgments. It allows for quick determination by the supervisor, and
minimizes loss of productivity while the employee awaits a determination.
Employees are not required to have forms in their possession prior to a
physician or pharmacy visit. The process provides for cost-effective use
of medical personnel.