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

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Employees’ responsibilities:
-Be aware of medical condition and implications for job
-Be aware of possible Rx/OTC side effects that may compromise safety
-Discuss Rx or OTC side effects and dosages with prescribing medical practitioner
-Read warning labels
-Report use of Rx and OTC medications to designated authorities
Roles and responsibilities of management and supervisors
Roles and responsibilities of pharmacists and medical practitioners (physicians,
psychiatrists, dentists, and physician assistants) who prescribe or recommend medications
Roles and responsibilities of the employer’s physician
• A formal procedure for reporting, authorizing, and monitoring use of medications
• Consequences for each type of policy violation:
-Use of Rx/OTC that contributes to cause or severity of an accident
-Failure to report use
-Failure to obtain medical authorization
-Violation of other policy provisions
Statement of confidentiality:
-Records
-Interaction with medical practitioner
A list of commonly used Rx/OTC medications and the side effects and dangers
associated with their use. Limitations on use of any Rx or OTC medication, if any.
• Caution about the potential consequences of combining Rx and/or OTC medications.
Most transit systems include their Rx/OTC policy as a section of their drug and alcohol testing
policy as evidenced by the examples provided herein. FTA suggests, however, that a stand-alone
policy may be less confusing, and more effective as the Rx/OTC policy’s primary focus is on
“fitness for duty,” not testing (see the Maryland MTA policy example).