RSSB Guidance on Drug and Alcohol Policies

Dear Colleague,

RSSB GUIDANCE ON DRUG & ALCOHOL POLICIES

Further to complaints raised by the RMT about how some employers were interpreting the Railway Group Standard on Drug and Alcohol Policies, the Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB) has revised its Guidance Notice for the standard. The Guidance Notice was reissued in December 2012. The weblink to the full RSSB Guidance Notice is here:

http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Traffic%20Operation%20and%20Management/Guidance%20Notes/GEGN8570%20Iss%202.pdf

Your union had been made aware of instances whereby ‘For Cause’ screening had been used in inappropriate situations and it was this that led the RMT to make representations to the RSSB.

Please find attached to/enclosed with this circular guidance written by the RMT to help you make use of the RSSB’s Guidance Notice for the Group Standard on Drug and Alcohol Policies.

If you or your members have any queries regarding the guidance, please contact the Health & Safety section on s.mackay@rmt.org.uk or p.clyndes@rmt.org.uk who will be happy to assist you.

If any members continue to have ‘For Cause’ tests that appear inappropriate then please contact the Health & Safety section with details.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary