Are You FAA Inspection Ready?

FAA Inspections

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducts inspections of employer's FAA Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs. These inspections can be performed by a team of FAA inspectors over a several day period or could be more brief focused inspections. Advance notice by the FAA to the employer can range from a few weeks for a comprehensive team inspection, to no advance notice for a focused inspection.

The employer is subject to citations and penalties for noncompliance. All citations and sanctions are listed in the FAA website in the Enforcement and Compliance section. For more information on FAA enforcement reports click the link below:

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/operations/agc300/Reports/Quarters/

  Preparation For An FAA Inspection

The best way to perform well on an FAA Inspection is to be "inspection ready" at all times. FedReady LLC has been helping many well known corporations build an excellent and sustainable FAA compliance program. There are two key factors usually required for client success. First, as with any compliance program, the FAA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program must be integrated into the mainstream of the business with active participation and accountability of senior management. Second, the details of these FAA Regulations must be clearly understood and consistently implemented. We guide our clients in both areas.

  Self-Assessment Checklist

To get started, click here for a self assessment of your company's readiness for an FAA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program inspection. If you think you need help, check out our consulting services.

  FAA Inspection Readiness Consulting Services

We will first conduct an assessment of your FAA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program using the same criteria that the FAA uses during an actual inspection. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

	A records review will be conducted. Examples of what we look for are random testing process documentation, an auditable trail that shows removal from a safety-sensitive job after a verified positive test, records on follow-up testing, required postings, written policies, up-to-date operation specification or registration, FAA filed reports, etc. An emphasis on accuracy and completeness of required records is usually a good indication of compliance status. The FAA inspectors spend considerable time on this during an actual inspection.
	An assessment of your training program will be conducted. This includes documentation of attendance and training material utilized and distributed.
	We will assess the drug and breath testing process to identify any areas of noncompliance, and conduct a mock urine collection and breath test to determine proficiency of the Specimen Collector(s) and Breath Alcohol Technicians.
	Interviews will be conducted with the Medical Review Officer (MRO), Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and others as deemed appropriate based on the records review or other findings.
	A senior management out briefing is conducted at the conclusion of the on-site audit. A written report follows of our findings and recommended corrective actions which is provided to designated company personnel.

We will then work with your company, as requested, to help you correct the deficiencies and implement a process of continuous improvement so that your company is inspection ready at all times.