Dole Orders Extensive Drug Testing of Air Controllers to Start in 60 Days

The Transportation Department, following President Reagan’s orders for a drug-free workplace, said Monday that it will begin comprehensive drug testing of air traffic controllers and others this summer.

The testing, the first such program by a civilian federal agency, will cover those department employees whose jobs affect public safety and security, Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Hanford Dole said.

“I couldn’t look the American people in the eye and say we’re doing everything we can to make the system as safe as possible if I were to look the other way while drug abuse threatened travelers’ safety,” Dole said in a statement.

The testing will cover about 30,000 workers, most of whom are employed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Under the new program, which is expected to begin in about 60 days, there would be several types of testing, such as preemployment, periodic, random, reasonable suspicion, follow-up and testing for workers involved in an accident or unsafe practice.

Those who are determined to have used illegal drugs off duty and those seeking assistance voluntarily will be given a chance at rehabilitation, Dole said, but those found using drugs on the job will be fired.

Kenneth Blaylock, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, threatened to sue the government if random drug testing is carried out.

Current FAA policy stipulates that an air traffic controller may not be forced to undertake a drug or alcohol test--not even if the worker is involved in a plane disaster or near miss--unless specifically suspected of being impaired.