Kansas City Fire Department Drug & Alcohol Misuse Policy Practice Flashcards

These vocabulary flashcards cover key terms, professional roles, testing protocols, and disciplinary steps defined in the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department Drug & Alcohol Misuse Testing Policy (Revised 2021).

Adulterated Specimen

A specimen that contains a substance not expected to be present in human urine, or one with a substance at a concentration so high it is inconsistent with human urine, intended to mask or alter the test result.

Alcohol

The intoxicating agent in beverage alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or other low molecular weight alcohol, including methyl and isopropyl alcohol.

BAT (Blood Alcohol Technician)

A person who instructs and assists individuals in the alcohol testing process and operates an evidential breath testing device.

Cold/Hot Specimen

A urine specimen that falls outside the normal temperature range of $90^{\circ}-100^{\circ}F/32^{\circ}-38^{\circ}C$.

Covered Employee

Any individual who is an applicant or employee of the KCFD, including regular, probationary, full time, part time, exempt, non-exempt, temporary, and contract employees.

Dilute Specimen

A specimen with creatinine and specific gravity values lower than plausibly consistent with human urine.

Disabling Damage

Damage which precludes departure of a motor vehicle or motorized equipment from the scene of an accident in its usual manner after simple repairs.

Drug Policy Administrator

The person authorized by the Chief of the Fire Department to administer the misuse policy and act as liaison between service providers, labor union representatives, and employees.

EBT (Evidential Breath Testing)

An alcohol test performed with a device approved by the NHTSA for the evidential testing of breath at the $0.02$ and $0.04$ alcohol concentrations.

EAP (Employee Assistance Program)

A program recognized by Fire Administration, Local 42, and Local 3808 that provides assistance and referral services for KCFD employees for psychological, social, or addiction problems.

Legitimate Medical Use

The use of a drug that has been properly obtained/prescribed and used in the manner for which it was intended.

MRO (Medical Review Officer)

A licensed physician agreed to by Fire Administration and the Unions who has specialized training in substance abuse and is certified to receive and interpret laboratory results.

Positive Alcohol Test

A blood or evidential breath alcohol test showing a level at or above $0.04\,gm/dL$ ($40\,mg/dL$) or a refusal to submit to such test.

Random Test

Drug tests performed on employees while on duty without advance warning, using a scientifically valid method that conforms to federal standards.

Refusal to Submit

Failure to report to the testing facility within $60$ minutes of being directed, failure to provide an adequate sample without medical explanation, or obstructing the process.

Safety-Sensitive Function

Any essential job function performed on a routine or emergency basis which, if performed while impaired, could directly endanger the safety of employees or the public.

SAP (Substance Abuse Professional)

A certified professional who evaluates employees who have violated the policy and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, and follow-up testing.

Split Sample

A part of a urine specimen sent to a first laboratory and retained unopened, which is transported to a second laboratory if the employee requests a retest after a positive result.

Substituted Specimen

A submitted specimen that does not exhibit the clinical signs or characteristics associated with normal human urine.

Reasonable Cause Testing

Testing required when two supervisors have articulable observations concerning an employee's appearance, behavior, speech, or performance indicators suggesting intoxication.

Mouth Swab Drug Test (Marijuana/THC)

An oral fluid drug test used in the event of a non-negative rapid point-of-collection result for marijuana, with a screening cutoff of $3\,ng/mL$ and confirmation at $1.5\,ng/mL$.

Step 1 (Positive Test Disposition)

Disciplinary action for the first positive for alcohol or marijuana under reasonable cause, requiring immediate removal from duty, EAP referral, and a $24$-hour suspension without pay.

Step 4 (Positive Test Disposition)

The final stage for a fourth positive drug or alcohol test, resulting in immediate removal from duty with a recommendation of termination and a 'DO NOT REHIRE' designation.

Expungement Period (Step 1)

The duration of $12$ months an employee must go without another infraction for a Step 1 violation to be removed from their record.