Introducing random drug and alcohol testing at the TTC

Dear Colleague,

Starting Monday, May 8, we will begin random drug and alcohol testing for employees in safety sensitive positions, as well as specified management and designated executives of the TTC. Random testing is a new component of the TTC’s existing Fitness for Duty policy that has been in place since 2010 where the expectation is that each of us report for work, and remain, fit for duty. This program is administered by a third-party provider, DriverCheck Inc.

Your well-being is always the most important consideration in the work we do and random drug and alcohol testing has everything to do with ensuring your safety, the safety of your co-workers, as well as the safety of our customers and other road users.

Random Drug and Alcohol Testing at the TTC-Employee Guide, May 2017

The employee guide enclosed includes all of the information you need to know about the random testing program, including how tests are administered, employee and supervisor responsibilities, drug and alcohol cut-off levels, information about taking medications, and how to reach out for help or extra support if you believe you may have a drug or alcohol dependency.

An online version of this guide is also available on the TTC website at ttc.ca and on the intranet (internal website).

Please take the time to read it. If you have any questions, please ask your manager or supervisor – they are familiar with this new program and have received specific training about how it works.

It’s extremely important to emphasize how much we value the security, privacy and confidentiality of your information. An employee’s drug or alcohol use during personal time is not relevant unless it creates the potential for impairment during working hours. The testing program ensures safety at work by identifying likely impairment on the job. Results are delivered as a pass or fail based on threshold limits set by the TTC and supported by science and experts in the field.
Contact information is outlined in the guide should you have questions.

If you need to speak to someone confidentially about a concern with alcohol or drug use, I encourage you to reach out to the TTC’s Employee Family Assistance Program. They are available to you seven days a week, 24 hours a day at 1-800-572-0039. Alternatively, you can seek assistance by contacting Occupational Health at 416-393-4572.

Please read this guide. It’s a valuable resource in helping you understand random testing and the TTC’s Fitness for Duty policy. The TTC has an obligation to you, as well as the public, to be the safest transit system it can be.

Sincerely,

Andy Byford
Chief Executive Officer
April 27, 2017