Responsibilities of The Sap
Requirements:
- The fundamental responsibility of the SAP is to provide a comprehensive face-to-face assessment and clinical evaluation to determine what level of care the employee needs in resolving issues associated with his/her substance use.
- After performing a comprehensive assessment, the SAP recommends - at a minimum - a plan of action that includes education and/or treatment along with drug testing. The employee must successfully complete the recommended plan if he/she wants to return to his/her DOT safety sensitive position.
- A SAP serves a vital role to the return-to-duty process for safety sensitive positions.
Requirements to the Public:
- A Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is not an advocate for the employer or employee. A SAP’s primary function is to protect the public interest in safety by professionally evaluating the employee and recommending appropriate education and/or treatment, follow-up tests, and continuing care.
- May an employer or employee seek a second SAP evaluation if they disagree with the first SAP’s recommendations? As an employer, you must not seek a second SAP’s evaluation if the employee has already been evaluated by a qualified SAP. If the employee has obtained a second SAP evaluation, as an employer you may not rely on it for any reason. If the employee accepts a second SAP’s recommendations, YOU as the employer would be subject to fines by DOT, as well as the employee.
- As an employee with a DOT drug and alcohol regulation violation, when you have been evaluated by a SAP, you must not seek a second SAP’s evaluation in order to obtain another recommendation. If your employer accepts a second SAP’s recommendations, your employer would be subject to DOT fines, as well as YOU the employee.
