PSS bus drivers told to stay away from drugs, alcohol

Public School System bus drivers were reminded to stay away from alcohol and drugs while on duty to ensure the safety of some 10,00 school children that they ferry everyday.

During a drug-free workplace policy workshop yesterday, Administrative Services Officer Jess Sanchez underscored the need to constantly motivate school system employees to remain drug and alcohol-free especially during working hours.

“They must always realize the scope of their work and they must not subject the children to any danger,” said Mr. Sanchez.

While PSS is not readily able to ascertain if 100 percent of members of its Pupil Transportation Fleet are cleared from alcohol and drugs, Mr. Sanchez said the school system’s goal is to uphold this policy.

“We would like to guarantee the safety of the children. We’d like to make it known that we don’t condone the use of drugs and consumption of alcohol in the workplace. We will not tolerate it,” he said.

Saipan Health Clinic Nurses Supervisor Ines Duenas yesterday demonstrated to participants during the Summer 2000 Defensive Driving Training the process of acquiring specimens (urine and blood) to detect the presence of alcohol and drugs.

A private clinic performs screen tests to determine the presence of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, opium, amphetamine, and PCP (Phencyclidine).

PSS has been sending its employees for screen tests since 1997 under the care of the private clinic, according to Ms. Duenas.

“But for a while they have stopped. And now, we again resumed our services with them,” said Ms. Duenas.

She further disclosed that although the clinic has discovered a few number of employees who had tested positive for drugs, she said the figure remains “insignificant.”

According to the PSS Regulation Employment of non-certified personnel, no employee adversely affected by the use of any illegally obtained drugs (prescription or nonprescription) shall perform a safety-sensitive function in that condition.

Its Fit-to-Work policy also states that before starting work, each employee who performs any safety-sensitive function must report to his/her supervisor the use of any prescription or nonprescription drug that contains a cautionary label regarding the operation of equipment or vehicles. (MM)