Random Drug Testing Rate Holds at 50 Percent

The USCG announced the minimum random drug testing rate for marine employers will remain at 50 percent of covered crew members for calendar year 2000. The USCG's decision to continue to present drug testing rate was based on analysis of the 1998 Management Information System (MIS) data collection forms submitted by marine employers, which showed random drug testing of vessel crew members resulted in positive test results 1.68 percent of the time. Federal regulations allow the USCG to reduce the random drug testing rate if MIS reports for the previous year show an industry-wide positive rate of less than one percent. Information on 1999 test results is due March 15, 2000.