Why drug test? Having a well established random drug testing program does not mean that you do not trust or even like your employees. It means that you care enough about their safety and workplace security to protect them, and yourself, from the costs of on-the-job alcohol and drug abuse. Random testing programs have proven effective in reducing workplace incidents and lowering worker’s compensation claims, saving employers money.

Where should individuals go for their test? If you are set up with one of the major laboratories, then you can use any one of the patient service centers (PSCs) that these labs have nationwide. If, however, an individual is not in a location served by a PSC, then you will need to contact our office at 866-398-4202 to set up a third party collection site.

As an employer, how do I know if I am subject to DOT testing? Generally, Department of Transportation regulations cover safety-sensitive transportation employers and employees. Each Department of Transportation agency (FRA, FMCSA, FTA, FAA, PHMSA), as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, have specific drug and alcohol testing regulations that outline the agency's prohibitions on drug and alcohol use:

• Who is subject to the regulations
• What testing is authorized
• When testing is authorized
• Consequences of non-compliance

What is the difference between a DOT drug test and a Non-DOT drug test? A DOT drug screen tests a specimen for five drugs—opiates, PCP, amphetamines/methamphetamines, marijuana and cocaine. A DOT-approved chain-of-custody form is used during the collection process, a split sample is collected and the specimens are forwarded to the laboratory for testing. Following the MRO's review, results are reported to the designated reporting agency. A non-DOT drug screen can be expanded into a 10-panel drug screen by testing for the above five drugs and adding barbiturates, benzodiazepines, methadone, methaqualone and propoxyphene.

What is a Medical Review Officer? A licensed physician with a history of substance abuse diagnostic work. Per DOT regulations all DOT drug screens must be reviewed by an MRO. Many states also require an MRO review, and this service is available for non-DOT testing if desired. Services include the interpretation and evaluation of test results from confirmed positive, adulterated and substituted specimens in addition to the employee's medical history or other relevant biomedical information necessary to determine if there is a legitimate explanation for a confirmed positive test.

What is SAMHSA? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1992, SAMHSA was created as a services agency to focus attention, programs, and funding on improving the lives of people with or at risk for mental and substance abuse disorders. SAMHSA works to ensure that people with or at risk for a mental or addictive disorder have the opportunity for a fulfilling life that includes a job, a home, and meaningful relationships with family and friends.

What are random drug tests? Random drug tests are used by employers as a preventive tool to try and discourage drug use in the workplace. Random drug testing is a scientific process that selects employees for drug testing on a monthly or quarterly basis. Department of Transportation regulations require all DOT regulated employees in safety sensitive positions to be in a random population and ASS can make this process easier by managing your random population and performing your selections for you. Employers that are not subject to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations can utilize ASS to setup and manage their random programs as well.

How long will it take to receive my results? Drug Tests generally take 24 to 36 hours to complete. If, however, a test has to undergo any further testing or reviewed by an MRO then it may take longer. Our office will be more than happy to assist you to determine the status of any outstanding tests. Where do I log in for my results? The drug testing website can be accessed using our “Client TEST RESULTS” button on the top-right corner of our home page. This will bring up a new window. The link for the drug testing website is listed underneath of the login for background screening.

Who provides my username and password? One of our associates in the Occupational Healthcare Department will provide you with your username and password when you sign up for your drug testing account with ASS.

How long are drug testing results on the website? Drug testing results are on our website for as long as you are a client with ASS. For your convenience, the most recent results will always be listed at the top of the page when you perform a general search.

What if I don’t see a result or have a question regarding a result? If you are looking for a result and it has been longer than 36-hours since the individual has gone for the drug screen, then you should contact our office to look into the status of the drug test. If you have any questions regarding the results, you can also contact our office with questions at 866-398-4202 or email us at info@amersafeschool.com.

Who should take this course? Our online First Aid and CPR courses are designed to accommodate people who want to learn Basic Life Support, but whose schedules won't allow lengthy classes or expensive training sessions. People in health related fields, coaches, caregivers for the elderly or children, and people associated with athletics will especially benefit from the cognitive skills acquired in our courses. However, anyone who wants to be prepared for an emergency situation is welcome to take our online courses.

Does the Good Samaritan law protect me? Yes, if you give assistance, including CPR, for a medical emergency Good Samaritan laws cover you.

Why pre-screen? Employers have become painfully aware of the tremendous consequences of bad hiring decisions. Pre-screening promotes a safe and profitable workplace. Pre-employment screening is an effective risk management tool that has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of a bad hire.

1. To discourage applicants with something to hide. Simply having a pre-screening program discourages job applicants with a criminal background or falsified credentials.
2. To eliminate uncertainty in the hiring process. Many employers have discovered the hard way that relying on instinct alone is not enough. Hard information is also an important part of the hiring process.
3. To demonstrate Due Diligence. All employers have a reasonable duty of care in the hiring process. This means an employer must take reasonable steps to determine whether an employee is fit for a particular job. For example, if an employer who hires a bus driver and does not take reasonable efforts to determine if the bus driver has a criminal record, it could be found liable if that driver assaults a passenger and a reasonable background check would have discovered the prior assaults.
4. To encourage honesty in the application and interview process. Employers find that just having a background program will encourage applicants to be more forthcoming about their history.

Why do a background check during pre employment screening? A background check is your opportunity to verify information provided by your candidate. It can also reveal information that was either mistakenly or intentionally omitted - such as residency in other regions where a criminal record might be located. Background checks also help confirm dates of attendance and degrees or certifications earned, and background checks can also provide specific information about prior employment. The bottom line … your applicant's history will go a long way in predicting their future and a thorough employee background check during the pre employment screening process helps you see both.

What types of background check services are available? Our background searches include Address History/Social Security Number Trace, County Criminal Records, Statewide Criminal Records, Instant Criminal History, Federal Criminal Records, Sexual Offender Registry, County Civil Records, Federal Civil Records, Drivers History, Credit Reports, Education Confirmation, Prior Employment Confirmation, License and Certificate Confirmation, Workers Compensation Records, Drug Testing, Reference Checks and any other search you'd like us to conduct for pre employment screening.

How can Negligent Hiring affect my business? Negligent hiring lawsuits can cost businesses millions of dollars when an employer is found to be responsible for their employees’ actions. Do I need to fax you the release that my applicant signed? No, but the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that your applicants must express written permission for you to access any of their information, and it is necessary that you keep this signed document for review. Occasionally, we may request copies of the signed release forms for audit purposes. Frequently, our sources of information will require that we provide a copy of this written permission to them.

Will our information be secure and remain confidential? At ASS, we have made it our mission to be dedicated to the secure transaction of all confidential and personal information through the professional management of our online systems and appliances. We employ the "best-in-class" industry methods and tools to measure, monitor and secure all of your vital information.

How should I decide which screening services to order? It depends on the position for which you’re recruiting. For instance, if it’s important that the successful candidate hold a particular license or academic degree, then ask to verify a license or credentials or education. Or if you are seeking someone with relevant job experience, ask us to verify prior employment. If the applicant, if hired, would drive a car on company business, request a driving report. Request an employment credit report if the applicant will have financial responsibility or access to sensitive data, cash drawers, inventory or other valuables. Studies have shown that as many as one out of three resumes contains material inaccuracies. It’s well worth the added cost to avoid becoming a victim of resume fraud. Pre-employment drug screening is another popular add-on service, especially in situations where the new employee will have financial responsibility, interact with the public, operate potentially dangerous equipment or machinery, or execute complicated work processes.

What happens if my applicant disputes the findings of a background screening report? The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) outlines procedures that must be followed in the event that an applicant chooses to dispute findings. The applicant may submit his/her dispute to the prospective employer or directly to the screening agency. The agency is responsible for conducting a re-investigation and reporting its findings directly to the applicant.

How do I get the background check information? That's up to you - employee background check and pre employment screening reports can be emailed directly to you, viewed online, faxed to you or a combination of these. Screening is very user-friendly, so you can adjust your preferences to what suits you best.

Do I need a release from the applicant? You should obtain a signed release from any applicant or employee that will be subject to a background check. Keep a copy of the signed release in your own files, and we recommend you copy the Summary of Rights (as required by the FCRA) on the back side of the release so you are sure it was provided.

Why do a drivers license history check? Anyone driving on behalf of your organization - even once - should have their driving history background check on a regular basis.

Is this TRAFFIC SCHOOL course state approved? Yes, it is approved by the state of Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

What do the Florida DMV written exams cover? The written tests consist of the following:

1. 20 multiple choice questions regarding the rules of the road. You must have at least 15 correct answers in order to pass and receive a learner permit.
2. 20 multiple choice questions regarding road signs. You must have at least 15 correct answers in order to pass and receive a learner permit.
3. You also must pass a vision test using an eye machine with 20/40 or better in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses.

What happens if I get a traffic ticket before I turn 18? Teens issued a traffic ticket may elect to attend traffic school in order to avoid a conviction. You can only attend traffic school once every twelve months and only 5 times in 10 years. If you receive 6 points on your driving record within 12 months, your driving privileges will automatically be restricted to work purposes for 12 months or until you turn 18. If you receive additional points during your restricted period, the 12 months restriction period will be extended 90 days for each additional point. If you are under the age of 21, stopped by a law enforcement officer, and have a blood alcohol level of .02% or more, you will receive an administrative suspension of 6 months. It is imperative to avoid speeding tickets and other traffic tickets to maintain a good record for insurance and full driving priviledges. The following are a list of traffic infractions and the points associated with them:

Points Assessed Against Florida Driver Licenses
3
4
6
3
4
4
3

Infraction
Speeding - 15 mph or less over the speed limit
Speeding - 16 mph or more over the speed limit
Speeding resulting in a crash
Moving violation including driving during restricted hours
Moving violation resulting in a crash
Reckless driving
Improper lane change

What are the benefits of attending a driver improvement course? Attending a driver improvement course will result in the following:

1. No points will be assessed against your driving record.
2. Your insurance company cannot impose any additional premium or refuse to renew a policy for vehicle insurance solely because the insured committed a non-criminal traffic infraction with the exceptions of a second infraction within 18 months, a third infraction in 36 months, or exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 mph.

Do I have to pay the civil penalty if I choose to attend a driver improvement course? Yes

What state law provides for my insurance discount when I take the course, and what parts of my policy is discounted? How long will my insurance discount last? Are there any restrictions? Florida Statute 627.0652 requires insurance companies to provide a discount for drivers 55 years of age or older who have successfully completed our course. The discount is for the liability (bodily injury and property damage), personal injury protection, and collision portions of your policy…typically around 70%-85% of your current premium charges. Uninsured Motorist and Comprehensive coverage is excluded. The premium reduction is effective for 3 years provided that you are (1) Not involved in an accident for which you are at fault and (2) Not convicted of or plead guilty or nolo contendere to a moving violation. For this reason, if you receive a traffic ticket during this 3-year period, you'll need to go to traffic school so that adjudication is withheld and you can maintain your discount! There is a limit on the times you can go to traffic school to maintain your discount, so drive vigilantly to avoid traffic tickets.

Do I have to be 55 years old before I get the discount? No. GEICO Insurance Company currently provides the discount for drivers who are 50 years old or older.

Is your site secure? Yes. We have secure encrypted links between your browser and our servers for credit card transactions and all other personal information.

Is my payment information secure? All payment information that you provide (Credit Card number, expiration date etc.) is passed to our credit card processing agent over a secure, encrypted connection. You can rest assured that your payment is safe from intruders. Depending how your browser's security settings are configured, you may experience a warning that the connection isn't secure. This is a false warning and you should just ignore it. We are working to eliminate this annoying warning in the future.

The credit card payment option doesn't seem to be working properly. The problem is usually either that the payment processors are extremely busy or that you have entered an incorrect expiration date or card number. Please verify that you have entered the numbers correctly. Another common problem is an AVS (address verification service) mismatch. This means the billing address specified in the Card Holder Billing Information section of the payment form does not match the one the credit card processing agent has on file. Make sure you have the address that your credit card bill goes too which can be different than the address you registered with.

If you are still having trouble with submitting a credit card payment, please contact our customer support staff by phone or fax. You can always pay with a credit card over the phone. We don't recommend emailing credit card information as it is very insecure.