Drug and alcohol testing review
2 May 2006
Final Report
The report on the "Safety Benefits of Introducing Drug and Alcohol Testing for Safety-Sensitive Personnel in the Aviation Industry" has been approved by the Minister for public release.
11 July 2005
Draft Report
A Draft Report on the "Safety Benefits of Introducing Drug and Alcohol Testing for Safety-Sensitive Personnel in the Aviation Industry"” has been approved by the Minister for public release and discussion.
Presentation - Research and findings
It is intended that a presentation to industry and other interested parties will be held on 14 July 2005 in Canberra to elaborate on the research undertaken to date and the findings outlined in the draft report, at the Chifley on Northbourne hotel, 102 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra. Contact details for the hotel are: ph. (02) 6249 1411; fax. (02) 6249 6878.
The presentation is aimed to last from 9.00 - 15.30 hours, and will include a presentation by the review team; plenty of opportunity to raise and discuss aspects of interest and will also include a light buffet lunch.
It is asked that persons interested in attending advise Doug Hartley (Department of Transport and Regional Services) directly by e-mail, both for planning/catering purposes and also to give you the opportunity of raising any particular aspects with the review team in advance, that you might like us to elaborate on during the presentation or subsequent discussions.
The presentation is intended not only as a summary of the draft report and its supporting research but also as an opportunity for interested persons to provide additional feedback to the review team ahead of the Final Report being prepared and presented to the Minister later in 2005.
Should you wish to provide additional input to the review team, please e-mail your input to Doug Hartley at Doug.Hartley@dotars.gov.au or post to the following address:
Dr Doug Hartley,
Drug and Alcohol Testing Review,
Aviation Operations Branch,
Aviation and Airports Business Division,
Department of Transport and Regional Services,
GPO Box 594,
CANBERRA ACT 2601 Australia
Input is required by 1 August 2005.
May 2005
Drug and Alcohol testing review
A Review is being undertaken to establish the safety benefits of the introduction of a drug and alcohol testing programme for safety sensitive personnel in the Australian aviation industry.
On 18 March 2004, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released its accident report on a fatal accident that occurred at Hamilton Island in September 2002. A finding of this report was that the possible adverse effects on pilot performance of fatigue, recent cannabis use and post-alcohol impairment could not be discounted.
In this report, the ATSB made a number of recommendations, with recommendations 20040039 and 20040040 relating to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Department of Transport and Regional Services jointly establishing the safety benefits of the introduction of a drug and alcohol testing programme to the Australian aviation industry for safety sensitive personnel. It was stated that, wherever possible, this programme should harmonise with existing and evolving national and international regulations.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson MP, issued a media release (A36/2004) on 18 March announcing that he supported the ATSB recommendations and asking CASA and the Department to jointly develop terms of reference for a review of this issue.
CASA issued a media release announcing the review on 14 May.
The Terms of Reference have been finalised.
Submissions addressing the Terms of Reference for this Review were invited from all interested parties on or before the closing date of 30 June 2004.
A number of submissions are available for download.
Further information on the Review may be obtained by contacting Dr Doug Hartley on facsimile 02 6274 7804 or e-mail Doug.Hartley@dotars.gov.au .