Skip to Content
Civil Aviation Safety Authority Home
Online services
Civil Aviation Safety Authority Home
  • Aerodromes
    • Aerodrome operations
    • Aerodromes register
    • Aerodrome safety
  • Aircraft
    • Aircraft safety
    • Cabin safety
    • Airworthiness
    • Civil aircraft register
    • Foreign operators
    • Fuel
    • Drones
    • Sport aviation
  • Airspace
    • Airspace regulation
    • Communications
    • Navigation
    • Surveillance
  • Education
    • Aviation safety advisors
    • eLearning catalogue
    • Seminars and workshops
    • Sponsorship and grants
  • Publications and resources
    • Corporate publications
    • Information sheets, checklists and kits
    • Online store
    • CASA self service
    • Flight Safety Australia
    • Forms and templates
    • Guidance materials
    • Manual authoring and assessment tool
    • Image gallery
    • OnTrack
    • Manuals and handbooks
    • Out-n-Back
    • Media hub
    • Research and statistics
    • Online services
    • Temporary management instructions
    • The CASA Briefing
    • Videos and multimedia
    • Regulatory wrap-up
  • Rules and regulations
    • Changing the rules
    • Compliance with the rules
    • Current rules
    • Regulation reform
  • Safety management
    • Dangerous goods
    • Drug and alcohol management plans
    • Emergencies and incident reporting
    • Fatigue management
    • Hazards
    • Health
    • Human factors
    • Safety management systems
    • Advice for air travellers
  • Licences and certification
    • Aerodromes
    • Aircraft Certification and design
    • Aviation medicine
    • Flight training
    • Flight training organisations
    • Individual licensing
  • About us
    • Careers at CASA
    • Who we are
    • Who we work with
    • Contact us
    • Reporting and accountability
    • Working with industry
    • Events
    • Service Delivery Statistics
    • Site information
  • Aerodromes
    • Aerodrome operations
    • Aerodromes register
    • Aerodrome safety
  • Aircraft
    • Aircraft safety
    • Cabin safety
    • Airworthiness
    • Civil aircraft register
    • Foreign operators
    • Fuel
    • Drones
    • Sport aviation
  • Airspace
    • Airspace regulation
    • Communications
    • Navigation
    • Surveillance
  • Education
    • Aviation safety advisors
    • eLearning catalogue
    • Seminars and workshops
    • Sponsorship and grants
  • Publications and resources
    • Corporate publications
    • Information sheets, checklists and kits
    • Online store
    • CASA self service
    • Flight Safety Australia
    • Forms and templates
    • Guidance materials
    • Manual authoring and assessment tool
    • Image gallery
    • OnTrack
    • Manuals and handbooks
    • Out-n-Back
    • Media hub
    • Research and statistics
    • Online services
    • Temporary management instructions
    • The CASA Briefing
    • Videos and multimedia
    • Regulatory wrap-up
  • Rules and regulations
    • Changing the rules
    • Compliance with the rules
    • Current rules
    • Regulation reform
  • Safety management
    • Dangerous goods
    • Drug and alcohol management plans
    • Emergencies and incident reporting
    • Fatigue management
    • Hazards
    • Health
    • Human factors
    • Safety management systems
    • Advice for air travellers
  • Licences and certification
    • Aerodromes
    • Aircraft Certification and design
    • Aviation medicine
    • Flight training
    • Flight training organisations
    • Individual licensing
  • About us
    • Careers at CASA
    • Who we are
    • Who we work with
    • Contact us
    • Reporting and accountability
    • Working with industry
    • Events
    • Service Delivery Statistics
    • Site information

You are here

  1. Home ›
  2. Safety management ›
  3. Drug and alcohol management plans ›
  4. Fact sheets ›
  5. Understanding drug and alcohol response programs

Safety management

  • Dangerous goods
    • Air freight - What are the rules?
    • Before you pack your bags
    • Dangerous goods services
    • Information and developments
    • Least wanted dangerous goods
  • Drug and alcohol management plans
  • Emergencies and incident reporting
  • Fatigue management
  • Hazards
    • Environmental conditions
  • Health
  • Human factors
    • Applicable legislation
    • Human factors activities
    • Resources
    • Safety Behaviours: Human Factors for Engineers resource kit
  • Safety management systems
    • External links and resources
    • Legislation and guidance
    • SMS resource kit
    • Understand SM and SMS
  • Advice for air travellers
    • Adventure flight safety explained
    • Go-arounds
    • Mobile phones
Go to top of page

Understanding drug and alcohol response programs

DAMP Factsheet Banner

What is a drug and alcohol response program?

A drug and alcohol response program is a mandatory component of an organisation's Drug and Alcohol Management Plan (DAMP) under Part 99B of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. Its aim is to ensure that anyone performing a 'safety sensitive aviation activity' (SSAA) under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (AOD) stops performing those activities until it is deemed safe for them to resume them.

An organisation's response program is activated when impermissible AOD use is confirmed via its testing program.

When must an employee cease SSAAs?

A DAMP organisation must stop an employee from performing SSAAs in the following circumstances:

  • If the employee returns a positive result for an initial AOD test. They must not return to performing SSAAs until a confirmatory test returns a negative result.
  • If the employee recorded a positive result for a confirmatory AOD test under DAMP or CASA testing, and a Medical Review Officer (MRO) determined that the result was not due to legitimate therapeutic treatment or another innocuous source.
  • If the employee refused a test or interfered with the integrity of a test.
  • If a DAMP supervisor has reasonable grounds to suspect that a SSAA employee is under the influence of a testable drug or alcohol.
  • If an 'accident' or 'serious incident' has occurred.

When can an employee resume SSAAs?

If an organisation has stopped an employee from performing SSAAs in any of the circumstances listed above, it must only allow them to resume SSAAs if they:

  • undergo a 'comprehensive assessment'; and
  • begin an 'intervention program' nominated by the MRO if the comprehensive assessment has recommended this; and
  • are considered fit to return to SSAA by the MRO and treating clinician (if any); and
  • record a negative confirmatory drug test result and the MRO is satisfied of the absence of AOD use.

Do I have to return a SSAA employee to work?

No. The question of whether an employee should be returned to work will be determined by your organisation's individual policies and procedures regarding AOD use in the workplace.

What is a 'comprehensive assessment'?

The purpose of a comprehensive assessment is to:

  • determine the extent of an employee's AOD use
  • recommend the most suitable treatment options.

A comprehensive assessment can be conducted:

  • by a psychiatrist
  • by a doctor specialising in addictions
  • jointly by a doctor and an 'appropriately qualified alcohol and other drug  professional'.

What is an 'intervention program'?

Following a comprehensive assessment the MRO may recommend an intervention program tailored to the needs of the individual in question. It may include any of the following:

  • assessment
  • treatment (education, counselling, treatment programs)
  • monitoring and follow-up. 

If a DAMP organisation intends to allow employees to resume SSAAs, its DAMP must include a commitment to allowing the employee the time to attend a nominated AOD intervention program if advised by the MRO.

CASR Part 99B - Quick reference guide to response programs

DAMP organisations should ensure that they are familiar with the relevant regulations in Subpart 99B. The full text of Part 99 is available on the ComLaw website under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.

Content Regulation
Ceasing SSAAs 99.065
Returning to SSAAs 99.070
Intervention programs 99.075
Definitions - 'compressive assessment'; 'intervention program'; 'accident'; 'serious incident'; 'appropriately qualified alcohol and other drug  professional' 99.010

Need more information?

Visit Drug and Alcohol Management Plans (DAMP) - Part 99 on CASA's website for information on regulatory requirements, guidance materials, available exemptions, resources and contacts.

Last modified: 11 September 2017
Share this Share on facebook Share on twitter

Site information

  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Privacy
  • Freedom of Information

Resources

  • Acronyms and abbreviations
  • Online store
  • Forms and templates
  • Media hub
  • Regulatory philosophy
  • Manuals and handbooks

Our other sites

  • Consultation Hub
  • Droneflyer
  • Flight Safety Australia
  • OnTrack
  • Out-n-Back
  • Visual Flight Rules Guide

Download our apps

  • Can I pack that?
  • Can I fly there?
  • Flight Safety Australia

Stay in touch

  • Phone: 131 757
  • Subscribe
  • Contact us

FacebookTwitterLinkedInYoutubeRSS Feed

View full site

View mobile site

Back to top of page