TITLE 46 - SHIPPING

CHAPTER I - COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

SUBCHAPTER B - MERCHANT MARINE OFFICERS AND SEAMEN

PART 16 - CHEMICAL TESTING

subpart b - REQUIRED CHEMICAL TESTING

16.250 - Reasonable cause testing requirements.

  (a) The marine employer shall require any crewmember engaged or employed on board a vessel owned in the United States that is required by law or regulation to engage, employ or be operated by an individual holding a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document issued under this subchapter, who is reasonably suspected of using a dangerous drug to be chemically tested for dangerous drugs.

  (b) The marine employer's decision to test must be based on a reasonable and articulable belief that the individual has used a dangerous drug based on direct observation of specific, contemporaneous physical, behavioral, or performance indicators of probable use. Where practicable, this belief should be based on the observation of the individual by two persons in supervisory positions.

  (c) When the marine employer requires testing of an individual under the provisions of this section, the individual must be informed of that fact and directed to provide a urine specimen as soon as practicable. This fact shall be entered in the vessel's official log book, if one is required.

  (d) If an individual refuses to provide a urine specimen when directed to do so by the employer under the provisions of this section, this fact shall be entered in the vessel's official log book, if one is required.