When can a CA Private Patrol Operator PPO drug or alcohol test a security guard?



Private Patrol Operator (PPO) Test Tips:

 

When can the PPO test the employee for drugs and/or alcohol?

 

By Shaun E. Sundahl

 

Date: Thursday May 22, 2011

 
      When you take the California BSIS PPO (Private Patrol Operator) Exam/Test, I want you to print out this page and use it as a study guide. Approach the PPO exam from a societal point of view. Basically, society does not like employers abusing the rights of their employees, so they generate pro-employee laws.  Pro-employee laws are those types of laws designed to protect the rights of employees. Notice in this paragraph I mention “employees,” not applicants; therefore the laws in drug testing prospective employees (applicants) are very flexible and work to the best interest of the employer.  For example:

 

Pre-Employment Drug and Alcohol Testing

 

1. Generally speaking, employers have the right to test employees for drugs if:

 

        a.  The applicant knows the test is part of a screening test for new hires.

 

b.  The employer offers the job to the applicant.

 

c.  Applicants for the same position are tested very similar.

 

d.  A state-certified facility administers the test.

 

 

Employment Drug Testing

 

Do not get pre-employment (applicant) and employee drug testing laws interwined. Here we can assume the applicant is already hired; therefore he/she is now an employee.  Since the applicant is now an employee, society values workforce stability and allows the employee greater protection against employers. Furthermore, the employer may not test the employee for drugs and alcohol unless the employee is engaged in work that can clearly cause human injury or property damaged while under the influence of certain drugs and alcohol. So what type of employment would allow the employer to drug or alcohol tests its employees? The answer is truck driving, demolition, and similiar occupations that have the capability of injuring the public Click here for more details.  How about the armed guard? It depends on the circumstances.  For PPO test purposes, think in terms of unarmed guards since most of BSIS registered guards are unarmed.  As the PPO would you order the unarmed guard to be drug tested? After reading this essay, I hope not (especially for PPO Exam purposes). Click here for an closer look into the legal standards of drug and alcohol testing.

 

You must also note:

 

   A.  An employer may not test for drugs or alcohol if the employer has a  

        random or blanket policy of drug testing.

 

   B.  An employer may test for drugs and alcohol if the employer has “reasonable suspicion” the   

        employee is under the influence.

 

               Ex: employee has odor of alcohol on his breath.

               Ex: Erratic behavior at work.


              
Ex: Abnormally slurred speech.

 

I hope you found this essay on “When can the PPO test the employee for drugs and alcohol?” helpful for the PPO test.

 

Would you like to cite our article under APA guidelines? Here you are:

Sundahl, S. (2011, May 26). When can the PPO test the employee for drugs and/or alcohol?. Retrieved [enter date], from Sundahl & Associates: http://crimebullet.com/ppodrugtests.html

 **All information presented here is under copyright by Sundahl & Associates, Inc., 2011. You may not reproduce or copy the information contained herein without the express permission of Sundahl & Associates. Shaun Sundahl (CEO) is a professional writer and you may employ his services from time to time. For permission please contact us by phone or e-mail. Thank you.**

  

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