Category: Industry News

A compliant workspace is a must for the sake of your workers, your clients, and your business as a whole. In order to be compliant, you should have access to a few different books and forms that you can get from your safety services specialist. Read on to find out if your business has the necessary supplies for a compliant workspace.

Books

There are a handful of books that can serve as valuable resources when it comes to maintaining a compliant workspace. The Safety Regulation Handbook is crucial and should be made available to your team; there is even a pocket-sized version for extra convenience. Books like Handling Hazardous Materials Guidebook and Hazmat Made Easier are references that employees can use to ensure that they know how to properly handle dangerous materials.

Forms

A workspace needs to have a wide range of forms and documents in order to be compliant. These forms range from the driver’s vehicle inspection to a list of warning labels that refer to different types of hazardous materials. Your workspace also needs medical forms—both long and short—as well as a driver daily log book and a driver qualification file.

Where to Get Them

Your business can’t remain compliant if it’s missing any of these important books or forms. If you need any of these materials, you can always talk to your safety and compliance professionals to restock whatever it is you may be missing.

If your business doesn’t already have the supplies you need to maintain a compliant workspace, you’ll want to get them right away. Contact HDS Safety Services or visit our website to see how you can acquire the supplies you need. You can also call us at (520) 622-0419 to learn all about our safety and compliance services.

The organization is key when you want your business to succeed, and there’s nothing wrong with reaching out for a little help staying on top of your files. You need to have a clear idea of how your employees work as well as their eligibility to drive, and professional driver qualification management can compile that information for you. Here’s how you can keep your files updated with professional driver qualification management.

Conducting Audits

Everything should be done by the book if you want to run your business as safely and efficiently as possible, so professional driver qualification management is important. Part of this procedure includes conducting audits. This gives the professionals a chance to make sure that all of the information you have on file regarding your drivers is accurate and up to date.

Tracking Expiration

Certain documents need to be renewed before they expire; if a given document does expire, it becomes invalid. Through professional driver qualification management, you can check to ensure that your drivers all have valid, active licenses. Your specialists will also look through medical records and other time-sensitive documents, and they can even give you a heads-up if an important expiration date is coming up soon.

Quarterly Reports

When you hire a safety and compliance service, you want to make sure that you understand the information that the team presents to you. Your professionals can offer you quarterly reports outlining what the team has come across and alert you about any errors, expirations, or other issues that you might be concerned with. Thanks to this service, you can rest assured that your drivers’ files will be in compliance.

Professional driver qualification management is just one of the many services that we offer at HDS Safety Services. We also offer compliance auditing services as well as DOT compliance consulting. Please visit our website or call us at (520) 622-0419 to learn more about us.

It can be argued that most people are not as informed as they should be about drug use, and this is partially due to all of the myths that have continually impeded the facts. A lack of understanding of drugs can also cause you to fail a drug test and miss out on a great employment opportunity. Keep reading for a few common myths about drugs and drug testing.

You Only Need to Test Once

Pre-employment drug testing tends to be common, even among companies that do not administer any additional drug tests in the future. For this reason, many drug users will cease the use of their drug of choice while going through the application and hiring process but return to using once they have been hired. Smarter businesses will employ various types of drug testing, including random drug testing. This ensures a drug-free environment not only with new hires but for the entire workforce present at your business.

How To Beat a Drug Test?

From commercial products to at-home “remedies” like drinking vinegar, people will tell you about all kinds of methods that can supposedly help you pass a drug test. What people might not realize is that attempting to score a false negative on your drug test can quickly backfire and do more harm than good. Methods that change the pH level of your urine may seem like they could be effective, but laboratory professionals are trained to notice when the results have been manipulated. In some cases, this can automatically disqualify you from obtaining employment.

Are you interested in getting to the bottom of more myths about drugs and drug testing? Call HDS Safety Services at (520) 622-0419. In addition to drug testing, we can offer training services and help your company reach complete DOT compliance. Feel free to check out our website for more details about our services.

Anyone who is going to be driving for a living must prove him or herself competent, and this can include a variety of drug and alcohol tests. Pre-employment, post-accident, and return to duty testing can help to maintain a safe workplace and a healthy team. Here is a closer look at the different DOT drug and alcohol tests.

Pre-Employment – DOT Drug Test

You always want to hire employees that you think will improve your team and enhance your workplace, which is one reason it helps to conduct pre-employment drug and alcohol tests. Screening applicants before making the hire can allow you to make the most informed choice possible, and it can also save you the time and energy of training an applicant that turns out not to be fit for the job. You never want someone with a drug problem operating one of your vehicles; this could be bad for your business and for the safety of those on the road.

Post-Accident – DOT Drug Test

Accidents happen everywhere, and the workplace is no exception. When it comes to dealing with damages and worker’s compensation, however, you need to make sure that substance use and abuse did not play a role in the incident. By drug testing an employee who was involved in an accident, you can determine whether substances may have been a factor.

Return to Duty – DOT Drug Test

Whether an individual has taken a leave of absence or been out because of an injury, it’s a good idea to conduct a drug and alcohol test when he or she returns. You always want to make sure that your workforce is operating at peak capacity, so the returning employee should be free of drugs. This can be especially important if the employee had been injured and medicated.

For more information about any of these DOT drug and alcohol tests, please call HDS Safety Services at (520) 622-0419. It’s our job to help you keep your workforce clean, competent, and safe. Head over to our website to learn more about how we can help you.

If you understand the importance of drug and alcohol testing, you might be interested in joining the Clean Fleet Consortium. This can help keep your employees mentally and physically healthy, which can then improve your productivity. It can also boost team morale and let people know that you care about keeping the roads safe. Read on to see how joining the Clean Fleet Consortium can benefit your business.

Keep Employees Healthy and Productive

Anyone who has gone into work while feeling under the weather understands how difficult it can be to focus on productivity while dealing with this type of distraction, and drug use and addiction can create these conditions every day. The Clean Fleet Consortium aims to issue random drug tests to ensure that all employees are conforming to the company’s drug and alcohol policies. Employees who remain sober will be better able to do their jobs, and they will be more comfortable and confident in their duties.

Boost Team Morale

Team morale can take a hit when drugs and alcohol infiltrate the workforce, which can lead to an overall reduction in productivity. When you join the Clean Fleet Consortium, you are making it clear that you care about the health of the team as well as each individual on it. This can motivate your employees to stay away from drugs, respect each other, and offer their best effort each day.

Show Your Concern for Wellbeing

By joining the Clean Fleet Consortium, you show the public that your business and brand cares about individual wellbeing. Making a move towards a workplace and workforce free of drugs and alcohol makes for a noble step that your customers and business partners may respect and appreciate.

Would you like to learn more about joining the Clean Fleet Consortium? Call HDS Safety Services at (520) 622-0419 or visit our website. We are happy to help your team and business stay healthy and productive through alcohol and drug testing.

Driving for a living can be wonderfully fulfilling, but it can be dangerous if it’s not done right. Individual maintenance and inspection training can keep your drivers safe and efficient on the road, which improves your operation. Read ahead to see why your drivers need individual maintenance and inspection training.

Specific Vehicle Training

Depending on the nature of your company and the work that you do, your drivers might not all be operating the same types of vehicles. One of the primary benefits of individual training is that each employee gets to be trained on the specific vehicle that he or she will be working on. Additionally, each driver can use his or her own vehicle to undergo the training process, which can make it easier to tell how to perform the proper maintenance.

Proper Inspections

Every driver should know how to inspect a vehicle before taking to the road; in addition to keeping your operation on schedule, this also helps the driver – as well as others on the road – stay safe throughout the journey. Drivers who are capable of performing quality inspections will be able to identify any problem signs before getting on the road, which can only help your business and your fleet. This can also boost your drivers’ confidence, which can in turn elevate their performance.

DPS/DOT Expectations

The DPS and DOT exist so that drivers and pedestrians can be as safe as possible when they are out in public. In order for your drivers to comply with DPS and DOT expectations, they have to understand them. Individual maintenance and inspection training is a great way to teach your drivers how to conform to the guidelines that these entities have set.

If you’d like to give your drivers quality individual maintenance and inspection training, call HDS Safety Services at (520) 622-0419. Our team trains your drivers on their own vehicles and teaches them how to perform proper inspections. Visit our website to learn more about our services.

Driving your regular car might feel like second nature after years of going through the same motions, but it’s important to stay sharp when you drive a commercial vehicle for a living. Training courses can help your drivers stay in top shape, even after taking some time off. Keep reading for a look at some online training courses.

Alcohol & Drug Testing: Driver Awareness Training

Many workplaces are ravaged by alcohol and drugs, but commercial drivers who use these substances put themselves and other drivers on the road in danger. The roads will never be as safe as possible if any driver is using drugs or alcohol, but the proper training can help employers identify problem behaviors and drivers recognize suspicious behaviors on the road. Alcohol and drug testing can be effective tools, and online training courses can make for a great starting point.

CDL Knowledge Test Review

If you hope to enjoy a career in the commercial driving industry, you’ll need to start by earning your commercial driver’s license. The CDL test involves knowledge and practical tests, and you should have your skills sharp for both portions. A CDL knowledge online course can help you refresh your knowledge so you can pass your knowledge test and get your truck driving career started.

CMV Driver Basics Training Program

If you have just decided that you want to be a commercial truck driver and are looking to learn the basics, the CMV Driver Basics Training Program will be a great online training course for you. The CDL test has both written and practical components, but it always helps to start out with the basics.

At HDS Safety Services, we are happy to help your drivers stay up to date and on top of their game. We can offer compliance and safety training as well as alcohol and drug testing. Give us a call at (520) 622-0419 or visit our website for more details.

Employee and workplace safety are extremely important matters that require compliance not only to avoid fines and damage to your company’s reputation, but also to protect the health and wellbeing of your workers and the general public. While your company may have developed stringent safety regulations that are followed at all times, you are still subject to state and federal safety compliance standards as well.  Utilizing national compliance supplies ensures that your company has all the tools necessary to maintain the high level of safety required by organizations such as the Department of Transportation and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Accurate Information

Federal standards for workplace safety compliance can be complex, lengthy, and ever-changing. Updates and alterations are frequently made to national compliance regulations, which means that simply relying on yourself or your employees to remember all the standards and regulations to which you are held is impossible. Obtaining and using national compliance supplies is one of the best ways for your business to ensure you have the most recent, accurate, and complete safety regulation information to avoid unintentional violations of any kind.

Easy Access

The right tools can do little good when they aren’t accessible. Maintaining copies of the current national compliance regulations in a place where you and your employees can reach them allows you to easily and quickly monitor or test your current compliance. When you have a complete list of the current national regulations on hand, you and your employees will find it easier to double-check your current practices against the national standards and make changes as needed to maintain compliance for improved workplace safety.

HDS Safety and Compliance has the information and products you need to ensure you remain compliant with all safety regulations in your industry. We carry a comprehensive selection of DOT compliance materials in Tucson to provide you with fast, easy access to the information you need. Please stop by our website or call us today at (520) 622-0419 to learn more about safety compliance training and tools.

The last thing you want for your company is a liability on the road; this puts people in danger and tarnishes your reputation. You can prevent problems through DOT compliance consulting, but what does that mean? Read ahead to find out what you need to know.

What Is DOT Compliance Consulting?

When it is your job to be on the road for long stretches of time, you need to be in complete control of your faculties at all times. This means that you don’t engage in any alcohol consumption or drug use while you’re on the road. As an employer, you will want to do your research and find only the most qualified candidates with the cleanest backgrounds and best records. A DOT compliance consulting service can do this research for you, leaving you with a team of qualified drivers.

What Services Does This Entail?

DOT compliance consulting does not necessarily refer to one particular service; instead, it is comprised of a few different tests and screens that may benefit both employer and employee. Your DOT compliance consulting firm may test employees for drugs and alcohol, run background tests, and even train your employees to do a better job on the road and in the workplace. The various services that DOT compliance consulting offers will allow the employer to learn about the most pertinent information for the company.

How Can a DOT Compliance Consulting Service Help?

Each of the services that DOT compliance consulting provides helps in a different way. Drug and alcohol testing keeps drivers and roads safe, while training helps employees improve their performance, and thus their comfort. Pre-employment screening allows employers to avoid liabilities and the time and money that go along with them.

If you still have questions about DOT compliance consulting, the team at HDS Safety and Compliance would be happy to answer them. You can reach us at (520) 622-0419 or visit our website to see how we can help with DOT compliance consulting, driver qualification, and compliance auditing services.

The best employers possess certain traits, such as business acumen and determination. However, it’s also important to understand the dynamics of your employees. If you are an employer, continue reading to find out what you should know about alcohol and drug testing.

Types of Testing

There are a few different ways to test a person for alcohol or drugs, and there are also different times to conduct them. You might want to test job applicants before you hire them to ensure that they are clean, or you might want to test them randomly to ensure that they remain sober throughout their employment. Testing may also be appropriate following on-the-job injuries or accidents.

What Testing Can Reveal

People typically think of alcohol and drug testing as a way to ensure that employees put out their best effort and contribute to a highly functioning workplace. However, testing goes deeper than this. An employee with a drug problem may be unable to perform to the best of his or her ability at work, but problems may exist outside the workplace as well. Alcohol and drug testing can alert employers to the issue so affected employees can get the help they need in order to live fulfilling lives.

How to Conduct Testing

Even with the hardest working and most determined team around, running a business has its challenges. If you want to increase your chances of success, any alcohol and drug testing of your employees should be done properly. Be sure to work with qualified alcohol and drug testing services so you can end up with reliable results that can be used to improve your business.

Alcohol and drug testing can help you run a safer, healthier, and more efficient workplace, so call HDS Safety and Compliance at (520) 622-0419 to make sure you do it right. We are also happy to offer DOT compliance consulting as well as safety training, so visit our website and learn more about us today.

As common as they are in today’s society, motor vehicles can still be quite dangerous. However, defensive driving can help you keep yourself and others safe while on the road; it can even make you more valuable to your company. Continue reading if you want to gain a better understanding of the importance of defensive driving.

Keeping Yourself Safe

Defensive driving teaches you how to drive in a way that keeps you out of danger and promotes safety on the road. This is especially important for people who tend to get nervous behind the wheel; nerves can make it difficult to make snap decisions, which can actually make driving even more dangerous. Once you have learned about defensive driving, however, you might find yourself much more comfortable on the road.

Refraining from Endangering Others

Not only does defensive driving help you keep yourself safe; it also prevents you from putting other drivers or pedestrians in danger. Other drivers are just as likely as you are to sustain an injury from a car crash that you are involved in, but defensive driving teaches you what you need to know to keep yourself out of these types of situations. The skills and knowledge you will learn through defensive driving classes can come in handy on the road, and they might even save a life.

Making Yourself an Asset

If you want to make yourself as appealing as possible to a potential employer, having a working knowledge of defensive driving can be helpful. When the hiring manager sees that you have taken steps to become a safer driver, he or she may move your resume towards the top of the pile.

For more on the importance of defensive driving, contact HDS Safety and Compliance or visit our website. It is our mission to offer compliance auditing services, alcohol and drug testing, and driver qualification services so you can have the utmost of faith in your workers. Feel free to give us a call at (520) 622-0419 to learn more about how we can help you.

Employee drug and alcohol testing plays an important role in the safety and efficiency of the transportation industry. As a transportation employer, it is vital to follow the standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the maintenance of these drug and alcohol testing records after the fact. Knowing which documents you are required to keep will ensure your drug and alcohol testing program remains compliant with these important industry regulations.

Record Maintenance Requirements

There are several records pertaining to your employee drug and alcohol testing program that you must keep. The records you are required to maintain include documents outlining the test administration process, as well as documents regarding employee and supervisor training. Furthermore, in addition to the test results, you must also keep records pertaining to the return-to-duty process administration. Negative drug test results and alcohol test results of less than 0.02 should be kept for one year; verified positive drug test results and alcohol test results over 0.02 must be kept for five years. Education and training documents should be kept indefinitely, up to a period of two years following the cessation of employment. Documentation outlining the drug testing process and administration should be kept for two years.

Record Storage Requirements

Employers have a duty to keep drug and alcohol testing records in a secure location with controlled access to protect employee privacy. This means that physical records should be kept in locked filing cabinets or containers, while electronic files must be password-protected. You may allow a third-party administrator to keep your records if you don’t wish to keep records onsite or manage these files yourself.
HDS Safety and Compliance are here to help you manage your employee drug and alcohol testing program; our services include compliance auditing, alcohol and drug testing, and training and refresher courses to keep your employees’ knowledge fresh and up to date. You can find out more about our drug and alcohol testing services and supplies when you click through our website, or by calling (520) 622-0419.