Publication of REGDOC-2.2.4, Fitness for Duty, Volume II: Managing Alcohol and Drug Use

November 9, 2017, Ottawa, ON

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has published regulatory document REGDOC-2.2.4, Fitness for Duty, Volume II: Managing Alcohol and Drug Use.

The document sets out requirements and guidance for managing fitness for duty of workers in relation to alcohol and drug use at all high-security sites, as defined in the Nuclear Security Regulations. Human performance is a key contributor to the safety and security of nuclear facilities. One factor that affects human performance is fitness for duty. The adoption of measures that monitor alcohol and drug use or abuse is a key component of ensuring worker fitness for duty.

Within the worker population, certain workers who are identified as safety-sensitive and safety-critical positions will be required to submit to for-cause testing (reasonable grounds, post-incident and follow-up) for alcohol and drug use. Only workers holding safety-critical positions are required to submit to random testing for alcohol and drug use. In addition, job applicants for safety-critical positions are required to submit to pre-placement alcohol and drug testing, once they have progressed through the previous stages of a job competition.

This document is intended for inclusion in licences as either part of the conditions and safety and control measures in a licence, or as part of the safety and control measures to be described in a licence application and the documents needed to support that application.

The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety and security and the environment; to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.