This project evaluated commercially available fitness-for-duty testing devices through repeated trials of each device with human subjects in carefully controlled laboratory conditions. The conclusion of this effort is that some fitness-for-duty testing devices are sufficiently sensitive to impairing agents (alcohol was tested in this experiment) and sufficiently reliable that they could be considered for use in the transit industry. Further research is necessary, however, to determine if the benefits of such testing outweigh the costs, how such devices can best be used in the transit workplace, and what new personnel policies would be required.

Fitness-for-duty has become an umbrella term encompassing key performance issues related to safety such as stress, fatigue, substance use and abuse, medication, emotional disturbances, illness, and so on. Tests of fitness-for-duty have been developed and used in other industries, but to date none have been applied in the transit industry. Given questions regarding the operational and logistical implications of fitness-for-duty tests and the relevance of these tests to transit operations, a well-designed and documented research project was needed before the transit industry could consider widespread use of such employee testing.

This project assessed the feasibility of adding fitness-for-duty tests to the procedures currently used by transit managers for determining employee fitness for safety-sensitive work. The project also evaluated fitness-for-duty testing devices voluntarily supplied by the manufacturers in order to determine if this technology is appropriate for use in the transit industry.