FOCUS ON ALCOHOL TESTING BY BETYE BAILEY AND ADAM BELL, INTOXIMETERS, INC. The Importance of Periodic Proficiency Training
five years, but effective training is an ongoing process, not just an inconvenient event that must be endured every 5th year. Periodic Proficiency Training refers to instruction delivered above and beyond DOT’s mandates, enabling service providers to exceed requirements and hone their skills on an annual or bi- annual basis. Te type of ongoing training described here greatly enhances the competency of BATs, creating a powerful defense in the case of a disputed test. With a five-year lapse between trainings,
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some knowledge may be forgoten. It is not uncommon for a BAT to conduct testing for a year or more before being confronted with a positive test result. When they encounter an unfamiliar situation, BATs can panic and commit compounding errors that make a bad situation worse. Providing an opportunity for ongoing practice is es- sential for maintaining BAT competency. Tere are many benefits to Periodic
Proficiency Training, including: • Reinforcing consistency. One of the key elements of a successful program is consistency of operation. Engaging in Pe- riodic Proficiency Training helps ensure that your staff is doing things the same way (and the correct way) every time.
• Providing a second opportunity for BATs to acquire information missed in initial training. When training adults, it is important to remember that there will be moments when the subject mat- ter is not being given their full atention. Sometimes students are pulled from the classroom for phone calls or other maters and important information can be missed. Periodic Proficiency Training can provide students with an opportuni- ty to acquire information that might have been missed the first-time around.
42 datia focus
he Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT) training every
• Offering a chance to make sure staff is current on the DOT procedures and with any rule changes. Rules and procedures for breath alcohol testing and specimen collection have undergone changes over the years. An ongoing Periodic Proficiency Training program can ensure that your staff ’s knowledge of DOT rules and regula- tions is up-to-date and that they are following the proper procedures.
• Addressing errors that may have happened in your facility. Periodic Proficiency Training can help prevent errors, especially improper procedures that have become ingrained into your corporate culture. Sometimes the wrong way of doing things gets passed down from employee to employee, in particu- lar with new hires. Once established, these erroneous procedures can be hard to eliminate. Periodic Proficiency Train- ing can address and correct these errors before they become an issue during an audit or legal proceeding.
• Protecting your business from li- ability. Providing training to your staff that exceeds the DOT requirements is an investment in the future. Mistakes can cost you customers. Providing test results that are not defensible will cause clients to seek more competent service providers. Periodic Proficiency Training can give your BATs the skills they need to do the job right the first time, every time. Without a doubt, repeated errors can cause you to lose business.
Forms of
Proficiency Training Periodic Proficiency Training can be de-
livered using a variety of methods including, but not limited to: lecture-oriented classes, role playing, newsleters, and non-mandated error-correction training. No mater which method you use, it is important to have
summer 2013
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