Developing and Managing Your Fit for Duty Policy & Program - DER Training (Virtual Instructor-Led Training)
Description
This virtual, instructor-led course was developed by Fit for Duty professionals with over a decade of hands-on experience supporting organizations through policy development, program implementation, and legally defensible decision-making. Built from real-world application—not theory alone—this training helps participants understand how Fit for Duty systems are intended to function and how to manage them effectively in day-to-day operations.The course is structured around the three core pillars of an effective Fit for Duty program:
Policy: establishing a clear, legally sound framework that defines expectations, roles, and responsibilities
Training: ensuring workers, supervisors, and program administrators understand their obligations and can carry out their roles consistently
Testing: selecting and managing testing methodologies that align with organizational objectives and support decision-making
Participants gain practical insight into drug and alcohol testing methodologies, including their advantages, limitations, and appropriate applications, while keeping testing in context as one component of a broader Fit for Duty system. The course also explores policy structure and recommendations, program components, result management, accommodation and return-to-duty processes, and how to align program decisions with legislative requirements and industry standards.Delivered live by an experienced instructor, this training incorporates case studies, discussion, and opportunities to ask questions specific to participants’ workplaces. This interactive format allows learners to explore real scenarios, clarify uncertainties, and better understand how to apply concepts within their own organizational context.Designed for HR professionals, safety professionals, operations leaders, DERs, and Program Administrators, this course helps bridge the gap between well-written policies and effective program administration. Participants leave with greater confidence, clearer understanding, and practical tools to manage Fit for Duty programs in a way that reduces risk, controls cost, and supports worker health and safety.
Course Outline
Overview of the Designated Employer Representative (DER) / Program Administrator role
Who typically fills this role within an organization
Key responsibilities and accountabilities
How DERs fit within a broader Fit for Duty system
Course overview and learning objectives
Pillar 1: Testing Programs
Testing Methodologies
Overview of commonly used workplace drug and alcohol testing methods
Advantages and limitations of each methodology
Understanding what each testing option can and cannot tell you
Aligning testing choices with organizational Fit for Duty objectives
The Testing Process
What workers experience during testing
Step-by-step overview of collection and testing procedures
Roles and responsibilities throughout the testing process
Setting appropriate expectations for workers and supervisors
Test Result Management
Understanding test results and terminology
Managing non-negative and inconclusive results
Laboratory confirmation processes
Positive test management considerations
Overview of medical clearance and documentation requirements
Pillar 2: Policy Development & Program Structure
Building a Fit for Duty Policy
Purpose and role of a Fit for Duty policy
Key legislative considerations that support policy development
Structuring a clear, practical, and defensible policy framework
Policy Components & Recommendations
Review of essential policy sections
What to include, what to avoid, and why
Aligning policy language with real-world application
Managing policy-related risks and expectations
Managing Cost, Risk, and Liability
Identifying common cost drivers within Fit for Duty programs
Practical strategies to control program costs
Balancing compliance, operational needs, and worker health and safety
Pillar 3: Training & Program Sustainability
Training Requirements Across the Organization
Who needs training and why
Worker education and substance awareness
Supervisor training requirements and recommendations
DER and Program Administrator training considerations
Delivering Effective Training
Approaches to training that support understanding and consistency
Balancing effectiveness with time, cost, and productivity
Building a sustainable training strategy that supports the Fit for Duty system
Course Wrap-Up
Key takeaways
Participant questions and discussion
Applying course concepts within your organization