📋 Tender Overview
In the future the employer may under certain conditions assign workers to breath tests on ships and ferries. The change will increase the ability of the employer and the master to take care of safety. The President of the Republic approved the amendments to the Maritime Employment Contracts Act on 22 June 2022.Under the new regulations the employer may require the ships employees who while working under the influence of drugs could endanger the life health or safety of other persons on board or the safety of the ship or the environment to a general breath test. It is possible to arrange general blows on a random basis or regularly for example always at the beginning of a shift.An individual worker may also be prescribed a breath test when he or she is reasonably suspected of being intoxicated.The breath test can be used to determine if an employee is under the influence of alcohol during working hours. Breathing tests prevent the safety risks associated with the use of alcohol in special maritime conditions. The regulation also applies to pilots that do not fall within the scope of the Maritime Labor Contracts Act.The preparation of a substance abuse program is a prerequisite for breathing testsIn order for employees to be required to take breath tests the employer must draw up a substance abuse program. The introduction of breath tests also involves co-operation and information obligations for staff. In addition the employer must ensure that appropriate procedures are in place for conducting breath tests. The changes will take effect on September 1 2022.
