B17 Network Rail Health Bulletin NRH24-01

Updated Drugs and Alcohol Standard (Issue 8 - NR/L2/OHS/00120)

Issued to: All Network Rail line managers, health and safety professionals and accredited contractors
Ref: NRH25-01
Date of issue: 11/03/2025
Location: National
Contact: Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team, Technical Authority

Overview/Next Steps

The Network Rail Drugs and Alcohol Standard (Issue 8- NR/L2/OHS/00120) has been updated and re-
published on 1 March 2025. The compliance date is set for 7 June 2025.

The changes affect everyone in Network Rail. To access the standard click here and the briefing information click here.
If you are a line manager, you need to be aware of the following changes which apply to you:

• Clause 5.6: if an employee records a non-negative point of contact test (POCT) following a random drugs test, you must now implement the ‘ non-negative risk assessment’

• Clause 6.1: prior to determining if a for-cause D&A test is required, you must complete the ‘ for-cause test form’ with an employee;

• Clause 7.1: prior to determining if a post-accident/incident test is required, you must completethe ‘ post-accident/incident test form’ with an employee.

The following changes apply to all employees:

• Clause 13.1: you must only use prescribed or over the counter (OTC) licenced medicine where

  there is a legitimate medical reason as defined in NR/L2/OHS/00120;

• Clause 13.4: you must seek guidance from chemist on call for any medication use with known

  side effects that have the potential to impact on your ability to work safely;

• Clause 14.1: appeals against positive D&A tests may now be submitted without support of a

  Sponsor, but only where evidence is provided which meets the appeal criteria stated in NR/L2/OHS/00120;

• Clause 10.7.4: employees who have a medical condition which prevents you providing a urine sample may request guidance from occupational health for alternative drugs testing methodology.

Other changes to the standard

• Clause 5.1.3: the scope of employees eligible for random D&A testing has been updated;

• Clause 9: addition of ‘active monitoring’ as a test type for an employee who is under the Network Rail Drugs and Alcohol Support Programme;

• Removed the requirement for Network Rail employees to attend and pass a D&A test within the 3

  months prior to attending Personal Track Safety (PTS) training.

  B17 NWR Health Bulletin NRH25-01

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