Volpe Center Highlights
Safety
Focus |
Safety |
Mobility |
Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade |
National Security |
Published and Presented
Promote public health and safety by working toward the elimination of transportation-related deaths, injuries, and property damage. |
Audits of Drug and Alcohol Programs at Transit Sites (FTA)
In support of FTA, Mr. William T. Hathaway and Ms. Lenora Burke, of the Volpe Center's Safety and Security Systems Division, conducted on-site pilot audits of the drug and alcohol programs of several FTA grantees during April and May of this year. The Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 required FTA to prepare an industry-wide set of drug and alcohol testing regulations. Published in February 1994, these regulations require transit systems and their contractors to establish Prohibited Drug Use and Alcohol Misuses Prevention programs. The Volpe Center has developed a comprehensive program for FTA to audit the adequacy of the programs put in place by the transit community. The audits focused on four key elements of the regulation: the policy statement, an education and training program, a program of testing, and procedures for removing employees. With the pilot audits now complete, the Center has revised the audit procedures and materials, and has begun a series of audits on selected systems.
Outstanding Achievement Awards Received for Work on Airport Surface Detection Equipment (FAA)
Six staff members of the Volpe Center's Airport Surface Projects Office were recognized recently with outstanding achievement certificates from Mr. George Donahue, the FAA's Associate Administrator for Research and Acquisition. Their efforts were recognized for outstanding achievement in the runway incursion reduction program, which resulted in the installation and operational testing of four models of low-cost airport surface detection equipment. The six staff members recognized were Ms. Chrissy Bandon and Ms. Yen Dao, and Messrs. Frank Coyne, Ian McWilliams, Steve Nuzzi, and David Olster, all of the Office of Operations and Engineering Assessment.
Aviation Safety Training on Suspected Unapproved Parts (FAA)
In support of the FAA initiative to reduce the potential safety risk associated with the use of unapproved parts in aircraft, the Volpe Center has developed a training program to introduce new FAA policies and procedures regarding Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUP). Ms. Ann Dimare, of the Center's Aviation Safety Division, recently joined the FAA in the SUP Training Program kick off. The 17-week training program is a national effort that began simultaneously in Miami, FL, Fort Worth, TX, and Los Angeles, CA. In addition to developing the training program, the Volpe Center will provide onsite oversight of the training to ensure that the instruction materials and procedures are properly delivered.