Breath Alcohol Technician Training Requirements
What are the Breath Alcohol Technician training requirements for DOT alcohol testing programs? A Breath Alcohol Technician, or BAT, is someone who conducts breath alcohol screening and confirmation tests on behalf of companies that fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The BAT serves an important role in the success of the DOT alcohol testing program, assisting the employee in the alcohol testing process. The BAT is solely responsible for conducting the alcohol test and certifying the results, as well as providing important documentation to both the employee and employer. Therefore, the BAT must be knowledgeable and proficient in the testing procedures as outlined in the Federal regulations, 49 CFR Part 40 and all sub-parts.
There are specific Breath Alcohol Technician training requirements as outlined in the Federal regulations. BAT students must successfully complete a Breath Alcohol Technician training class covering the Federal regulations, the components and operations of a DOT-approved breath alcohol instrument, and seven error-free mock breath alcohol tests on a live subject in the presence of a qualified instructor. At the end of Breath Alcohol Technician training, students must demonstrate proficiency in the Federal regulations and on the breath alcohol instrument they will be using to conduct tests.
During the DOT Rules and Regulations Training, Students Learn:
• Alcohol testing personnel, roles and training requirements
• Testing sites, forms, equipment and supplies needed during alcohol testing
• The Alcohol Testing Form (ATF) and proper procedures for completion
• How to perform both the alcohol screening and confirmation test
• Problems in alcohol testing
• Roles and responsibilities of Service Agents
• Public Interest Exclusions (PIEs)
During instrument proficiency training, students must train on an Evidential Breath Tester (EBT) approved by the DOT and listed on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA), Conforming Products List of Evidential Breath Alcohol Measurement Devices. A BAT’s certification is specific to the instrument on which they were trained. As such, a student’s training should be conducted on the EBT that student will be using at their place of employment.
Other Breath Alcohol Technician Training Requirements:
Along with initial certification, all BAT’s must undergo refresher training every five years to maintain their certification. Refresher training should be similar to initial training, covering the Federal regulations, instrument components and operations and seven mock tests.
A fatal flaw is an uncorrectable error which causes the results of an alcohol test to be cancelled. If a BAT commits a fatal flaw they must undergo fatal flaw training. Fatal flaw training is comprised of only three mock breath alcohol tests. One mock tests is an uneventful test, while two mock tests are in relation to the fatal flaw that caused the test to be cancelled. AlcoPro offers the industry’s only “Training Success Guarantee”, minimizing the chances a student will be required to undergo fatal flaw training.