Generating Plant Access Requirements
- Identification Requirements for Site Access
- Drug/Alcohol Testing and Background Investigation Requirements for Site Access
- Safety Orientation Requirements for Site Access
Identification Requirements for Site Access
Effective August 1, 2009, contract workers attempting to access Southern Company generating facilities must show, at a minimum, 2 forms of identification and must be positively identified in order to access the facility.
Contract workers must present an unexpired, "official" state or federal identification credential, which includes the individual's picture AND an original social security card, current employer W-4 form, current employer payroll check, or an official document from the Social Security Administration called a Social Security Number Printout which is stamped and signed by the Social Security Administration. Any document used to verify the individual's social security number must show their full social security number. Laminated social security cards will not be accepted.
- Authorization forms must be filled out by the contractor and given to the collector/clinic each time drug testing is performed. Proper completion of this form will ensure that all appropriate information is used for testing, billing, and reporting.
- There is a 2 hour time limit for contract workers to provide a specimen. If a specimen is not provided in 2 hours, it will be considered a refusal to test.
- In addition, all collections must be "observed", except in the state of Florida.
- Contractors utilizing union boilermakers should contact MOST in Kansas City at 913-281-5036 to get supplies (9 panel quick test kits and SoCo/Kroll chain of custody forms).
- MOST has a unique account/facility number that will be used on the chain of custody forms for billing
- Drug test results will be available to the contractor through MOST. Contractors can either call 800-432-5765 or log on to MOST's website to get test results.
Drug/Alcohol Testing and Background Investigation Requirements for Site Access
Effective February 16, 2009, Southern Company Generation implemented a new drug/alcohol testing and background investigation program for all contractors working at the Company's generating plants (non-nuclear plants).
The new program requires contractors to use Kroll Laboratories for all drug/alcohol testing and Kroll Background Screening for all background investigations which may be required to be performed. Testing requirements will be communicated to the contractor by each plant or by the Company's Supply Chain Management organization.
Upon being notified that drug/alcohol testing or background investigations need to be performed, the contractor should discuss testing arrangements and testing methods with their plant contact and then proceed to setup an account with Kroll. The Risk I Drug Screen and Background Investigation Toolkit for Southern Company Generation Contractors provides contact information for Kroll, basic program information, Southern Company's drug/alcohol confirmation and cutoff levels, background investigation criteria, and background disqualification standards.
As part of the account setup process, Kroll will provide the contractor with access to its database. Kroll's database will provide the contractor with a list of authorized drug testing collectors/clinics to use, testing results, and authorization forms.
Collection Requirements
Billing/Invoicing
Kroll will bill the contractor for all services performed. The Contractor may be reimbursed for any drug and alcohol testing and/or background investigations that are actually performed. However, in order to be reimbursed for these expenses, the Contractor must list drug/alcohol tests and background investigations as individual line items on its invoices to the Company. All such invoiced charges must be accompanied by documentation and support that is sufficient to enable the Company to verify the accuracy of each such charge. A copy of the invoice received by the Contractor from Kroll will be considered sufficient documentation and support. The Company will pay the Contractor a fifteen percent (15%) mark-up for each drug/alcohol test and background investigation that has been authorized by the Company and performed by Kroll.
Boilermaker MOST Program required for Drug Testing Union Boilermakers
Effective June 1, 2009, the Boilermaker MOST program began paying for drug testing of union boilermakers under the Southern Company/ Kroll testing program requirements. Under the MOST program, union boilermakers will be tested using a 9 panel quick test (different from the 5 panel test required by Southern Company), but the same Southern Company/ Kroll chain of custody form will be used. The MOST program will purchase quick test kits and chain of custody forms from Kroll and forward those to contractors utilizing union boilermakers. Contractors utilizing union boilermakers must contact MOST to make arrangements to receive supplies. Results reporting will also be available through MOST.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do subcontractors need an account with Kroll?
A. Yes. Subcontractors need their own account with Kroll to ensure accuracy in billing and reporting.
Q. My company works at multiple SoCo plants, how many accounts do I need with Kroll?
A. Contractors with more than 20 employees working for SoCo should have one account for each plant they work at. This helps with billing, reporting, and tracking. You will only have to pay one account setup fee of $50. Contractors with less than 20 employees working for SoCo may setup only one account.
Q. How do I know which collectors/clinics to use for drug testing?
A. Kroll will provide you with a list of collectors that can be used for testing at the plant site, as well as a list of clinics for testing away from the plant site. This list is also in Kroll's database, which you will be given access to when you setup your account. NOTE: You should discuss testing arrangements with your contact at the plant. Some plants do testing at the plant site; some plants prefer for you to use the nearby clinic.
Q. How often do drug tests have to be renewed?
A. Every 6 months. If a contract worker has been drug tested under the SoCo/Kroll program, their drug test will be valid for 6 months for any SoCo plant where they hire in to work. Contract workers who have been continuously employed for one year or more may be subject to test on an annual basis.
Q. How do I know which contract workers need a background investigation?
A. The level of testing required for contract workers will be communicated to you by your plant contact and/or the Supply Chain Management organization. Please discuss testing requirements with the appropriate people at SoCo before you initiate background investigations.
Q. How often does a background investigation have to be renewed?
A. Currently, there is no renewal requirement for background investigations.
Q. Who do I contact if I want to dispute the validity of the information found on my background investigation or the result of my drug test?
A. Kroll will handle dispute resolution of results and reports.
Q. Do contract workers have to provide their full social security number for drug testing and background investigations?
A. Yes. A worker's full social security number is required for drug testing and background investigations. If a full SSN is not provided, a test will not be performed and site entry will not be allowed.
Safety Orientation Requirements for Site Access
Effective September 1, 2009, designated contractors working at Southern Company's generating facilities must meet specific Safety Orientation Requirements. PowerSafe Generation has been designated as the contractual Safety Orientation Requirement that must be completed prior to commencing work. All new contracts will require designated contractors to use PowerSafe to meet this requirement and to absorb the cost in their overheads. Designated contractors with existing contracts are encouraged to use PowerSafe as an alternative to their current safety orientation. Once completed, PowerSafe will be accepted and meet the Safety Orientation Requriement at any Southern Company generating facility.
Contractors designated to use PowerSafe have until August 31, 2009 to upload their employees' current training records into the Safety Council LCA database in order to "grandfather" their previous safety training to meet Southern Company’s requirements. These training records will be valid for one year from the date taken.
After August 31, 2009, designated contract workers who have not uploaded current training records or who have expiring training must take:
- 1. PowerSafe Generation, an online OSHA awareness-level safety training course administered by the Safety Council LCA, and
- 2. Southern Company Generation Specific, a brief online course that introduces contractor employees to Southern Company's safety culture.
Training records will automatically transfer to Southern Company's EM-PACT system. Neither PowerSafe Generation nor Southern Company Generation Specific will replace the plant specific training. Site specific training must still occur at each plant location. PowerSafe Generation and Southern Company Generation Specific will be required for designated contractors before work begins.
Accessing PowerSafe Training
PowerSafe Generation and Southern Company Generation Specific may be taken via the Web from any computer with a high-speed Internet connection. This includes contractor's locations, libraries, etc., as well as third party locations which have been established for training. For a list of third party locations, please visit www.powersafetraining.org.
To begin PowerSafe Generation and Southern Company Generation Specific training, the contractor company must establish a Business account with the Safety Council of the Louisiana Capital Area and obtain a User Name and Password (view detailed instructions). This User Name and Password will allow contract employees to access the training via the Web. Contract employees may access training once corporate access has been received.
PowerSafe 8180 Siegen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 - 877.345.1252
Billing/Invoicing/Pricing
Contractors may choose to become PowerSafe members. Member companies receive discounts on training, invoicing privileges (with approval), and other member benefits. However, membership in PowerSafe is NOT required to take the training.
PowerSafe Generation Member $32.00*, Nonmember $39.00*
Southern Company Generation Specific Member $2.00*, Nonmember $2.00*
*This charge is for each worker. An additional charge will be required if contractors choose to take training at a third party training location. The additional charge will be set by the third party provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What courses do contract workers need to take?
A. Designated contract workers must take PowerSafe Generation as well as the Southern Company Generation Specific. Once PowerSafe Generation training expires, they should take the PowerSafe Generation Refresher and the Southern Company Generation Specific.
Q. How long is the training for each course?
A. PowerSafe Generation - 2 ½ hours
Southern Company Generation Specific - 5 minutes
Q. How long is each course valid for?
A. One year from the date of completed training.
Q. Do I have join Safety Council LCA/PowerSafe to utilize PowerSafe training?
A. No, but members will receive discounts and invoicing privileges.
Q. May my employees take PowerSafe Generation and the Southern Company Generation Specific courses from their homes?
A. Yes, but the employer must provide their company's User Name and Password. Please be sure your employees’ computers meet the minimum specifications for taking the courses.
Q. My employee has a Basic Orientation Plus (BOP) card. Is the BOP equivalent to PowerSafe Generation?
A. No. Your employees must take PowerSafe Generation to work at a Southern Company generation plant.
Q. Will my company be able to look up records?
A. Yes, if they are a member. The PowerSafe database serves as a secure, online source for reporting and real-time training records management. This may substantially reduce audit time by as much as 60%.
