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Time DateSystem Updates
Update 1232
8 July 2025

Drugs & Alcohol Screening | Medication Checking

This is a reminder that HOPS offers Chemistry Services for Drugs & Alcohol Screening (post-incident for-cause, and random), and Medication Checking.

Both services are provided by external specialist suppliers that conduct the same work for main-line railway companies.

Railways can subscribe to either or both of these schemes. In both cases, contact details to call-up the services and a PIN number are provided to railways to make use of the services 24/7 without HOPS's involvement.

A cost-saving is achieved by railways being part of this scheme rather than all contracting the service individually and all paying the full subscription fee to the supplier.

(Regrettably we are only able to provide this service in the UK.)

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DRUGS & ALCOHOL SCREENING SERVICE

Details of the Drugs & Alcohol Screening service can be found here: https://www.hops.org.uk/drugs

This can be used for post-incident screening or random checks.

This is a very useful statement to staff/volunteers of safety culture intent that is especially important for heritage railways. It also helps the railway's defence after an incident to be able to demonstrate that those involved were clear of drugs and alcohol.

** Annual retainer fee: £40
** For-cause screening call-out (test up to four people): £250
** Random screening call-out (test up to 16 people): £230
** Results analysis, per person: £65

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MEDICATION CHECKING SERVICE:

Details of the Medication Checking Service can be found here: https://www.hops.org.uk/medication

The medication checking services is useful where there is doubt about whether a member of staff/volunteer should conduct safety-critical work when taking medication. It is especially useful for occasions where a member of staff is taking more than one medication at the same time, where there might be impact that isn't apparent from the individual advice on the label for each medication.

** Annual retainer fee: £40
** Per medication check: £16.50


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Thank you to railways that are already subscribed.

The annual retainer fee has increased this year, reflecting the increased cost of providing the service. This will be billed in the August invoice unless you let us know you don't wish to renew.

The cost for a medication check has increased by 50p, and the drugs and alcohol screening fees are unchanged for this year.

Thank you

Danny Scroggins