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Polygraph Test
Required by Many Federal Agencies
Your pre-employment background
screening may include the use of a
polygraph
test as a condition of employment.
A polygraph exam
is often referred to as a lie detector test and sometimes as a
psycho-physiological detection of deception (PDD) examination.
It
is an instrument that measures and records several physiological
responses such as:
- Blood Pressure
- Heart
Rate
- Breathing
Patterns
- Skin Conductivity
These
physiological factors are measured while the person is asked and
answers a series of questions, on the basis that false answers will
produce distinctive measurements.
A
polygraph
machine records the body's involuntary responses to an examiner's
questions in order to ascertain deceptive behavior.
The
test measures physiological data from three or more systems of the
human body—generally the respiratory, cardiovascular, and sweat gland
systems—but not the voice.
There are other tests
that examine
the voice for deception.
A polygraph examination is common
within the Federal Government, law enforcement, judicial and the
private business sector purposes.
In the case of the
private business sector, use of the polygraph is restricted under the
Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 ("EPPA").
On
December 27, 1988, the EPPA became law. This federal law established
guidelines for polygraph testing and imposed restriction on most
private employers.
Who is
affected by EPPA?
- This
legislation only affects commercial businesses.
- Local,
State and Federal governmental agencies (such as police departments)
are not affected by the law, nor are public agencies, such as a school
system or correctional institution.
In addition,
there are
exemptions in EPPA for some commercial businesses. These are:
- Businesses
under contract with the Federal Government involving specified
activities (e.g., counterintelligence work).
- Businesses
whose primary purpose consists of providing armored car personnel,
personnel involved in the design, or security personnel in facilities
which have a significant impact on the health or safety of any state.
- Examples
of these facilities would be a nuclear or electric power plant, public
water works, or toxic waste disposal.
- Companies
which
manufacturer, distribute or dispense controlled substances.
In
addition to the Polygraph
Test info here, don't
forget to check out the other various Employment
Background Screening
sections, such as: Medical
Background Check, Employment
Drug Screening, Education
Background Check, Criminal
Background Check
and Employment
Credit Check.
Also, you may want to check out some additional information if
you are considering
the Federal
Government jobs
arena.
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