Washington — A new resource from the National Safety Council is intended to help employers establish an opioid overdose response plan.
Free to all, the Overdose Emergency Planning Tool “addresses a critical gap in workplace safety preparedness” by guiding employers in developing a response plan that includes having naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) readily available.
Drug overdoses represent 10% of workplace deaths, yet 72% of employers don’t have an adequate supply of naloxone, NSC says in a Sept. 10 press release.
Here’s how the tool works:
- Users provide information such as industry, maximum number of employees onsite per shift, number of floors in the building with active workers and estimated emergency medical services response time.
- The tool then generates individualized findings with detailed recommendations.
- It also provides information on topics such as naloxone storage/placement considerations, relevant laws and how to start an opioid overdose response program.
“Just as we expect to find fire extinguishers and AEDs in workplaces, naloxone should be part of every organization’s emergency preparedness plan,” NSC CEO Lorraine M. Martin said. “This tool empowers employers to take proactive, evidence-based steps to ensure they are ready to respond during an opioid overdose emergency.”
