Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced in both the House and Senate would direct OSHA to develop employer guidance on acquiring opioid overdose-reversal medication and training workers on its use.
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and John Rutherford (R-FL) introduced the Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act in the House on Feb. 10. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) did the same in the Senate.
Under the bill, OSHA would publish the nonmandatory guidance for private sector employers. Federal agencies, however, would be required to possess and maintain opioid overdose-reversal medications and provide voluntary annual training to employees.
Citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a National Safety Council press release states that “more than 80,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2024, with the majority involving opioids.”
The release continues: “The odds of dying by opioid overdose in the United States are now higher than gun violence, vehicle crashes or suicide. Today, fatal overdoses account for 10% of workplace deaths, yet only 28% of employers report being fully stocked with naloxone at worksites, according to a recent NSC survey.”
House and Senate lawmakers introduced similar bills in September 2023, but neither advanced out of committee.
“Workplace overdose deaths are occurring at devastating rates, largely fueled by opioids, but the good news is we have more tools available today to save these lives,” NSC CEO Lorraine M. Martin said. “The National Safety Council applauds the sponsors of the WORK to Save Lives Act, which would get the lifesaving opioid overdose-reversal medication naloxone into more workplaces.
“We urge everyone to voice their support for making naloxone a critical component of workplace emergency preparedness and response to help save a life.”
NSC has a free tool to help employers create opioid overdose response plans, available at nsc.org/overdosetool.
