If your organization is a National Safety Council member, you’re probably aware of NSC’s advocacy surrounding the use of naloxone. Commonly known by the brand name Narcan, the medication can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
A news brief featured in this month’s “In the News” section covers the reintroduction of the Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act. If passed, the bill – which has bipartisan support – would require OSHA to create guidance on stocking workplace first aid kits with naloxone and training employees on how to use it.
It matters. “Today,” NSC said in a press release, “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.”
For that survey, NSC spoke with more than 500 employers and 800 employees in a wide variety of industries “on their perceptions of opioid use, overdose and naloxone.” You can find the full survey results on NSC’s Respond Ready website. Regardless of what happens with the current legislation, you can be proactive – and the Respond Ready website can help. Resources include:
- A “facts vs. myths” quiz
- A free e-learning course on using naloxone
- Information about legal and liability concerns, and a look at relevant state laws
- Guidance on OSHA reporting requirements regarding opioid overdose and impairment
- An implementation guide that provides an example process you can use to create an opioid overdose response program
- The Overdose Emergency Planning Tool, which can help you estimate how much naloxone your workplace needs
I hope you – and the people you work to protect – stay safe and well.
