Drugs

Toronto — Severe pain is “the main factor associated with opioid use after a work-related injury,” regardless of the employee’s return-to-work timeline, a recent study out of Canada suggests.

Washington — Some drugs used to treat cancer and other conditions can be hazardous to workers who are exposed to them. NIOSH recently updated its tool intended to help health care workers and employers identify which routinely handled drugs are considered hazardous.

Washington — The Department of Health and Human Services is including fentanyl in its drug testing panels for federal workplace programs.

Washington — Employees in or seeking recovery from a substance use disorder and/or mental health disorder are the focus of a new wellness resource from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

San Diego — A new online course is aimed at preventing drug-impaired driving among commercial driver’s license holders.

Washington — The Department of Transportation wants to “correct the inadvertent factual impossibility” created by its rule that has established oral fluid drug testing as an approved method for truck drivers and other transportation workers in safety-sensitive positions.

Worcester, MA — Workers in marijuana processing facilities must be informed about the hazards of exposure to ground cannabis dust, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reminds employers in a recently published safety bulletin.

Toronto — Injured workers, particularly those with physically demanding jobs, are more likely to visit an ER for an opioid-related incident, results of a pair of studies out of Canada suggest.

Washington — Although oral fluid drug testing is a federally approved alternative for truck drivers and other transportation workers in safety-sensitive positions, a key hurdle stands in the way.

Washington — Employers can help prevent opioid use disorder among mine workers through a series of strategies, the Mine Safety and Health Administration and NIOSH emphasize in a new resource guide.