Last week, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a workplace guidance on responding to opioid overdoses in the workplace. The initiative follows an increase in reported overdoses at work and is part of OSHA’s initiative to respond to and assist workers with substance abuse issues.

The new guidance encourages employers to obtain and maintain opioid reversal medications such as naloxone that can be administered to employees who show signs of an overdose in the workplace. OSHA also recommends that employers establish policies for use of such medications and train employees on their administration. The guidance also suggests that employers consult good Samaritan laws in their states to determine whether employers and employees who respond to medical emergencies are protected from later claims alleging that the response caused injury.

However, OSHA does not address the interplay between assigning employees to provide first aid services and its bloodborne pathogen regulations. If the employer does more than allow workers to voluntarily treat a co-worker who appears to have overdosed, the company could be required to provide training, vaccinations, personal protective equipment, and post-exposure care if the response could involve exposure to blood or bodily fluids. The guidance is not mandatory, and OSHA does not indicate that it will cite employers that fail to follow these recommendations.

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