The goal of reducing on-the-job opioid deaths has brought together workplace safety advocates and industry groups. Their shared objective is to encourage businesses to include Naloxone, an overdose prevention drug, in their first aid kits.
Naloxone, previously requiring a prescription, has seen these requirements lifted. A roadblock to its widespread availability in the workplace was removed when the Food and Drug Administration approved two nasal spray versions of the drug, Narcan and RiVive. These are non-prescription medications that can be sold in stores or online.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently does not regulate the stocking of Naloxone in the workplace. Despite this, advocates view it as a necessary tool in keeping workers safe. Lorraine Martin, President of the National Safety Council, stated the importance of Naloxone as part of a first aid kit or elsewhere.
By making Naloxone readily available, it is hoped that on-site opioid overdoses, and a broader societal health crisis, can be better managed. As more businesses and industry groups come on board, it will be interesting to observe the potential impact this could have both within the workplace and beyond.
Find out more about this development here.