OSHA Fact Sheet Provides Guidance on Opioid Overdose Reversal Medications

A new fact sheet published by OSHA focuses on opioid overdose reversal medications, or OORMs, and how they can help employers and workers respond to opioid overdose emergencies in the workplace. Opioid overdose can cause a person’s breathing to slow and stop, and OORMs can be used to help restore breathing, the fact sheet explains. OSHA’s new document further covers how OORMs work, how employers can acquire and maintain them, important topics to include in employee training, and resources on opioids and reversal medications.

Naloxone and nalmefene are the two OORMs approved by the Food and Drug Administration. They most commonly come in nasal sprays, though the medications are also available as injectables. According to OSHA, nasal sprays are easier to use because they do not require special training or needles. While some forms of injectable OORMs can be used by untrained individuals, the agency notes that these are primarily used by first responders and healthcare personnel. OSHA urges employers to ensure that their employees know the type of OORM available at their workplace and understand how to use it.

Employers may acquire OORMs for the workplace from sources such as pharmacies, group purchasing organizations, manufacturer programs, or state and local health departments. Some naloxone nasal sprays are available without a prescription, but other products may require one. Employers should make sure to follow all storage instructions on OORM product labeling, monitor expiration dates, and keep the medication in locations that are visible and easy to reach, OSHA says.

The agency stresses that these medications “work quickly but are temporary” and do not replace emergency services or medical care in the event of an overdose. Everyone in the workplace should know to call 911 if an OORM is administered, OSHA states. Employees should also be trained to recognize the signs of opioid overdose, how OORMs work, and how to safely position an individual until emergency services arrive. 

Additional recommended topics for training programs and further information on OORMs can be found in OSHA’s fact sheet (PDF).

Related: An article published in the May 2019 issue of The Synergist asks, “Can Ergonomics Programs Help Solve the Opioid Crisis?”