Tag: opioids

Safety Council Expands Efforts to Combat Overdoses

On March 25, the National Safety Council (NSC) announced it’s ramping up its efforts to combat overdoses in the workplace, launching several new initiatives. These initiatives include free opioid overdose eLearning resources, an online workplace well-being hub, and the availability of bulk online purchasing of Narcan® (naloxone) nasal spray for employers nationwide. According to the […]

Back to Basics: Handling Impaired Employees in the Workplace

Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine how to handle impaired employees in the workplace. Are your employees showing up for work impaired by drugs and alcohol? Both surveys and drug testing are showing spikes in substance misuse. […]

FDA Approves OTC Overdose Treatment

On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of an over-the-counter (OTC) nasal spray for the treatment of opioid overdoses. Narcan, a 4 milligram (mg) naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, is the first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription. The National Safety Council (NSC) said it “is thrilled workplaces […]

Back to Basics: Opioid and Substance Use in the Workplace

Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine opioid and substance use in the workplace, and the federal recommendations for drug program implementation. Opioid and substance use is a prevalent issue that causes hazards to the individual using and […]

NIOSH Casts Spotlight on Opioids

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced in a Total Worker Health (TWH) update that the institute’s grant partners are conducting research on the impact of opioids in the workplace. Extramural researchers have been studying and developing resources related to the prevention of opioid misuse and overdose in working populations. NIOSH has […]

Substance abuse, mental health, safety

NSC Urges Employers to Brace for Employee Substance Misuse Amid Pandemic’s Impact on Mental Health

According to the American Medical Association, at least 30 states are reporting spikes in fatal opioid overdoses and ongoing concern about mental illness or substance use disorders, all in connection with COVID-19. To help employers address these interconnected issues, the National Safety Council (NSC) is calling on employers to prioritize employee stress and emotional and mental […]

Opioid epidemic

Opioid Toolkit for Employers Released by NSC

The National Safety Council (NSC) released an “Opioids at Work Employer Toolkit” that employers can use to address workplace impacts of the ongoing opioid crisis. The NSC encouraged employers to implement robust drug-free workplace policies and called on employers to equip their workplaces with first-aid kits containing naloxone (an overdose reversal drug), provide supervisor education […]

Health care, gloves, hospital, pharmacy

NIOSH Investigates Hospital, Ergonomic, and Opioid Hazards

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) fielded 221 requests for Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs) in 2018, according to a recently released annual report. The 34 HHE reports published last year examined hazards ranging from hospital disinfectants and repetitive pharmacy tasks to emergency responders’ exposure to opioids.