MSHA, NIOSH Release New Guide to Help Mining Industry Prevent Opioid Use Disorder
The new federal resource provides mining employers with a step-by-step framework to identify risks, expand prevention strategies, and support worker well-being.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Dec 02, 2025
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has released Implementing Effective Workplace Solutions to Prevent Opioid Use Disorder: A Resource Guide for the Mining Industry, a new document developed with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to help mine operators prevent opioid use disorder and strengthen worker well-being.
The guide provides employers with a comprehensive framework to identify workplace factors that contribute to opioid misuse and to implement prevention-focused strategies. MSHA and NIOSH note that mining presents unique risks, including physically demanding tasks, high rates of musculoskeletal injuries, and limited access to alternative pain-management resources, particularly in remote locations.
The resource outlines a workplace health and well-being model tailored to mining and includes step-by-step guidance for developing policies, training programs, and support systems. Recommended approaches include improving injury prevention practices, expanding non-opioid pain-management options, integrating employee assistance and behavioral-health services, and offering recovery-support programs. The guide also encourages operators to reduce stigma and promote early intervention through open communication and supportive workplace culture.
MSHA said the guide is designed for operations of all sizes and can help employers protect workers, support families, and enhance overall safety performance. The agency emphasized that preventing opioid use disorder contributes to safer, more stable, and more productive mining environments.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.