OSHA Issues Workplace Opioid Overdose Guidance -- Occupational Health & Safety

Naloxone kit behind a card outlining five steps to respond to an opioid overdose.

OSHA Issues Workplace Opioid Overdose Guidance

A new fact sheet covers reversal medications, kit placement and employee training for overdose response.

By Chelsey Arries
Sep 25, 2026

Employers and workers have new federal guidance on preparing for opioid overdoses at work, including how to recognize symptoms, locate reversal medication and respond while awaiting emergency services.

OSHA’s fact sheet discusses naloxone and nalmefene, two medications that can reverse an opioid overdose. OSHA recommends keeping medication in visible, accessible locations, such as near first-aid kits or automated external defibrillators, and training workers to use the form available at their workplace.

Signs of an overdose can include slow or stopped breathing, blue lips or skin, pinpoint pupils and unresponsiveness. The guidance also covers checking medication expiration dates, following storage instructions and preparing workers to position a person safely while waiting for first responders.

OSHA says responders should call 911 immediately, even if medication is administered or the person regains consciousness. Its effects can wear off and additional medical care may be needed. The fact sheet does not create new compliance requirements.

About the Author

Chelsey Arries is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.

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