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4 2 Pallet C e nt ral • No vem be r-D e cem be r 2 0 26 OSHA BY ADELE L. ABRAMS, ESQ., ASP, CMSP Opiates Reach The Workplace I n September 2026, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) formally recognized that the opioid overdose crisis has impacted American workplaces, along with the many off-the-job impacts with which too many of us are personally familiar. e agency issued an OSHA fact sheet instructing employers how to reverse opioid overdose using several medications (OORMs). e recent situation in Mississippi— where multiple students at "Ole Miss" died from overdoses due to potentially adulterated Kratom, another "new" drug with OD potential that is sold as an herbal supplement at smoke shops and gas stations and can be consumed in multiple ways (including chewing it, making it easy to conceal at work)— also has renewed interest in crisis management and overdose prevention. e U.S. Department of Labor/OSHA news release explains: "Opioid emergencies can happen anywhere, including at work, and being prepared can save a life." OSHA's new guidance, Opioid Overdose Rescue with Reversal Medications, is part of a "Great American Recovery Initiative," a government-wide effort prioritizing addiction treatment and recovery. ere is focus on the deadly synthetic opiates, including fentanyl, which are infecting the illicit drug supply (even black market cannabis has been contaminated with fentanyl, causing deaths). Some of the targeted substances are sold on the street or through "fake online pharmacies." White House Drug Czar Sara Carter deemed it a "chemical weapon" used against our people. ese days, it is essential that the entire workforce—management and employees—be familiar with drug overdose recognition and reversal. e OSHA fact sheet highlights key opioid overdose preparedness strategies, including: • Keep lifesaving FDA-approved reversal medications—such as naloxone or nalmefene—on hand. ese safe, lifesaving medications quickly restore normal breathing and generally have no effect if opiates are not present. In such situations, a medical emergency will still be present and help should be sought for evaluation, as other non-opiate drug overdoses can be at issue (e.g., cocaine or methamphetamine) as can alcohol poisoning or prescription drug overdose. • Treat overdose kits like first aid by storing them in highly visible, easily accessible locations, just like automated external defibrillators or standard first aid kits and equipment. • Educate workers on how to identify critical symptoms of an overdose, such as slow or stopped breathing, blue lips or skin, pinpoint pupils, or unresponsiveness. • Prepare for rapid action in an emergency by training workers to administer the medication, safely position the individual, and provide supportive care while waiting for first responders. Even if the individual is revived, 911 and emergency responders should still take over the situation because the medication's effects can be temporary and individuals may become combative or have other physical or mental health issues that must be addressed. Until now, while many of us have heard about police and EMT use of Narcan, the ARE YOU PREPARED?

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