When we think about workplace emergency preparedness, we usually think about first aid kits, AEDs, fire extinguishers and emergency action plans. OSHA is now encouraging employers to consider another lifesaving tool: opioid overdose reversal medication.
In September 2026, OSHA released new guidance titled “Opioid Overdose Rescue with Reversal Medications”, designed to help employers and workers recognize and respond to opioid-related emergencies in the workplace.
The message is straightforward: an opioid overdose can happen anywhere, including at work, and knowing what to do could save a life.
What Is Naloxone?
Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, is an FDA-approved medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. Other FDA-approved opioid reversal medications, including nalmefene, may also be available.
These medications work by temporarily reversing the effects opioids have on the brain and restoring normal breathing. According to OSHA, opioid reversal medications generally have no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system. That makes them an increasingly important addition to workplace emergency preparedness.
Can You Recognize an Opioid Overdose?
Minutes matter during an overdose. OSHA recommends educating employees to recognize common warning signs, including:
• Slow, shallow or stopped breathing • Difficulty waking or complete unresponsiveness • Blue, gray or unusually pale lips or skin • Very small or pinpoint pupils • Limpness or inability to respond
If an opioid overdose is suspected, call 911 immediately. Naloxone can temporarily reverse an overdose, but it does not replace emergency medical care. The medication may wear off while opioids remain in the person’s system, which means symptoms can return.
Should Naloxone Be Part of the Workplace First Aid Program?
OSHA’s new guidance recommends that employers consider keeping opioid reversal medication readily available and treating overdose-response kits much like other emergency equipment. Think about how your workplace handles an AED. Employees should know:
• Where it is located • Who is trained to use it • What signs indicate it may be needed • What to do while emergency responders are on the way
The same approach can be applied to naloxone. Overdose kits should be stored in visible, accessible locations rather than locked away somewhere employees cannot quickly reach them during an emergency.
Opioid Overdose Kits provide essential supplies to support a fast, effective response during life-threatening overdose emergencies. Also purchase 4mg single-dose Narcan devices, designed to work quickly and reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Training Is Just as Important as Having the Medication
Simply placing naloxone in a first aid cabinet isn’t enough.
Workers who may respond to an emergency should understand how to recognize a potential overdose, administer the medication, position the individual safely and provide appropriate support until emergency medical services arrive.
OSHA has long emphasized that effective workplace safety programs depend on workers knowing how to identify hazards and respond appropriately during emergencies. Its new opioid guidance brings that same philosophy to overdose response.
A Five-Minute Safety Conversation
This doesn’t have to begin with a complicated program. Start by asking your safety team five questions:
Do our employees know the signs of an opioid overdose?
Do we currently have naloxone or another opioid reversal medication available?
Where would it be stored?
Who would be trained to administer it?
Does our emergency response plan explain what employees should do after it is administered?
A first aid kit only helps when people know where it is and how to use what’s inside. The same is true for naloxone. Adding overdose recognition and response to your workplace safety conversation may take only a few minutes of training, but in an emergency, those few minutes could make all the difference.
Workplace safety is about being prepared for the unexpected. By making opioid overdose awareness, training and emergency response part of your safety program, you can help ensure your team is ready to act when every second counts. Because being prepared isn’t just about preventing injuries. It’s about saving lives.
