New initiatives targeting opioid overdoses in the workplace have been launched by the National Safety Council in its battle against the leading cause of unintentional death in the United States, which now accounts for nearly 10% of workplace fatalities.
One of those initiatives is a free e-learning course, which covers the symptoms and signs of an overdose, how to administer opioid overdose reversal medication, how to incorporate those medications into a workplace safety plans, and administering hands-only CPR.
The National Safety Council (NSC) has also introduced its Workplace Wellbeing Hub – an online and interactive resource that includes customizable policies, data collection and data use guides, and a benefits checklist to see what services a workplace provides.
Additionally, the council is partnering with Emergent BioSolutions, the maker of NARCAN nasal spray, to provide access to the overdose reversal medication. Employers can purchase the medicine from NSC and have it delivered to their workplaces.
NSC President and CEO Lorraine M. Martin said that by providing these essential tools, resources and education, “we can empower workplaces to be prepared, be resilient and, ultimately, save lives”, adding “we employers to join NSC in stocking these medications at all worksites”.
