Sunday, September 17, 2023

Naloxone Kits Required for At-Risk Workplaces

Ontario government mandates at-risk employers to have life-saving naloxone kits at workplaces and train workers on how to use them

Newsletters Ontario Construction

By Michael Kamminga, Representative Intern

Effective June 1, 2023, the Ontario government updated the Working for Workers Act (2023) requiring workplaces at risk of opioid overdose to have naloxone kits readily available and trained staff to use them. This legislation comes in the shadow of increased drug use and related deaths in recent years.

Nationally, approximately 2,500 opioid-related deaths occurred between March 2020 and January 2021, with 30 percent of fatalities being construction workers. Further risk comes from a trend that finds many recreational drugs laced with deadly opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil, usually without the knowledge of the user.

Naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, allowing time for medical help to arrive. The Ontario government kits will have nasal naloxone kits and training available for those who qualify for the program assistance.

Employers are required under the Ontario Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to provide kits where any of the following three risks exist:

risk of a worker opioid overdose,
risk of a worker opioid overdose in the workplace where the worker performs work for the employer, and
if the risk is posed by a worker who performs work for the employer.

The new legislation states that a person and/or corporation who fails to comply will face the highest penalties for violating the OHSA, including imprisonment and fines of up to $1,500,000.

If the employer cannot assess risk, or doesn’t comply where it should, the Joint Health and Safety Committee, a health and safety representative, union representative, human resources staff, and/or someone else in the workplace may bring these risks to the employer’s attention.

Employers interested in qualifying for Ontario’s Workplace Naloxone Program for a free nasal kit and training can email PreventionFeedback@ontario.ca to apply. Employers can also contact the Canadian Red Cross or St. John Ambulance, who are participating program providers, for more information on accessing free naloxone training and kits.

Naloxone Kits Required for At-Risk Workplaces

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