OSHA Issues Guidance for Employees and Employers on Workplace Opioid Emergencies
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a fact sheet to help employers and employees recognize and rapidly respond to opioid overdose emergencies in the workplace.
The U.S. opioid crisis was declared a public health emergency by the then-Acting Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on October 26, 2017, under the direction of President Trump, who declared the crisis a national health emergency. Under the direction of President Trump during his first term, several initiatives were launched to address the crisis, targeting the three main pillars: reducing the supply of illicit drugs, expanding public awareness, and promoting evidence-based addiction treatment and recovery.
The efforts have continued during Trump’s second term. In January 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14379 – Addressing Addiction Through the Great American Recovery Initiative. The initiative is a government-wide public health effort that prioritizes addiction treatment and recovery, and follows successful efforts to stop the inflow of illegal drugs into the United States.
The fact sheet was issued by OSHA under the Great American Recovery Initiative to empower workplaces to recognize the signs of an opioid emergency and act immediately to save lives. The fact sheet explains how opioid overdose reversal medications work, why it is important for employers to develop an opioid overdose preparedness strategy, and why they should keep lifesaving FDA-approved reversal medications on hand to administer while waiting for emergency first responders to arrive.
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OSHA recommends treating overdose kits like first aid kits, ensuring they are kept in highly visible locations. Workers should be educated on how they can identify the signs and symptoms of an overdose, and how to administer emergency medications and provide supportive care while waiting for first responders to arrive.
“President Trump has charged the Department of Labor with making recovery part of our workforce strategy, helping more individuals return to work and ensuring our businesses have the workers they need,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “Today’s guidance, released as part of President Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative, is exactly the kind of action we were tasked with delivering for the American people.”
