DOL News · September 24, 2026 · Primary source
US Department of Labor releases new workplace guidance to prepare employers, workers for opioid emergencies
Summary
OSHA released a fact sheet on September 24, 2026 titled "Opioid Overdose Rescue with Reversal Medications" as part of the Trump Administration's Great American Recovery Initiative. The guidance directs employers to stock FDA-approved opioid reversal agents such as naloxone or nalmefene, store them accessibly, train workers to administer them, and call 911 immediately during an overdose event. The fact sheet is non-binding workplace safety guidance and does not establish a new OSHA standard or regulation.
What this may mean
The fact sheet creates no new legal obligation for employers but reflects an executive-branch priority around opioid response in workplaces that may foreshadow future rulemaking or enforcement attention. Healthcare employers, including hospitals and addiction treatment facilities, already operate in a regulatory environment addressing naloxone access under state law and CMS Conditions of Participation, and this OSHA guidance does not alter those frameworks.
Informational only. Not legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional familiar with your specific facts before relying on any item.
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