June 6, 2023

As I advised last December, as of June 1, 2023, the government of Ontario is implementing a new section of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) that requires at-risk employers to ensure their workplaces have a naloxone kit on hand and workers trained on how to use them.

The government is making free naloxone kits (and free training) available for these workplaces.

Businesses can determine if they are eligible for the program and find additional information on accessing free kits and training at Ontario.ca/workplacenaloxone.

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, restore breathing within two to five minutes, and allow time for medical help to arrive.

There is no set definition of ‘at-risk workplaces’, but they are generally deemed to be workplaces where there is a risk of staff witnessing or experiencing an opioid overdose.

Construction is by far the industry most impacted by opioid overdose. Of the workers who died from opioid-related causes last year, 30 per cent were employed in construction

Bars and nightclubs have also seen increased opioid usage and accidental overdoses, often because of recreational drugs laced with deadly opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil.

Note that the new requirements in the OHSA are related specifically to opioid overdose and do not change how an employer may choose to manage worker impairment from drugs or alcohol that may pose a risk to workplace safety.

The full government announcement can be found at »» this link.

Please contact me with any questions you may have or for assistance working through your staffing matters.