Pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), as of June 1, 2023, some Ontario Workplaces are required to provide naloxone kits.

Do you need a naloxone kit?

Not all employers are required to have a naloxone kit, only those that are aware or ought reasonably be aware of the following:

  • There is a risk of a worker opioid overdose
  • There is a risk of a worker opioid overdose happening in the workplace where the worker performs work for the employer
  • The risk is posed by a worker who performs work for the employer

The OHSA requirement does not require an employer to have a naloxone kit where the risk of opioid overdose is created by a non-worker ie. customer, client, patient, or other member of the public who may be at or near your workplace, nor if the employer is not or has not become aware of worker opioid overdose risk.

Naloxone is a small, easy to use medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose caused by opioids; including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications, and allowing precious time for professional medical assistance to arrive. Naloxone is considered safe for everyone, unless there is reason to believe a person has an allergy to naloxone.

Determining Risk

While some workers may voluntarily disclose opioid use prescribed by a medical practitioner, other indicators of risk must also be considered. Some examples are:

  • A worker opioid overdose has already occurred in the workplace
  • Opioid use is observed in the workplace or it is discovered that opioid use is occurring at the workplace during a workplace investigation
  • Discarded opioid paraphernalia is found at the workplace
  • Risk is brought to attention by another worker
  • Any other information/evidence that would reasonably lead an employer to conclude risk of opioid overdose

Naloxone Kits and Training

Should an employer become aware or ought to reasonable be aware of a need for a naloxone kit in the workplace, it is required that at least one be provided. Note that the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to take every reasonable precaution for protection of workers. Therefore, some employers may determine a need for multiple naloxone kits in the workplace.

An employer is responsible for storing and maintaining any naloxone kit(s) in the workplace. This includes but is not limited to ensuring that kits include required contents at all times and ensuring that none of the contents are expired. An employer is also responsible for ensuring that a naloxone kit is in charge of a worker who has the required training and works in the vicinity of the naloxone kit, when there are workers in the workplace.

For a limited time, Ontario’s Workplace Naloxone Program will provide support to employers required to comply with the new naloxone kit requirements by providing free training for up to two workers per workplace and/or one free nasal spray naloxone kit per workplace. Visit the following providers for more information:

Canadian Red Cross

St. John Ambulance

To find out more about the wide variety of services RLB People can provide you with contact the team at people@rlb.ca or visit their website at people.rlb.ca.