An amendment made to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) in April 2022 is one step closer to enforcement.
Effective June 1, 2023, workplaces at risk of a worker opioid overdose will be required to have at least one naloxone kit available onsite and have staff trained in its use, as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act amendment introduced in April 2022 (Sec. 25.2).
An associated regulation, Naloxone Kits (O. Reg. 559/22) also comes into effect, which prescribes the contents of a naloxone kit, and sets out additional requirements related to the provision and maintenance of naloxone kits.
Detailed information on the legislative requirements can be found on Ontario.ca.
Once the legislative requirement is in effect, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s inspectors will take an education-first approach to enforcement.
A new Naloxone in the Workplace Program has been established to support initial compliance.
Under this program eligible employers can:
- access free naloxone training for up to two workers per workplace; and/or
- receive one free nasal spray naloxone kit per workplace.
Details about the Naloxone in the Workplace Program – including how to determine if your workplace is eligible – can be found on Ontario.ca. The Program begins December 2022.
The MLITSD will be partnering with two (2) program providers to help deliver the Workplace Naloxone Program:
- The Canadian Red Cross (COURSE: First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies)
- St. John Ambulance Canada (COURSE: Opioid Poisoning Response Training)
WSPS currently does not offer naloxone related training.
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