Certain employers in Ontario who meet the three (3) requirements below, will be required to provide naloxone kits in their workplaces, starting June 1, 2023, which is aimed at addressing and reversing the effects of opioid overdoses.
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development have said that training on the administration of such kits will be provided, and that compliance will be required by employers who meet the following three (3) criteria:
- Where there is risk of a worker opioid overdose – which may be based on past occurrences, voluntary disclosure, observations, and the like.
- Where there is a risk of the overdose occurring in the workplace, where the worker performs their work; and
- The risk is posed by a worker than performs work for the employer – in other words the worker is employed or contracted to the employer.
Present indications also indicate that the Ministry may have some kits available to businesses free to charge, so employers who may be required to comply will want to reach out to their local Ministry office as soon as possible.
