Merkley, Watson Coleman, Murkowski, Rutherford Team Up for Bipartisan Effort to Combat Opioid Overdoses in the Workplace

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL-05) partnered together on bipartisan legislation to help tackle rising rates of opioid overdoses with increased access to overdose reversal medications like naloxone.

The Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue guidance to employers and federal agencies regarding opioid overdose reversal medication attainment, usage, and training.

"Naloxone saves lives, and ensuring workplaces have access to it is an important part of what needs to be a multi-pronged effort to tackle opioid overdoses," said Senator Merkley. "With bipartisan support in both chambers, now is the time to deliver a common-sense solution to the opioid crisis and give our communities the tools to fight this epidemic."

"COVID-19 shone a light on an opioid epidemic that has been developing for decades. Workplaces across the country are dealing with the fallout from our failure to adequately address this crisis," said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. "The WORK to Save Lives Act will finally give workplaces the tools to save workers who are struggling with opioid addiction. Getting these overdose reversal medications - and training in their use - to as many employers as possible has the potential to save countless lives."

"Opioid overdoses are increasingly claiming lives in the workplace, underscoring how deeply this crisis has embedded itself in everyday life," said Senator Murkowski. "This legislation will give workplaces the opportunity to equip employees with access to the training and resources they need to respond to an emergency overdose in the workplace. Ensuring these medications are readily available, and that individuals are trained to administer them, will save lives."

"I am proud to join my bipartisan colleagues to introduce the WORK to Save Lives Act. Our bill would help equip workplaces with the skills and tools needed to administer lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medication in real time," said Congressman Rutherford, member of the Bipartisan Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Task Force. "While I am also focused on stopping the illicit fentanyl from coming into our country, our commonsense bill would truly save lives."

The National Safety Council found that while 75 percent of employers reported seeing opioid use impact their workplace, only 17 percent reported being well-prepared to address it. The bipartisan WORK to Save Lives Act would ensure workplaces have better tools and training to address the opioid epidemic.

In addition to Merkley, Watson Coleman, Murkowski, and Rutherford, the WORK to Save Lives Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-01), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Andre Carson (IN-07), Angie Craig (MN-02), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

The bipartisan, bicameral bill is endorsed by the National Safety Council and Global Health Advocacy Incubator.

"Workplace overdose deaths are occurring at devastating rates, largely fueled by opioids, but the good news is we have more tools available today to save these lives. The National Safety Council commends the sponsors of the WORK to Save Lives Act for championing expanded access to the life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone in workplaces. We urge support for making naloxone a critical component of workplace emergency preparedness to help save a life," said Lorraine Martin, CEO of the National Safety Council.

"The WORK to Save Lives Act is smart, bipartisan leadership. It directs OSHA to provide non-mandatory workplace guidance on overdose reversal medication and annual training, and it strengthens readiness across federal workplaces. This is a practical step Congress can advance quickly to help keep workers safe," said Libby Jones, Associate Vice President of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Overdose Prevention Initiative.

Merkley has consistently fought to address the national opioid overdose epidemic and put resources in the hands of key personnel in both schools and workplaces who can step in during known or suspected cases of opioid overdose. Previously, he introduced the bipartisan School Access to Naloxone Act with Florida's U.S. Senator Rick Scott to fight opioid overdoses in schools across the country.

Full text of the WORK to Save Lives Act can be found by clicking here.

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