New NY Bill Would Require Naloxone in Workplace First Aid Kits

If you thought your first aid kit was only for paper cuts and splinters, think again. New York Senate Bill S5922A would amend Labor Law § 27‑F so that any workplace already required by federal OSHA to stock first aid supplies must also carry at least one dose of naloxone, which can reverse an overdose on the spot. Currently, it’s a proposed measure awaiting the governor’s signature. Once signed, employers will have 180 days to integrate naloxone into their emergency kits.

OSHA’s General Industry standard (29 CFR 1910.151(b)) already mandates that, if there isn’t a clinic or hospital “in near proximity,” a trained person and “adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available.” Traditionally, those supplies include bandages, splints, antiseptics, and maybe even an eyewash station, but rarely prescription medications.

S5922A treats an opioid overdose as a first aid emergency on par with cardiac arrest or chemical exposure, folding naloxone into kits under the same regulation rather than creating a brand new compliance regime.

What Other Proposals Are Currently in Play?

Assembly Bill A5121 would require public residential buildings receiving Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or NY State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) funding to keep at least one accessible dose of naloxone in a common area (lobbies, hallways, etc.).

Meanwhile, Senate Bill S4640A directs the Health Commissioner to define “onsite overdose response services” standards and mandates that nightlife venues, event centers, theaters, and amusement parks stock opioid antagonists and have at least two trained responders on duty whenever open to the public. Whether you run a factory, an apartment building, or a concert hall, there’s a good chance you’re already – or soon will be – covered.

You may be wondering, why extend naloxone requirements to industries that don’t seem to need them? In 2023 alone, New York EMS crews administered naloxone more than 21,000 times (about once every 40 minutes), highlighting the need for immediate on‑site intervention, even in workplaces never associated with substance use risk. By tying naloxone to OSHA’s existing first aid rule, S5922A makes clear that overdose reversal is part of standard emergency preparedness.

What Should You Do Now?

1. Identify every location subject to 29 CFR 1910.151(b). Check your manufacturing floor, your satellite office, your delivery vehicles, etc.
2. Acquire FDA‑approved naloxone nasal sprays or auto‑injectors and store them in or near your first aid kits.
3. Train your staff! Recognizing overdose signs and administering naloxone safely can take a few sessions.
4. Revise your emergency action plan (EAP) and your employee handbook to include overdose response steps, checking the 180‑day clock so you’re ready by the compliance deadline.

If you need assistance with any (or all) of these steps, Walden can help. We offer employee training (including CPR and first aid certifications), program development, first aid kit inspections, and more.

Contact us at 860-846-4069 to speak with an experienced safety professional today.