Opioids in the Workplace

Field Investigations

The NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program has been working to better understand work-related exposures and potential health risks among emergency responders (including emergency medical service, fire-fighting, and law enforcement personnel) and other groups of workers impacted by the opioid crisis.

Fentanyl Resources

New Final and Interim Health Hazard Evaluation Reports

• Evaluation of Occupational Exposures to Opioids, Mental Health Symptoms, Exposure to Traumatic Events, and Job Stress in a City Fire Departmentpdf icon– Interim Report (February 2019)
• Evaluation of Occupational Exposures to Illicit Drugs During a Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Services Response — (HHE 2018-0083-3332)pdf icon – Final Report (November 2018)
• Evaluation of Law Enforcement Officers’ Occupational Exposure to Illicit Drugs — (HHE 2018-0118-3331)pdf icon – Final Report (November 2018)
• Evaluation of Law Enforcement Officers’ Potential Occupational Exposure to Illicit Drugs — Virginia (HHE 2018-0113-3325)pdf icon – Final Report (September 2018)
• Evaluation of a New Hampshire Law Enforcement Officer’s Unintentional Occupational Exposure to Illicit Drugs (HHE 2018-0132-3322)pdf icon– Final Report (August 2018)
• Evaluation of Potential Occupational Exposures to Opioids in a City Fire and Police Department (HHE 2018-0015)pdf icon – Interim Report (May 2018)
• Evaluation of Potential Occupational Exposures to Opioid Drugs During an Emergency Medical Services Response (HHE 2018-0067)pdf icon – Interim Report (April 2018)

NIOSH HHE Program

The Health Hazard Evaluation Program helps employees, union officials, and employers learn whether health hazards are present at their workplace and recommends ways to reduce hazards and prevent work-related illness. Evaluations are done at no cost to the employees, union official, or employers.