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How should a workplace plan for an opioid overdose?

Medically reviewed by Asia, RN, BSN

Written by Justin Alcalde, AHA and American Red Cross instructor, CPR West Covina

Price and class details checked October 19, 2026.

Decide before it happens: keep naloxone and an AED where people can reach them, train the people most likely to respond, and agree who calls 911, who brings naloxone and the AED, and who stays with the person. California does not require naloxone in workplace first aid kits today. A 2024 law told Cal/OSHA to propose that rule before December 1, 2027, and the Standards Board is to consider it by December 1, 2028.

Everyone on your response list can study ahead with our SOS First Aid app: its BLS section covers CPR, AED use, choking relief and opioid emergencies, and Pro adds a certification tracker.

The plan, one step at a time

Stock naloxone with its instructions.
Naloxone nasal spray is sold over the counter; CalRx sells a twin pack for $19. Keep the instructions with it, as Labor Code 6723 describes for the future rule. Add nitrile gloves, which NIOSH recommends when illicit drugs may be present.
CDPH CalRx Labor Code 6723 NIOSH
Keep it where people can find it, and tell them.
Store it next to the AED or first aid kit. CDC points out that a person cannot use naloxone on themselves, so others need to know where it is.
CDC
Train the people who will respond.
The 2024 AHA and Red Cross first aid guideline says it is beneficial for first aid providers to be trained in responding to opioid overdose, including giving naloxone. Train enough people to cover every shift.
AHA and Red Cross 2024
Give everyone a job for the first minutes.
One person calls 911 and stays on the line with the dispatcher. One brings naloxone and the AED. One stays with the person and follows the overdose steps. One meets the ambulance at the door and clears the way.
Stay until help arrives.
CDC says to stay with the person until emergency help arrives. Naloxone can wear off in 30 to 90 minutes, so a person who wakes up still needs care.
CDC SAMHSA
Restock and review.
Replace any naloxone that was used, check the dates on the boxes, and talk through what went well and what to change.

The response itself, step by step, is on what to do if someone is overdosing. Print it and keep it with the kit.

What California law says today

Rule	What it says	Status
Labor Code 6723 (AB 1976, 2024)	Cal/OSHA must submit a draft rule before December 1, 2027 to add naloxone, or another FDA-approved opioid antagonist, and instructions to workplace first aid materials. The Standards Board is to consider adoption on or before December 1, 2028.	A rulemaking order, not yet a stocking requirement.
Education Code 49414.3 (schools)	Schools may choose to make emergency naloxone and trained volunteer staff available.	Voluntary, not a mandate.
Health and Safety Code 1799.113 and Civil Code 1714.22	A person who gives naloxone in good faith and not for compensation is not liable for civil damages, except for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. Civil Code 1714.22 also allows standing orders for distribution.	In effect.
CDPH statewide standing order	For community organizations and entities, not individuals. Not needed to buy over the counter nasal sprays, but CDPH says it can add liability protection under Civil Code 1714.22.	In effect.

Labor Code 6723 Education Code 49414.3 HSC 1799.113 Civil Code 1714.22 CDPH

What we could not confirm: whether Cal/OSHA has proposed or adopted a naloxone first aid rule since the 2024 law. Check with Cal/OSHA before you rely on any date. The civil immunity laws cover a person acting in good faith and not for compensation; how that applies to an employee who responds on the job is a question for your attorney. This page is not legal advice.

Learn it before you need it

Between trainings, staff can keep the steps fresh with our SOS First Aid app, with practice quizzes and an AI assistant that answers questions based on the AHA 2025 guidelines. For hands-on training, book onsite CPR training for West Covina employers, or send staff to a public Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED class ($98 per person) or, for clinical roles, Red Cross BLS.

Questions people ask

Does California require naloxone in workplace first aid kits?

Not yet. Labor Code 6723 orders Cal/OSHA to propose adding naloxone and instructions to workplace first aid materials before December 1, 2027, with the Standards Board to consider adoption by December 1, 2028.

Do California schools have to stock naloxone?

Education Code 49414.3 lets schools choose to make emergency naloxone and trained volunteer staff available. It does not require it.

Can a business get free naloxone?

The state's Naloxone Distribution Project gives free naloxone to qualified organizations, and LA County Public Health says applicants need a prescription or standing order. See where to get naloxone.

Should the workplace kit include an AED too?

If the person is not breathing or only gasping, the AHA's 2025 steps for the public say to get an AED and start CPR, and to give naloxone if overdose is suspected. Keeping the two together saves a trip.

Sources

This page is education, not medical or legal advice. In an emergency, call 911 first.