Work Environment Factors and Prevention of Opioid-Related Deaths

Details

• Personal Author:
  Punnett, Laura ; Roelofs C ; Shaw WS
• Description:
  Opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid overdose deaths (OODs) are prevalent among US workers, but work-related factors have not received adequate attention as either risk factors or opportunities for OOD prevention. Higher prevalence of OOD in those with heavy physical jobs, more precarious work, and limited health care benefits suggest work environment and organizational factors may predispose workers to the development of OUD.Organizational policies that reduce ergonomic risk factors, respond effectively to employee health and safety concerns, provide access to nonpharmacologic pain management, and encourage early substance use treatment are important opportunities to improve outcomes. Organizational barriers can limit disclosure of pain and help-seeking behavior, and opioid education is not effectively integrated with workplace safety training and health promotion programs.Policy development at the employer, government, and association levels could improve the workplace response to workers with OUD and reduce occupational risks that may be contributing factors. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Education Ergonomics Health Promotion Mortality Occupational Health Preventive Medicine Safety Staff Development Workplace
• Keywords:
  Drugs Fatalities Health Promotion Preventive Measures Safety Programs Total Worker Health Training TWH Work Environment
• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  110
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061084
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 2020 Aug; 110(8):1235-1241
• Contact Point Address:
  William S. Shaw, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030-2940
• Email:
  wshaw@uchc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Public Safety
• Performing Organization:
  University of Massachusetts, Lowell
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20060701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• End Date:
  20210831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ab1fb3cd56293b5c3c9988b4a1c8d33e678957d7b4a9421a26de6822735964e9a651a3992fd35c45aee750708d8a55817a5733b40d7f75b0b7fb549ff3d74072
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224757/cdc_224757_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 572.27 KB ]