Occupational Safety & Narcotic Medication
Prescribed narcotic medications, such as painkillers, help individuals deal with management of acute or chronic pain, but the use of such medications can have an impact on safety in the workplace.
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Driving Accidents
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The side effects of narcotic medication use include drowsiness and lack of focus, which can lead to driving accidents, particularly in employees who drive trucks or operate forklifts in the performance of their jobs.
Machinery Accidents
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Operating machinery and performing repetitive movements requires focus, which is diminished by narcotic medications. Affected employees risk catching clothing or body parts in machinery. Lack of focus can also cause injuries to other workers on an assembly line.
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Addiction
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Long term use of narcotic medication leads to addiction, which affects occupational safety. Symptoms include agitation and anxiety, which can lead to physical altercations at the work place, as well as insomnia, which affects employee concentration.
OSHA Guidelines
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issues guidelines regarding the use of prescription drugs by employees. The employer is responsible for due diligence to make sure an employee can do his job safely, according to OSHA.gov. If the narcotic may impair the employee's ability to perform safely, the employer must take steps, including preventing the employee from operating machinery.
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References
- Oregonlive.com: When The Painkillers Become A Bigger Problem Than The Pain Itself
- Health.com: Yips For Managing The Side effects of Narcotic Painkiller
- OSHA.gov: Standard Interpretations
- National Institute of Health: Opiate Withdrawal
- Concrete Products: What Causes Accidents
- Chron.com: Prescription For Accidents
- Photo Credit forklift and pallets image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
