Research identifies significant increases in opioid-related emergency visits among injured workers, particularly in machining, construction and materials handling.

Workers in Ontario with approved lost-time injury claims experienced a significant increase in opioid-related emergency department visits between 2006 and 2022, according to research summarized by the Institute for Work & Health.

The study, which examined 1.7 million injured workers, found that emergency visits for opioid poisonings increased from 25 per 100,000 workers in 2006 to 175 per 100,000 in 2022. The sharpest growth occurred between 2015 and 2019, when visits increased by 35% annually.

Workers in machining occupations experienced the highest rates and steepest increases, exceeding 300 emergency visits per 100,000 workers in 2022. Construction trades, materials handling and product fabricating, assembling and repairing occupations also recorded elevated rates.

Emergency visits involving opioid-related mental and behavioral disorders, including dependence and withdrawal, increased from 58 to 179 per 100,000 workers during the study period.

Researchers suggested that physically demanding work and occupational injuries may contribute to opioid-related risks by creating opportunities for opioid use following an injury.

The researchers cautioned that the study population was concentrated in occupations with higher injury risks. They also noted that more recent Ontario data indicate opioid-related harms have declined in the general population since 2022.

• Novara

  All in One Safety Software

  Novara's unified EHS and risk management platform gives your team the data, insights, and configurable tools to manage safety by design — not reaction.
  See how Novara works → Novara.com

• Friday New Product Roundup: October 16

  This week's products include cut-resistant apparel, carbon-toe work boots, pallet rack repair kits, an automated compressed air control and a weatherproof cable enclosure. Read Now

• Workplace Noise Can Affect More Than Your Hearing

  Long-term exposure to hazardous noise can affect worker safety, overall health and quality of life, making consistent hearing protection essential. Read Now

• Why Hands-On Training Still Matters in a Digital Age

  VR, AR and AI can expand training opportunities, but physical practice remains essential when workers must handle equipment, coordinate with teams and perform correctly in high-risk situations. Read Now

• The Heat Stress Standard and the Employer's Decision Dilemma

  With OSHA's proposed heat rule unfinished but enforcement expanding, the metric an employer chooses to trigger protective action — Heat Index or wet bulb globe temperature — may matter more than the regulation itself. Read Now

• Navigating Electrical Safety’s Gray Areas

  Electrical safety standards provide a framework, but real-world work doesn't always offer clear-cut choices. Five common gray areas show why understanding the hazard, the task and the worker’s qualifications matter when the right decision is not immediately obvious. Read Now

• The Keys to a Successful Smart PPE Rollout

  A rushed rollout produces resistance. A focused pilot and transparency on goals produce a program workers trust. Read Now

Most   Popular

• Why Hands-On Training Still Matters in a Digital Age

  VR, AR and AI can expand training opportunities, but physical practice remains essential when workers must handle equipment, coordinate with teams and perform correctly in high-risk situations.

• Survey Links Unverified AI Guidance to Higher Regulatory Fines

  Respondents linked unchecked AI output to incorrect filings, missed deadlines and failed audits, and teams that put sensitive data into personal AI tools reported problems far more often.

• ASSP Survey Finds AI Adoption Growing in Workplace Safety

  AI use in workplace safety is growing, but investment, data quality and organizational challenges remain barriers.

• Firefighter Health and Safety Technology Guide Research Collaboration

  International working groups will examine occupational health risks, smart protective equipment and oversight of AI tools.

• Data Center Construction Raises Confined Space Safety Considerations

  Electrical and mechanical spaces on rapidly expanding data center projects can present access, ventilation and rescue challenges that require careful hazard evaluation.

More AI Coverage

Please type the letters/numbers you see above.

• VAC-U-MAX, Fauske & Associates, LLC, Donaldson, EMSL Analytical, Inc.

  Where Dust Explosions Start: Equipment-Level Hazards & How to Control Them (Part 2) Oct 15, 2026

• PIP Global Safety

  The Next Generation of Head Protection and Connected PPE Oct 20, 2026

• J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.

  OSHA Training for General Industry: Key Training Elements of The Most Common Safety Topics Oct 21, 2026

• FacilityOS, Industrial Scientific Corp.

  Facility Safety Summit Oct 22, 2026

• FacilityOS, Industrial Scientific Corp.

  Facility Safety Summit Session 1: Three Standards Updates That Could Impact Your Facility Safety Program Oct 22, 2026

• FacilityOS, Industrial Scientific Corp.

  Facility Safety Summit Session 2: Facility Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Oct 22, 2026

All Webinars