California’s newly enacted AB 1976 requires the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to adopt new standards requiring first aid materials in workplaces to include naloxone hydrochloride or other FDA-approved opioid antidote. Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses. 

Cal/OSHA has until December 1, 2027, to draft and propose the new regulations which must be considered for adoption by the Standards Board on or before December 1, 2028.  

What Does It Mean? 

AB 1976 is a regulatory mandate that does not require immediate employer action. However, employers should be aware that the Cal/OSHA regulatory process regarding updating workplace first aid requirements is underway and will impact compliance (e.g., updates to first aid kits, internal policy reviews and training) in the future.