AGC Members Urged to Embrace Alliance for Naloxone Safety in the Workplace Resources
BY CHRISTINE PREUSLER
In December 2019, an employee of Dimeo Construction Company, an AGC of Connecticut and AGC of Massachusetts member, disappeared after finishing their shift. Concerned about delivering the worker’s paycheck, a crew leader attempted to contact the individual by phone but received no response. Shortly after, another worker informed the crew leader that the missing employee was found off-site, unresponsive in their vehicle, windows fogged.
Acting swiftly, the crew leader opened the door, observed the individual, noted labored
breathing, rolled-back eyes and gasps for air. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the crew leader promptly dialed 911. Emergency medical services administered the narcotic overdose medicine Naloxone, successfully reviving the worker.
Bob Kunz, corporate safety director at Dimeo, immediately worked with Dr. Noel Woolley at the New England Laborers Health and Safety Fund to provide a recovery path for the worker — but Kunz quickly realized that wasn’t enough.
“Our crew leader was dealing with the fact that someone almost lost their life,” Kunz said. “He had prior EMS experience, which was helpful, but he was overwhelmed. I stayed on the phone with him for several hours that night, just making sure he was OK. And I felt getting everybody calibrated in terms of what happened was important.”
Kunz had his site safety manager organize a team huddle the following morning.
“It was amazing what we learned. The team had seen this individual dealing with this over the course of days and weeks before the incident but were afraid to say something. That day, they made a commitment to one another that if they saw something in someone that wasn’t their normal disposition, they would say something.”
From then on, the team fully committed to ensuring that all workers received training in Naloxone usage and were familiar with the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose. Kunz pledged his complete dedication to instituting programmatic changes, including adding Naloxone training and supplies to Dimeo’s existing First Aid, CPR and AED programs.
By December 2023, one of Dimeo’s superintendents used his training and access to medical supplies to revive a subcontractor iron worker who experienced an opioid overdose, saving his life.
The Origin of ANSW
Mandi Kime, director of safety at the AGC of Washington, said Kunz’s understanding of how to execute policy and training during an overdose paved the way for the establishment of Alliance for Naloxone Safety in the Workplace (ANSW), which was founded by Scott Kubiszewski in October 2023.
Kubiszewski worked with 23 founding member organizations to address the escalating opioid overdose crisis among construction workers and bridge a critical gap in workplace safety protocols. Through a strategic partnership with MindForge, a provider of learning management systems, the training program morphed into something both user-friendly and sophisticated.
“This has been truly a collaborative effort,” Kime said. “A lot of people from many different aspects of the industry have come together. It’s not about individual recognition, but creating a solution and keeping it accessible and free.”
At the heart of ANSW’s endeavors lies a comprehensive toolkit designed to equip employers with everything they need to establish and sustain Naloxone programs within their businesses, from informative resources explaining the nuances of opioid overdose to step-by-step guidance on policy implementation.
“ANSW is one-stop-shopping for companies seeking to implement a Naloxone program,” Kime said. “They can get answers to their questions about the process, debunk myths and access workforce training in diverse formats, whether through a learning management system, on-site sessions or video presentations. It’s all there, depending on each company’s preferences.”
Because of significant variations across the country regarding the most effective means of access, ANSW refrains from directly providing Naloxone to website visitors. But, by cultivating a culture of awareness and readiness, ANSW empowers employers to save lives proactively.
Why AGC Member Firms Should Consider a Naloxone Program
The construction industry carries a significant burden in the opioid crisis, as workers encounter increased risks stemming from physically demanding tasks and workplace
injuries.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), workers in construction are highly vulnerable to opioid-related risks, with one in three construction workers having musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that exacerbate their susceptibility to opioid misuse.
Alarmingly, prescription opioid usage among construction workers with MSDs is three times higher compared to other occupational groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In this setting, ANSW stands out as a source of hope, offering employers essential tools and training to address the opioid crisis affecting the industry and prioritize the well-being of workers.
“There are very few programs where you can go to one resource that costs nothing and get everything that you need, including a helpline,” Kunz said.
The site is open to everyone, including AGC member firms.
“As someone who has worked for AGC for more than 20 years, I love being able to write sample policies, programs and training materials for our 600 members instead of each of them drafting documents individually,” Kime said. “I can do it once, saving time and ensuring consistency. The real impact here lies in bringing together the right people. By pooling our expertise, we can ensure reliability and widespread accessibility, rather than expecting thousands of employers nationwide to navigate these challenges on their own.”
What’s Next
Kime is spearheading efforts to expand the reach of ANSW’s vital resources. This includes collaboration with the Departments of Labor in Connecticut and Massachusetts to promote the adoption of the ANSW Naloxone Policy Template (https://www.answ.org/workplace-policy) as part of their OSHA consultation programs. By advocating for the inclusion of this resource, Kime aims to highlight the importance of preparedness and intervention in addressing the opioid crisis within the workplace.
Beyond working with state authorities, ANSW is also committed to sharing success stories that showcase the impact of opioid-related workplace safety.
“We have work to do as a society with regard to perceptions of the problem,” Kime said. Telling stories of lives saved and the impact of those lives saved on countless others is crucial. Often, discussions around the opioid crisis come from a place of judgment. But the reality is, accidental overdoses are common, often stemming from situations like seeking relief for back pain.”
Kime said the industry must recognize our shared vulnerability as human beings — a single traumatic event or misfortune could lead any one of us down a path of substance use disorder or mental anguish.
“By sharing these stories anonymously, we can bridge that understanding,” Kime said. “Each saved life not only preserves the individual’s future but also affects the well-being of their loved ones and every person on the jobsite. Saving lives also ensures that valuable contributors to our industry can continue to share their knowledge and experience with
others.”
Kunz stressed the importance of addressing opioid substance use disorders as a means to initiate a discussion about mental health in the workplace.
Opioid substance use disorders are widely misunderstood, but they also prompt crucial
conversations about the root causes of the issue,” he said. “It serves as a gateway to addressing broader mental health challenges prevalent in our industry.”