The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), in collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), published Implementing Effective Workplace Solutions to Prevent Opioid Use Disorder: A Resource Guide for the Mining Industry.

The goal of this guide is to provide mine operators and safety and health managers with actionable tools to more effectively plan, implement, and integrate a range of workplace interventions to prevent prescription opioid misuse, illegal opioid use, and opioid use disorder (OUD) among mine workers.

Mine workers have the highest risk of substance use disorders, at nearly twice the rate of all U.S. workers. Additionally, mine workers have the highest rates of opioid-related deaths relative to other industries.

According to the report, the hard physical work of mining, including heavy lifting and exposure to vibrating equipment, combined with insufficient sick leave and bonuses for overtime that don’t allow injuries to heal, and insufficient access to nonopioid treatments such as physical therapy, can lead to OUD.

The guide addresses the mining industry's unique challenges, where work-related injuries and psychosocial risks like job insecurity and isolation can contribute to opioid misuse.

The resource guide includes:

• 10 strategies for occupational safety and health managers
• A Workplace Health and Well-Being Model for planning and implementation
• Evidence-based practices for effective prevention efforts
• Activities and resources for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation