Exposure to fentanyl and to bloodborne pathogens have emerged as common risks in public safety work, with police officers, fire and EMS staff responding to more calls involving those using, possessing or even overdosing on drugs. Personal protective equipment, often known as PPE, can provide substantial protection against the risks of these exposures.
Fentanyl
The dangers of illicitly manufactured fentanyl have attracted great attention in recent years. Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid, made for use as both an analgesic, or pain relief drug, as well as an anesthetic. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has reported fentanyl to be 100 times more potent than morphine as an analgesic, and 50 times stronger than heroin, and tiny doses of it can be lethal.
In the past decade, illegally made fentanyl has increasingly appeared as a contaminant in other illegal drugs in the United States, and research agencies have attributed it to the drastic increase in fatal overdoses recorded during that time. In 2015, the nationwide count of drug overdose deaths stood at 52,404, a number which increased to 107,941 by 2022, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Numbers in South Carolina have been alarming as well. Among the 2,296 drug overdose deaths recorded in 2022, the deaths attributed to opioids had risen by 5% from 2021, and the deaths attributed to fentanyl in particular had risen by 9%, according to the SC Department of Public Health.
Although there may not be a documented fentanyl overdose linked to public safety in the United States, it doesn’t mean that there are no dangers in being exposed to fentanyl. Encounters with fentanyl, such as skin contact or inhalation may cause serious effects. As rates of drug use grow, so too does the risk of exposure to public safety personnel.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has offered several recommendations to help prevent emergency responders’ exposures to illicit drugs, including fentanyl:
- Wear nitrile gloves when illicit drugs may be present.
- Wear respiratory protection if powdered illicit drugs are present or suspected.
- Avoid tasks that may cause illicit drugs to become airborne.
- Train officers to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth after touching contaminated surfaces.
Bloodborne pathogens
Public safety workers can risk needlestick injuries when they are engaged in routine work-related activities. For police officers, it could be pat-down searches or property searches. As such, public safety personnel should receive yearly training in handling bloodborne pathogens. They should also be issued naloxone and puncture-resistant gloves as part of their PPE. If an exposure occurs, they must be transported to the hospital for a medical evaluation. They should receive a medical document allowing them to return to full duty capacity.
For more information, contact the Municipal Association’s Risk Management Services Loss Control staff.