[OPLINLIST] Liability question regarding having Tylenol/Advil/Aspirin available for staff

[Nancy Levin]

Well, I have heard loud and clear that we should not provide any medicines and we should take them out of any first aid kits available to the staff. Thank you all for your responses.
Nancy

From: oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org [mailto:oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Nancy Levin
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2012 10:18 AM
To: Oplinlist (oplinlist at oplin.org)
Subject: [OPLINLIST] Liability question regarding having Tylenol/Advil/Aspirin available for staff

Here's a good one for us to consider!

We were questioned today about our practice of having over the counter pain medications available for staff in the work place. This question was specifically asked by a guardian of a 16-year-old page/shelver.  I know we have purchased this type of medicine as an office supply.

She was concerned because we do not lock up our Tylenol and she feared that her child was able to take large amounts of the drug while at work, something that she would not allow at home. Frankly I don't believe that we could be held responsible. But the employee is a minor. I checked and there is no age restriction for selling over the counter pain medicines in a store. Do any of you have a practice or policy about allowing staff access to these kind of medications at work? I know that at schools parents sign  a release that allows the school nurse to dispense Tylenol or Advil at the request of a high-schooler.  (We are an employer so it does not apply.)

Even if we don't have a policy, should we?
Nancy

Nancy S. Levin
Director
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
2345 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights Ohio 44118
216-932-3600 ext 240
nlevin at heightslibrary.org<mailto:nlevin at heightslibrary.org>

"Opening Doors, Opening Minds"

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