Flu pandemic, are you prepared?
March 28th 2007 Being prepared for a flu pandemic could be vital to the survival of your business in the event of an outbreak, IOSH is urging employers. This follows the recent outbreak of bird flu at the Bernard Matthew's farm in Suffolk.
Whilst dealing with a pandemic is considered to be primarily a public health matter and a government responsibility, the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) says employers have an important part to play.
"The big problem with a pandemic is how rapidly it can spread," comments Lisa Fowlie, president of IOSH so it is important that employers can be flexible and have a contingency plan at the ready. Employers with workers at particular risk of exposure (e.g. healthcare workers) need to follow specific HSE guidance. However, IOSH has drawn up a ten point plan that it says all organisations can follow to help protect them and their staff in the event of an outbreak:
1. Have a plan – you will probably only get two weeks notice of a pandemic, but this is only time to communicate your policy, not to start to think about it.
2. Identify what tasks are essential to your core business and key staff – think about how you can cover these jobs safely during the pandemic. Training for some staff may be necessary. You should also identify employees with existing chronic medical conditions like asthma, who are more likely to be severely affected.
3. Review personnel policies and reduce bureaucracy – employees who are ill or think they are ill need to be encouraged to stay at home and to seek medical advice.
4. Encourage flexible working practices – this might mean encouraging people to work from home or flexible hours to enable employees to look after ill dependents, look after children if schools are closed and to reduce the time spent on public transport, where there is more chance of being infected.
5. Consider suppliers and sub contractors – ensure they have continuity measures in place and are aware of your plan.
6. Review your cleaning contract – maintaining a high level of hygiene in the workplace is important. Consider disinfecting door handles and telephones and providing anti-bacterial hand gel for staff and visitors to use.
7. Encourage employees to take personal responsibility to protect themselves – encourage hand washing, wearing gloves on public transport, disposing of tissues so that cleaners don’t come into contact with them and covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
8. Consider cancelling conferences or meetings - why not hold video conferences or online meetings instead.
9. If you decide to go ahead with an event, use a risk assessment to identify the precautions that can be taken to minimise the spread of infection – this might include cleaning the room and ensuring it is well ventilated, providing good hand washing facilities and trying to avoid people queuing at entrances or in catering areas.
10. Keep in touch with government advice.
For further information, just  click here.
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