H1N1 Swine Flu Threatens the Workplace
More news is received daily on the H1N1 swine flu and its spread throughout the world. Although this flu outbreak is not at pandemic levels yet, it could happen. Companies should prepare by developing plans for protecting both their employees and their business operations.
What is a Pandemic?
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak and is caused by a new virus for which there is no immunity or immediately available vaccination. It is easily spread from person-to-person by breathing droplets from someone with the disease who coughs or sneezes. It is also spread by touching a surface with the virus on it, such as a faucet, a door knob, a handle or switch on machinery, a telephone, and other surfaces and then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes.
How Could a Pandemic Affect My Company?
An outbreak of the flu in your workplace can have serious effects on your business. Of course there are lost work days and lower productivity to consider, but there are other less obvious factors, such as health insurance ramifications due to increased claims, disability insurance claims, unexpected overtime for employees picking up the work for sick co-workers, low employee morale, loss of overall business and income, and many more. A pandemic is predicted to affect up to 40% of the workforce. Could your business continue to operate with up to 40% of its employees absent for several weeks either because they are ill, they are caring for family members, or their children’s schools are closed?
During a pandemic, some of your customers may not require your products or services resulting in economic loss. A severe pandemic is predicted to generally reduce a company’s revenue by 8%. The global economy on the whole could be affected with disruptions in travel, food production and distribution, transportation, financial markets, etc. Would your company survive such a pandemic?
What Steps Can My Company Take to Prevent Flu at Our Workplace?
As a concerned employer, you can take steps to lessen the threat of the flu at your workplace. There is no assurance that the following suggestions will prevent an outbreak, but by taking some of these actions, you may be able to minimize the risks.
- Post notices on bulletin boards reminding employees to wash their hands frequently when in the rest room, break room, and cafeteria, etc. and to follow other good hygiene habits, such as covering their mouths when coughing or their noses when sneezing.
- Keep meetings in enclosed rooms to a minimum.
- Make disinfectants, such as antibacterial wipes or gel, available by machines shared with others, in rest rooms, by telephones, in reception rooms, and in other common areas.
- Have facial tissues available throughout the workplace.
- Provide gloves, respirators, or other appropriate PPE.
- Communicate your infectious disease policy to everyone, if you have one.
- Let it be known that sick employees should stay home whenever possible.
- Clean work surfaces often, such as telephones, counters, machine handles.
- Educate your employees on the symptoms of the flu through posters or information in employees’ paychecks.
How Should My Company Protect Its Business Operations?
This is a difficult question with many answers depending on the type of business. However, companies would be wise to develop continuity plans to protect against disruptions caused by absenteeism, delivery of products, loss of business, etc. Some of these actions may be possible for your company:
- Cross train employees so they can fill in for one another due to absenteeism.
- Examine your operations to see if work tasks can be combined, delayed, or even eliminated.
- Have other sources of delivery and transportation available, such as delivering products yourself rather than using a transportation company.
- Use telecommuting instead of face-to-face meetings or conferences.
- Have enough savings to continue to pay your bills in case revenue severely declines or it is necessary to totally cease operations for a period of time.
To download a checklist for how a pandemic flu may affect your business, click here:
http://www.pandemicplan.gsk.com/pdf/checklists/BusinessPlanningchecklist.pdf
Keep yourself updated on the H1N1 swine flu situation - it changes every day. Here are a few of many websites with detailed information:
http://osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html#organizations_protect
http://osha.gov/dsg/topics/pandemicflu/index.html
http://osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html
http://www.uschamber.com/issues/index/defense/pandemic_influenza.htm
