In the event of further outbreaks of H1N1 flu, swift response by employers will reduce the impact of the illness on business operations. At the same time, employers will play a key role in protecting employees' health and safety.
To protect the business and public health, employers should order employees to go home if they feel ill and have reason to believe that they may have been exposed to the virus.
At this stage, it is imperative that businesses have a plan in place to deal with an outbreak of the flu. Proper planning will protect employees and avoid potential disruptions in supplies or services.
Business objectives during an outbreak of H1N1 flu should be to:
- Reduce transmission of the virus strain among employees, customers and partners.
- Minimize illness among employees and customers.
- Maintain mission-critical operations and services.
- Minimize social disruptions and the economic impact of an outbreak.
Involving employees early in the planning process will help keep them engaged and motivated, which can lead to a more effective emergency plan. When planning for a swine flu outbreak, employers should identify one or more employees to serve as influenza managers. Some of the tasks of an influenza manager include:
- Setting up a system to monitor employees who are ill or suspected to be ill in the event of a pandemic, including contacting employees who are unexpectedly absent from work. Learn whether their doctor has been notified of their illness. Determine whether others with whom they have had contact are also sick. Find out whether someone is available to care for them.
- Setting up a process to encourage the return of employees to work once they are better or at the end of a quarantine period.
- Ensuring that the workplace has adequate supplies of tissues, medical and hand hygiene products, and cleaning supplies for employees who become ill. It may be difficult to purchase such products once an outbreak begins.
- Establishing or updating employee policies and procedures related to swine flu.
Employers should recommend employees:
- Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaning gels are also effective if soap is not available.
- See a health care provider if they are sick with a fever, cough, sore throat and other respiratory symptoms. The health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
- Cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and move away and/or turn from others. Throw the tissue in the trash after using it.
- Try to avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
Medical questions may also be answered through a local health care provider or public health agency.
Treatment/Medications
- Two antiviral drugs, Relenza® and Tamiflu,® appear to be effective in treating symptoms of this strain of H1N1 flu. Antiviral drugs may make the illness milder and help an ill person feel better faster. These drugs may also prevent serious flu complications.
- For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within two days of a patient becoming ill.
There are ample supplies of these drugs already on the market. In addition, the state of Missouri has stockpiled enough medication to treat more than 600,000 cases of the flu and the federal government has additional supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile.
The most up-to-date national information can be found at the CDC's H1N1 flu Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.
Resources for Pandemic Influenza Business Planning
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
www.dhss.mo.gov/PandemicInfluenza/
Businesses.html
www.dhss.mo.gov/Ready_in_3
U.S. Government Site on Pandemic Influenza
www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/workplaceplanning/ www.pandemicflu.gov/faq/workplace_questions/
index.html
U.S. Department of Labor Guidance for Preparing a Workplace for an Influenza Pandemic
www.osha.gov/Publications/influenza
_pandemic.html
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
www.uschamber.com/issues/index/defense/
pandemic_influenza.htm
Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
Pandemic Preparedness for Business
www.eden.lsu.edu/LearningOps/Pandemic/
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