Are You Swine Ready?

It seems that every day, the news reports that another Australian has been struck down with the swine flu or a new country has been included on the infected list.

I believe the media has turned it into more than it really is by throwing in words like “pandemic” but what happens if the swine flu does spread out of control? Are businesses prepared to deal with such a thing?

There is no doubt that if this flu does reach pandemic proportions in Australia, there will be massive disruptions to the community and businesses. We would see public venues closing down (no more footy games, fairs or concerts), restrictions placed on public transport — workplaces may even be forced to close and employees stood down.  The country could conceivably come to a complete standstill. It’s hard not to imagine scenes from movies like Outbreak or The Happening coming to life.

I’ve been reading a few guides (just Google “swine flu”) but the best one that I’ve come across is from WorkSafe Victoria: OHS preparedness for an influenza pandemic: A guide for employers. It has clear, practical guidelines to help employers on managing the OH&S risks associated with an influenza pandemic.

No one knows just how far the swine flu might spread, but it’s good to know what might occur in order to prepare. Here are some facts excerpted from the OHS guide:

• At the height of a pandemic, 40-50 per cent of the workforce could be absent from work.
• It is not possible to predict the timing of the onset of a pandemic so it is imperative that employers prepare beforehand by developing pandemic influenza business continuity plans.
• Assigning responsibility to an individual(s) for monitoring influenza pandemic information is a good way to ensure the organisation has the most up-to-date information. This person should also be involved in the overall pandemic and business continuity planning.
• Employees who report or show influenza-type symptoms should be isolated from others and referred to a general practitioner for medical assessment. They should be given a disposable surgical mask to wear as an interim measure before they leave the workplace.
• Control measures may include … employee counselling through an employee assistance program.

There’s even a section on managing the recovery phase of the pandemic.

While we are not at pandemic level now, I’ve been sending out reminders to staff about pro-active steps to help fight the passing of infection — steps that include hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette. We are, after all, entering the cold and flu season down under anyway.

So what are you and your company doing to be pandemic-ready?