BE PREPARED FOR SWINE FLU ISSUES
While the nation and the world struggle to discern the severity of the current swine flu outbreak, employers across the globe must prepare for how a potential flu outbreak might impact their workplace. Take steps now to avoid the worst.
First, employers should gain a basic understanding of the illness and potential problems. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a lengthy, excellent guidance directing employers how to respond to pandemics in the workplace. You should review this guidance for very helpful information. It can be downloaded from here: OSHA3327pandemic.pdf.
Second, employers should use common sense. Any employees returning from travel to Mexico City in particular should be encouraged to stay away from the workplace for three days. (The flu has an incubation period of 2 to 3 days.) Having an employee work from home is a small price to pay to avoid a potential outbreak in the workplace. Similarly, employers should encourage all employees to be proactive in responding to potential symptoms and to removing themselves from the workplace.
Without resorting to panic, employers would be wise to prepare for the worst. They should consider short-term options for telecommuting their employees, and they should also be proactive in making sure that critical vendors and suppliers are not at risk for shutdown if the flu becomes an epidemic. Finally, basic workplace hygiene, safety, and travel polices should all be reviewed with reminders provided to employees about basic steps that can be taken to mitigate the risk of a flu outbreak in the workplace.
To download a copy of the OSHA 3327 guidelines please click on this link OSHA3327pandemic.pdf
Dirk A. Beamer