Swine Flu Precautions for Healthcare Facilities Issued

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OSHA’s Web page on swine flu features fact sheets that employers and workers can use to promote safety during the current H1N1 influenza outbreak. The fact sheets inform employers and workers about ways to reduce the risk of exposure to the 2009 H1N1 virus at work. Separate fact sheets for healthcare workers, who carry out tasks and activities that require close contact with 2009 H1N1 patients, contain additional precautions. The fact sheets are advisory in nature and informational in content.

As new information about the 2009 H1N1 virus becomes available, OSHA will update its Web site and fact sheets at http://www.osha.gov/h1n1.

Other online resources including the following:

• www.flu.gov

• www.ready.gov/business/

• www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business

• www.flu.gov/professional/business/index.html

• www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/toolkit

In addition, the American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) members issued a notice to employers to develop worker health and contingency plans to manage the swine flu outbreak. These activities will help offset business losses and help minimize disruption to business activities; protect employees’ health and safety; and limit the negative impact to the community, economy and society.

ASSE notes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but businesses should consider the following steps:

• Develop and implement preparedness plans as one would for other public health emergencies.

• Participate in and actively promote state and community public health efforts.

• Implement prevention and control strategies as recommended by public health officials and healthcare providers.

• Encourage employees to participate in influenza vaccination programs annually.

• Communicate information about the signs and symptoms of flu illness to employees.

• Adopt practices that require sick employees/students to stay home.

• Consider allowing employees to borrow against their sick leave to ensure they are non-infectious before returning to work.

• Practice good hand hygiene, washing hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water for a minimum of 15 seconds.

• Identify a workplace coordinator, or committee, to be responsible for dealing with H1N1 flu issues and its impact on business operations.

• Prepare business continuity plans to maintain operations during times of significant absenteeism in your company and with key business partners to ensure continuity of business operations if there are labor shortages, supply chain disruptions or other business interruptions.

• Establish plans to communicate with your employees, contractors and key business partners that perform essential tasks, business functions, supplies and services.

• Share your pandemic plans with community leaders.

• Establish an emergency communications plan that includes identification of key contacts (with back-ups), chain of communications (including suppliers, vendors and customers), and processes for tracking and communicating business, and, have updated employee emergency contact information.

FAC