PREPAREDNESS FOR BUSINESSES AND HOMES
BIRD FLU PREPAREDNESS TIPS
We all know of the threat that
Bird Flu brings to our businesses. We have all been told to prepare. But how do
we prepare? It won't be like other disruptions so our current BCPs won't work.
We have been warned to plan for up to 50% of staff to be absent from work
during the worst period, and to expect the same for our suppliers and clients.
How can we avoid the
inevitable workforce panic? What can we say when our staff, customers, stakeholders
and regulators ask what we are doing to help prepare for Bird Flu? Are we
confident we have done all we can for workplace Health and Safety? How can we prepare our homes and families? What can we do about the flu pandemic and individual preparedness?
Remember what happened during
SARS? According to the HKTDC, 65% of businesses suffered to some extent in their
bottom line, many of those went under. 33% managed to survive unscathed and an
incredible 2% of businesses actually saw an improvement! So how come they were
ready to take up the slack? It was because they had some sort of plan in place,
even if it wasn't designed for something like SARS.
There are many ways businesses
can minimise disruption, absenteeism, panic, workforce infection and financial
losses with good planning, training and preparation. Here are a few tips and
things to think about.
1. Know your exposure
What are the risks to your
business? Some businesses will suffer more than others. Examine where you stand
with:
what are your critical processes who are your critical people which are your critical suppliers what utilities do you rely on2. Training
Ignorance and panic are our
worst enemies. Teach your staff to:
understand the Bird Flu pandemic recognise the symptoms and know the differences with the common cold make it difficult for the infection to spread protect themselves and their families involve themselves in your own preparations3. Human Resources
It is people who will be directly
affected by Bird Flu, not systems, machinery or physical locations. Consider:
deputy training back up staff succession plans leave arrangements temporary redundancy4. Influenza Manager
Who will take the lead in your
company's planning for the pandemic, and the company's response once the pandemic starts? Nominate an Influenza Manager(s)
to look after:
monitoring of the pandemic and trigger activities human resource contingency staff/supplier/customer communications workplace preparation and disinfection managing stockpiles regulatory obligations managing staff return to work after illness/quarantine5. Managing illness at work
Discovering illness in the
workplace could mean healthy employees' refusal to come to the office due to
safety concerns. Mitigate this prospect by having:
a compartmentalised workstation layout arrangements for quarantining the individual(s) clear guidelines for disinfecting and cleaning workstations daily illness checks before coming to work6. Personal hygiene
Practicing good personal
hygiene is probably our best offense against Bird Flu. Educate your staff to:
wash their hands regularly and thoroughly cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing dispose of tissues in sealed bags after use avoid touching their face with unwashed hands7. Communications
Keeping communications open is
critical to business operations. Keep in contact with staff, customers and
suppliers by:
enabling staff to work from home diverting phone calls and messages accessing email from anywhere installing videoconferencing or use conference calling services8. Social Distancing
Protect staff by minimising
contact with others. Consider the following measures:
avoid face to face meetings review overseas travel policy/quarantine stagger working hours to avoid overcrowded public transport avoid restaurants at lunch hour allow customers to make orders/enquiries by email/fax/phone/website practice ghost shifts9. Awareness
People need constant reminders
and updates. Help increase your staff awareness with:
posters screensavers pandemic status boards regular newsletters website articles10. Supply shortages
During a pandemic, supplies of
everything will be short. Consider the need for ensuring adequate availability
of essential supplies in case of:
breakdown of land/sea transportation systems suppliers own travel restrictions border closures disruption to air traffic11. Stockpiling equipment
Businesses and individuals
have already started stockpiling equipment. Have you? Consider adequate supplies
of:
face masks rubber gloves disinfecting soaps cleaning materials tissues Perspex barriers12. Office environment
Maintaining a clean office
environment is one of our best defenses. Check the:
air ventilation office cleaning methods pantry for shared crockery/cutlery reception for newspapers and magazines arrangements for identifying visitors/staff who have symptoms13. Lists and forms
As for any emergency,
pre-prepare all the lists and forms you'll need. Create:
emergency phone records forms sickness notification forms contact lists to record affected staff travel history andwho they have been in contact with
what-to-do checklists14. Practice, practice, practice
Drills and exercises are the
only way to make sure employees and plans are ready. Schedule:
desktop exercises to check contingency processes minor exercises to test staff major full scale exercises for a real life drill test meetings/conferences remotely using videoconferencing or use conference calling servicesYou can find solutions to these and many other Bird Flu Preparedness issues by referring to our FREE online reference manual.
Don't know how to do this? Don't
have the time or resources?
birdflu-manual.com
are a team of seasoned business continuity planning professionals. We can help you tailor-make your response, and
hand-hold you through your preparations, with these and many other business continuity
ideas using our staircase approach to readiness. Ours is an affordable,
practical and easy to implement set of measures aimed specifically to help
prepare you, your staff, your business, your family and homes.
DON'T LET LACK OF PREPAREDNESS
EFFECT YOUR BOTTOM LINE
Start planning now!
