Avian flu preparedness

In the event of an Avian flu pandemic, businesses will play a key role in protecting employees’ health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy.

Pandemicflu.gov offers a contingency plan with six separate areas of consideration, including how companies should plan for the impact of a pandemic on your employees:

• Forecast and allow for employee absences
• Implement guidelines to modify the frequency and type of face-to-face contact
• Encourage and track annual influenza vaccinations
• Evaluate employee access to and availability of healthcare services
• Evaluate employee access to and availability of mental health and social services
• Identify employees with special needs and incorporate their requirements into your preparedness plan

To review the other steps in the plan, go to: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/businesschecklist.html