by Larry Chesney, associate director, OSHA Training Center
If you are an office manager, get out your red flag, and don’t plan on putting it away for a while. The much-publicized swine flu virus may strike your business during the next few months, so do everything possible to keep it from entering your workplace.
Swine flu, or H1N1, was first identified last April in Mexico. Health officials say the virus was active several months before the first known incident went public. This outbreak is considered more dangerous than most influenza outbreaks of the past 20 to 30 years. Last June, the World Health Organization declared H1N1 a pandemic, meaning its spread is global and not confined to one country.
This strain of swine flu spreads like any influenza, usually by breathing contaminated air or by touching the mouth or nose with dirty hands. Symptoms, including fatigue, high fever, headache, runny nose, sore throat and loss of appetite, can last up to one week. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are considered high risk, as are the obese. Anyone with asthma, diabetes, or heart disease and children with neurodevelopmental conditions are also considered vulnerable.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 14 million and 34 million cases of swine flu happened in the United States between April and October of this past year.
Fortunately there are things you can do to keep your workers safe from H1N1, and many of them are not expensive.
First, hold a meeting once or twice a week with your employees to inform them of the latest developments regarding the outbreak. Holding a training session or seminar may also be beneficial.
The CDC Web site, www.cdc.gov, and the WHO Web site, www.who.int, are both excellent sources of information on swine flu. Utilize both to learn about possible outbreaks in your area.
Ensure your employees wash their hands several times a day at least. Clearly mark common areas, including office walls and hallways, with signs reminding people to wash their hands. It is also wise to buy hand sanitizer for employees.
Encourage your staff and their families to get a swine flu shot while there is still a steady supply of vaccine. In addition, tell your employees to use their elbow, not their hands, to cover their mouth and nose when they sneeze or cough. By doing so, the hands do not come into contact with discharged germs. This technique is an excellent topic for a training session.
Conduct a sit-down conversation with the janitorial staff and make sure they are thoroughly wiping all of the common areas in the workplace, such as bathrooms and countertops. Also, make certain the disinfectant used is strong enough to kill influenza.
Whatever office policies are regarding sick days or sending staff home early, consider relaxing them slightly, at least through next spring. Anyone with swine flu symptoms should stay home, and an employee who develops symptoms while in the office should be sent home immediately. Everyone, from the CEO on down, should be held to these standards.
Inform employees that if they believe they have been exposed to H1N1 symptoms they should stay home. If possible, have them work from home.
The bottom line is every office manager must be prepared to work with a reduced staff during this time period. It is a challenge, and due to the recession many are working with smaller staffs. It is crucial to remember, however, the smallest staff is better than none at all.
It is wise to use e-mail or interoffice memos in lieu of meetings to reduce contact. Face-to-face meetings should be held only when absolutely necessary.
Finally, seat your staff as far apart as possible. Your productivity will stay up, and the virus will be more easily contained if it has already made its way in to your office.
Larry Chesney has more 35 years of specialized training in the safety field and is the associate director for the OSHA Training Center. He is an authorized outreach trainer and works in conjunction with other OSHA Education Centers to ensure all OSHA related classes are held to the highest standards. For more information about OSHA courses and training, visit www.osha4you.com, or call 866-936-OSHA.