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 Business Continuity Plans 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?

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.

Know your exposure

What are the risks to your business? Some businesses will suffer more than others. Examine where you stand with:

a) what are your critical processes

b) who are your critical people

c) which are your critical suppliers

d) what utilities do you rely on

Training

Ignorance and panic are our worst enemies. Teach your staff to:

a) understand the Bird Flu pandemic

b) recognise the symptoms and know the differences with the common cold

c) make it difficult for the infection to spread

d) protect themselves and their families

e) involve themselves in your own preparations

Human Resources

It is people who will be directly affected by Bird Flu,

not systems, machinery or physical locations. Consider:

a) deputy training

b) back up staff

c) succession plans

d) leave arrangements

e) temporary redundancy

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:

a) monitoring of the pandemic and trigger activities

b) human resource contingency

c) staff/supplier/customer communications

d) workplace preparation and disinfection

e) managing stockpiles

f) regulatory obligations

g) managing staff return to work after illness/quarantine

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) a compartmentalised workstation layout

b) arrangements for quarantining the individual(s)

c) clear guidelines for disinfecting and cleaning

workstations

d) daily illness checks before coming to work

Personal hygiene

Practicing good personal hygiene is probably our best

offense against Bird Flu. Educate your staff to:

a) wash their hands regularly and thoroughly

b) cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing

d) dispose of tissues in sealed bags after use

e) avoid touching their face with unwashed hands

Communications

Keeping communications open is critical to business

operations. Keep in contact with staff, customers and

suppliers by:

a) enabling staff to work from home

b) diverting phone calls and messages

c) accessing email from anywhere

d) installing videoconferencing

Social Distancing

Protect staff by minimising contact with others.

Consider the following measures:

a) avoid face to face meetings

b) review overseas travel policy/quarantine

c) stagger working hours to avoid overcrowded public

transport

d) avoid restaurants at lunch hour

e) allow customers to make orders/enquiries by email / fax / phone / website

f) practice ghost shifts

Awareness

People need constant reminders and updates. Help

increase your staff awareness with:

a) posters

b) screensavers

c) pandemic status boards

d) regular newsletters

e) website articles

Supply shortages

During a pandemic, supplies of everything will be short.

Consider the need for ensuring adequate availability of

essential supplies in case of:

a) breakdown of land/sea transportation systems

b) suppliers own travel restrictions

c) border closures

d) disruption to air traffic

Stockpiling equipment

Businesses and individuals have already started

stockpiling equipment. Have you? Consider adequate

supplies of:

a) face masks

b) rubber gloves

c) disinfecting soaps

d) cleaning materials

e) tissues

f) Perspex barriers

Office environment

Maintaining a clean office environment is one of our best

defenses. Check the:

a) air ventilation

b) office cleaning methods

c) pantry for shared crockery/cutlery

d) reception for newspapers and magazines

e) arrangements for identifying visitors/staff who have

symptoms

Lists and forms

As for any emergency, pre-prepare all the lists and forms

you'll need. Create:

a) emergency phone records forms

b) sickness notification forms

c) contact lists to record affected staff travel history

and who they have been in contact with

e) what-to-do checklists

Practice, practice, practice

Drills and exercises are the only way to make sure

employees and plans are ready. Schedule:

a) desktop exercises to check contingency processes

b) minor exercises to test staff

c) major full scale exercises for a real life drill

e) test meetings/conferences remotely using

videoconferencing

You can find solutions and tools to these and many other

Bird Flu Preparedness issues by referring to our online reference manual. Ideal for Human Resource Managers, General Managers, business owners. Every resource you'll need to get your business prepared for a bird flu pandemic.