Next week is National Infection Control Week in both Canada and the United States. And it couldn’t come at a better time. As we all know, the H1N1 flu has been declared a pandemic, which means it is expected to affect many people around the world. Most will recover, some will die and business and services are likely to be disrupted. Your workers need to be prepared, so here’s a Safety Talk you can use as the basis of your National Infection Control Week safety meeting.

Safety Talk: Pandemic Preparedness

You need to know two things about the flu pandemic. One, you need to know how to protect yourself from the flu. And, two, you need to know your part in your company’s pandemic emergency plan.

What’s the Danger?

Here’s what could happen in your workplace: Many of your fellow workers could be home with the flu, and you might need to fill in for them to keep crucial services and processes working.

A Dozen Ways to Protect Yourself

1. Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap or hand sanitizer. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing or blowing your nose. Wash up after touching common surfaces such as phones, railings or work benches.
2. Cover your cough with your upper shirt sleeve.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
4. Practice “social distancing.” Avoid or minimize contact with infected people. Stay out of crowds.
5. Minimize group meetings; use e-mails, phone conferences, web sessions and text messaging. If meetings are necessary, avoid close contact with others and make sure that the meeting room is well ventilated.
6. Limit unnecessary visitors to the workplace.
7. Stay home from work if you have flu symptoms. These may include fever, runny nose, body aches, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
8. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, paying attention to rest, diet, exercise and relaxation for good overall health.
9. Learn your part in your company’s pandemic plan. Find out whom you should contact if you are staying home sick. If others are absent, what extra duties will you take on? If the workplace closes temporarily, how will you be contacted when it reopens?
10. Find out your company’s policies on taking leave to care for family members.
11. Tell your supervisor and co-workers if you have any medical conditions that could be a concern if you become ill at work.
12. Get your flu shot.

If your job is in healthcare, emergency response, corrections, law enforcement or other occupations that put you in close contact with sick people, find out about any special precautions or equipment such as respirators. Learn about isolation procedures and how to protect yourself and others.

Conclusion

Take advantage of any emergency preparedness training offered by your employer. Learn ahead of time what you should do if your workplace gets hit by the flu. And remember the two most effective ways to slow the spread of flu: handwashing and staying home if you are sick.

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