Planning for Pandemics

Quick Links

H1N1 Influenza FAQs »

What to Do »

Other Emergency Planning Resources»

Helpful Resources »

  Download Guide »

  Print Page

 

 

Visit www.flu.gov for regularly updated news information.

While H1N1 influenza Public Health Emergency determination (PHE) expired on June 23 and flu season is officially over, the 2009 flu outbreaks in Pennsylvania offer and important lesson for business preparedness.

Even if the worst never happens, you need to plan ahead for business interruptions. Every business plays a key role in ensuring its employees’ health and safety as well as limiting the impact to the economy and society during a flu pandemic.

• Get started now
• Review the Planning for 2009 H1N1 Influenza: A Preparedness Guide for Small Business

About the H1N1 Flu

The 2009 H1N1 influenza, also known as the swine flu, first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March and April, 2009. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization signaled that a global pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway by raising the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6.

Most people do not have immunity to this virus, so it spreads quickly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention anticipates additional cases associated with this pandemic in the United States during the U.S. 2009–2010 influenza season.

• Review the H1N1 Flu Frequently Asked Questions for additional details.
• Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website

Critical Sectors

The CDC has named 13 sectors as infrastructure critical to providing our communities with essential goods, services and public safety. These industries should take special care to adhere to safe workplace policies during H1N1 flu season.

Restaurants, here's a great resource to help you cover safety procedures:

Pandemic Cleaning, Disinfection and Hygiene Considerations

OSHA has a publication specifically for those in healthcare:

Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers.

What Should I Do?

- Janet Napolitano
Secretary of Homeland Security

Essentials

1. Protect Your Human Capital:

Many workers are afraid that taking sick leave - paid or unpaid - will affect their job security. Express to your employees the importance of their conscientious efforts for infectious disease control.

• Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Businesses and Employers
• Templates for emails (or letters) businesses can send to employees
• Quick Planning and Response Guide for Businesses and Employers
• Recommended Employer Responses for the 2009-2010 Flu Season
• Review these 10 Tips for Keeping Employees Healthy
• Provide education and training materials. Here are some handy flyers you can post and share with your team:

Flu/Influenza: A 5-Minute Safety Training Aid	“Take 3” Actions to Fight the Flu	Cover Your Cough	Do You Feel Sick?

• As appropriate, encourage workers to obtain a seasonal influenza vaccine.The Pennsyvlania Department of Health website lists where and when vaccines are available as well as which individuals should consider vaccination.

2. Keep Your Business Going:

Evaluating specific risks and planning well beforehand for a variety of potential emergencies
that could disrupt day-to-day business is critical. Assess both your vulnerabilities and the resources that will enable you to respond potential challenges such as:

• Reduced workforce (whether through illness or because of school closures)
• Supply chain disruption
• Exposure risks for both employees and customers
• Community regulations/guidelines
• Other considerations
• Download a Pandemic Flu Business Assessment.

3. Develop a disaster plan that includes pandemic preparedness

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed a Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist for businesses. While designed for larger businesses, the checklist identifies several important, specific activities small businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies.

• The Business Continuity Plan: 13 Forms
• Download the Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist [En Español] (PDF)
• What to include in your plan
• How to maintain operations during a pandemic
• Visit our Emergency Response Planning page for additional resources.

Training

We regularly update our Online Learning page with available tutorials.

Visit our calendar to find an SBDC workshop in your area or contact your local Small Business Development Center to request training.

Resources

General

• H1N1 Flu Frequently Asked Questions
• Interactive map with state news, information, resources, and flu monitoring trends
• Plan Now to Be Ready for the Next Flu Pandemic
• CDC Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine
• PA Department of Health Flu Shot Locator
• Keeping Healthy: 8 Tips for Individuals
• Pennsylvania's flu planning and response information
• For restaurants: Pandemic Cleaning, Disinfection and Hygiene Considerations

Government Resources

• CDC: Business and Employers' Plan and Response to the Flu Season
• Flu.gov: H1N1 Flu Information for Businesses
• H1N1 in PA: Information for Workplaces and Employers
• Recommended Employer Responses
• OSHA Publications: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, How to Protect Yourself in the Workplace during a Pandemic, more.
• Free Flu Materials: including brochures, posters, fact sheets, and other media materials.

Developing a Plan

• Pandemic Flu Business Assessment
• Flu.gov: Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
• US Department of Homeland Securtiy's Preparedness Guide for Small Business
• OSHA: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic
• A Communication Toolkit for Businesses and Employers

Your local Small Business Development Center is available to assist you with emergency planning tools and sample policies to address the needs of your workforce. And remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Back to top