Small Businesses and the Swine Flu Pandemic

It will probably come as no surprise but according to a number of sources, (Business Link, FSB, UK Government) Small Businesses in the UK are not making many plans for the current flu pandemic and its consequences if it hits them and their workforce.
 
Despite all the coverage in the press and on TV, it appears that not many people know what they should be doing to stop either catching the virus or passing it on to someone else. Some 75% of those questioned on the North West's news channels were blissfully unaware of what to do and how to minimise the chance of catching flu.

What is a pandemic?

We are all aware that people get flu every year and sometimes in large numbers, this is known as an epidemic. An epidemic is a wide spread outbreak of an illness or disease that occurs in a community.
 
A Pandemic on the other hand is a disease which outpaces an epidemic in the way it spreads right across the world. A pandemic is no respecter of boundaries and very quickly if spreads from one country to another until the whole population of the world could be susceptible to catching it, and many do.

How can we be prepared?

UK Government is investing huge sums of money and other resources into the health infrastructure and it is now expected that over the coming months very high numbers of UK citizens will catch the Swine Flu virus which is designated H1N1.
 
A Pandemic Influenza Check-list for businesses has been issued by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat of the Cabinet Office and this follows advice from the World Health Organisation. The timing of the onset and spread of Swine Flu is very difficult to predict, in fact it is almost unpredictable.

How does this affect Owner Managers of Businesses?

As the Flu Pandemic takes hold and spreads across the UK, business owners will have a key role to play in reducing the risk to employees and the public who visit their premises. Health and Safety legislation will require employers to take all possible steps to reduce the risk to their employees.

Where to start finding out about H1 N1 Swine Flu

Cabinet Office website
 
Department of Health
 
Health & Safety Executive
 
Health Protection Agency
 
European Centre For Disease Control
 
World Health Organisation
 
National Travel Health Network and Centre

What can you do simply and easily?

As always there are some simple precautions that everyone can take and this will help to reduce the risk to you, your staff and customers. It will never illuminate the risk of catching or passing on Swine Flu or any other pandemic flu, but if these simple procedures are followed you and your staff will be playing your part in making sure we as a country suffer as little as possible.

1. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and wherever possible use a tissue or handkerchief 
2. Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully – make sure you bag them and put them in a bin 
3. Avoid any travel that is unnecessary and try to avoid large crowds  
4. Make sure you keep good basic personal hygiene  
5. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water 
6. Wash your face frequently with soap and water 
7. Keep hard surfaces clean (work tops, kitchen tops and hand rails, door handles, bell pushes etc) by using a proprietary cleaning product  

Doing these simple things will help you reduce the spread of viruses from your hands to your face and from there to other people.

How can we help you?

A little while ago we prepared our own Business Continuity Plan following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth. Since then we have put together a report and learning guide which covers the basics of making sure any major incident like flood, fire, pandemic etc is taken into your planning.
 
Follow this link Getting ready for the worst and you will find more information about how easy planning for the worst can be.
 
Our report explains in layman's terms why you need to prepare and how you can do this yourself. It could save you thousands of £££'s.