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Every business should have an Emergency Plan. It can save lives, company assets, and your ENTIRE business.
It sounds simple, doesn't it? And obvious, too. After all, disasters threaten someplace in our nation practically every week.
So far, in 2008, FEMA has declared 51 Major Disasters in the United States. Since 1953, FEMA has declared 1787 major disasters on U.S. soil.
But of course, most businesses don't have a comprehensive disaster plan, and of those that do, distressingly few have actually tested their plans.
A severe pandemic, of course, would be the ultimate disaster for the nation, and for the world. And the ultimate test of any company's disaster plan.
Scientists assure us, another pandemic will come. What they can't tell us is exactly when, or how severe it will be.
Businesses, individuals, and other entities that have prepared, and have repeated tested and adjusted their plans, are far more likely to survive than those that haven't.
The first step for any business in preparing for a pandemic, or any other disaster, is to appoint someone to be in charge of disaster planning.
Until that happens, nothing else is likely to get done.
Once you appoint someone, then you need to give them the tools and resources to get the job done.
While it is important to plan for All Hazards (fire, flood, storm, etc.), all-hazards planning won't be sufficient to deal with a pandemic.
Pandemics are specialized disasters, that involve not only your business, and your community . . . but the world around you.
The HHS has put together a number of checklists, and documents, for use by businesses in preparing for a pandemic. These may be found on the WORKPLACE PLANNING page at www.pandemicflu.gov.
Some of the resources available include:
- Law Enforcement Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
- Correctional Facilities Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
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Pandemic Preparedness Planning for US Businesses with Overseas Operations
- Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist [En Español] [PDF - 151KB] [En Español (PDF) (276KB)]
- Letter to Business Leaders from Secretaries Chertoff, Leavitt, and Gutierrez
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Long-Term Care and Other Residential Facilities Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
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Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation
Plan Now to Be Ready for the Next Flu Pandemic
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The Next Flu Pandemic: What to Expect
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CDC guidelines on actions, designed primarily to reduce contact between people, that community government and health officials can take to try to limit the spread of infection should a pandemic flu develop. Appendix 4 contains information for businesses and other employers.
- Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Guide for Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (PDF - 4.97 MB) (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
Provides contingency planning process for a pandemic. Also provides business planners with sector-specific and common pandemic information planning variables keyed to escalating disaster phases.
Employer and Employee Guidance
- Interim Guidance on Environmental Management of Pandemic Influenza Virus
CDC guidance on hygiene and use of disinfectants on surfaces frequently touched by hand (equipment, door handles, light switches, etc.). -
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers (PDF - 405 KB) (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
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Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic (PDF - 313 KB) (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Provides guidance and recommendations on infection control in the workplace, including information on engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment, such as respirators and surgical masks.
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Guidance for Protecting Workers Against Avian Flu (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Learn how employees who may be exposed to avian flu can stay protected.
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Cover Your Cough (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Includes flyers and posters, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Chinese, Hmong, and Khmer.
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Stopping the Spread of Germs at Work (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Basic precautions for protecting employee health.
- Quick Cards for Employees to Protect Yourself from Avian Flu (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
- Federal Employment Laws
- Federal Employment Laws - For Employees
- Federal Employment Laws - For Employers
- Contacts for Employers and Employees with Questions on Federal Employment Laws
- Workplace Questions (U.S. Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Information on many of the questions that arise during pandemic planning. The subjects covered include: human resource policies, equal employment and privacy issues, workplace benefits, workplace safety and health issues, and unemployment issues and financial assistance.
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Pandemic Planning (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
Read US Chamber of Commerce information about business planning for pandemic flu.
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The Global Economic and Financial Impact of an Avian Flu Pandemic and the Role of the IMF (PDF - 229 KB) (International Monetary Fund)
Provides a preliminary assessment of the risks and potential impact to the global economy and financial system. Includes summary of the common elements of business continuity planning in the financial sector for pandemic risks.
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Business Roundtable Pandemic Flu Preparedness Recommendations (Business Roundtable)
Read The Business Roundtable's information about business planning for pandemic flu.
It is, admittedly, a lot of work preparing a business to survive a disaster. It can be time consuming, and expensive.
But if the goal it to remain in business tomorow, and next year, and in the years that follow.
Planning not to fail is essential.
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