Preparing for Swine Flu in the Workplace

Caught an Associated Press article this morning documenting what I've suspected - that most American firms are unprepared to deal with the (likely) soon to arrive swine flu epidemic.  In a nationwide survey of 1000 firms, over two thirds said they could not maintain normal operations if half their workers were out for two weeks (I know I couldn't - we're a thinly staffed janitorial service in Phoenix AZ).

Consider:

•  Swine flu  ( H1N1 ), while apparently not much more deadly than the garden variety, seems much more infectious; further, it targets working age folks.

•  While many firms offer sick leave, almost half require a doctor's note before granting sick leave, thus encouraging employees to come to work while sick (and unable to get an immediate appointment with a doubtlessly swamped doctor's office).

•  Many firms do not cross-train employees to cover for the sick, so are under pressure to ask the sick employee to come to work to get essential jobs done.

•  Few firms actively encourage prevention measures such as - may I say - obsessive hand washing, sanitizing office touch points during the work day, etc.; few are aware that a person is infectious before symptoms appear.

•  A sick employee at work will infect others, compounding today's problem tomorrow.  You do not want the sick at work.

Our "Cleaning for Health" program actively addresses restroom and lunchroom disinfection, touch point sanitation, providing our clients disinfectant wipes for use during the day, etc.; we cannot do much to combat the minute-to-minute infection dangers in our client's workspace.  Develop NOW a plan to minimize infection, and to deal with the consequences when infection occurs.

A bit about us:

My firm, CBN Building Maintenance, provides commercial cleaning services in Phoenix AZ and the wider metro area.  We've been in business since 1974; hold the BBB's A-plus rating; and have long been in the forefront of the industry in environmentally sensitive cleaning for health, safety and security.  Our program can generally improve Indoor Air Quality, in the size range of most allergens, by a factor of 50%, as reflected in our ongoing IAQ sampling.

Comments

[http://pressurecleaningbrisbaneservices.com.au/]

Keep this going please, great job!

[Bob Croft]

Thanks!