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OSHA Flu Disaster Plan

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My director told me that OSHA had released some sort of materials about how to handle the flu pandemic in the workplace and she wants me to review it so that I can develop our disaster plan. Can you please give me a summary of the OSHA guidelines so that I can get started with the disaster plan?

Sure. The document that you are referring to is a handbook called Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic. This document was released in 2007 by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. The handbook gives advice to help employers train, educate, and encourage health and safety in the workplace. Because an influenza pandemic is a very real threat to many workplaces, OSHA’s latest publication offers practical advice for employers on what do to in the event of a pandemic.

Here are some of the disaster plan suggestions that OSHA gives that are in keeping with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:

1. You should always stay on top of what is happening with the federal, state and local health department plans for pandemic influenza. These organizations are always improving their workplace disaster plans and those updates could have a direct effect on your place of work.
2. Make sure that your company is prepared to continue the business even if the workforce is reduced.
3. Communicate with your suppliers so that you can be sure that you will have all the necessary materials to be able to continue business in the event of a flu pandemic.
4. You should also be sure to have a sick leave policy that is flexible to employees who are sick. Employees should not feel that they need to come into work if they are ill so that they will not be penalized. Also, your employees may have ill family members that they need to take care of from time to time. Your policy should, ideally, be flexible to allow this.
5. OSHA would always encourage you to identify any potential exposure or health risks to your employees.
6. During times of a fly pandemic, OSHA encourages employers to let their employees have the flexibility to work from home, if possible.
7. You should also have a plan in place in case you need to downsize your services during a time of a flu pandemic.

Keep in mind that the OSHA guidelines are in place to protect your employees and your customers. It is important to follow these guidelines as closely as possible by developing your disaster plan and solid company policies that can help to ensure the health and safety of your workplace. You can also find this handbook on the OSHA Web site, or you can refer to the basic OSHA guidelines on the labor law poster that should be in every workplace. CB