PANDEMIC PLAN

1
Companies warned to make plans for swine flu
outbreak. If companies don't have a pandemic
plan, "they should get one very quickly," said
Carol Wilding, president and CEO of the Toronto
Board of Trade.
PANDEMIC PLAN
2
What Is H1N1 Influenza ?

• H1N1 Flu Virus is a strain of the influenza virus
  that usually affects pigs, but which may also
  make people sick. H1N1 flu virus is a respiratory
  illness that causes symptoms similar to those of
  the regular human seasonal flu.

www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
3
What Are The Symptoms?

• Fever/Chills
• New/Worse Cough
• Headache
• Sore muscles/joints
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue (tired)
• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (common in
• children and the elderly)

If these symptoms become worse during the period
of illness, see your family doctor.
www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
4

• In the event of a pandemic flu, the Public
  Health Agency of Canada states that wearing masks
  when face-to-face with coughing individuals will
  not be practical or helpful if the infection or
  virus has entered the community. Special handling
  of linen or waste contaminated with secretions
  from persons thought to be or who are sick is not
  required.

Health Canada http//www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.ph
p
www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
5
What are good practices to slow the spread of
infections?
Ways you can reduce or slow the spread of
infections include

• Get the appropriate vaccine
  -Wash your hands frequently
• -Stay home if you are sick (so you do
• not spread it to other people)
• Cover your nose and mouth when
• sneezing and coughing (or cough into
• your elbow)

www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
6

• -Use single-use tissues for wiping your nose
• -If working with children, make sure hard
• surfaces and toys are kept are disinfected
  regularly
• -Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth
• (viruses can transfer from your hands and into
  the body)
• -Do not share cups, glasses, dishes or cutlery

www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
7
What Should I Do To Keep From Getting The Flu?
www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
8

• Workplaces can help by
• having an infection control plan
• providing clean hand washing facilities
• offering waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizers
  when regular facilities are not available (or to
  people on the road)
• providing boxes of tissues and encourage their
  use
• reminding staff to not share cups, glasses,
  dishes and cutlery. Be sure dishes are washed in
  soap and water after use.
• removing magazines and papers from waiting areas
  or common rooms (such as tea rooms and kitchens)
• considering cleaning a person's workstation or
  other areas where they have been if a person has
  suspected or identified influenza
• making sure ventilation systems are working
  properly.

What Can A Workplace Do?
www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
9
Should A Business Plan For A Pandemic Flu?

• Yes. Workplaces should prepare a plan that allows
  for normal business operations to continue when
  many people will be sick or absent. Estimates of
  how many people may be sick or absent range from
  15-35 (Public Health Agency of Canada) to a high
  of 50 during the peak of a significant pandemic
• For further information, and a business
  continuity toolkit to follow, please see
  http//www.halton.ca/services/emergencyservices/pa
  ndemic.htm
• When planning for a pandemic flu, remember a
  pandemic is not like the regular flu season, nor
  is it like a natural disaster (such as a
  hurricane or serious ice or snow storm).
  Remember, a pandemic will last much longer than a
  "one time" event and periods of illnesses may
  come in 2 or 3 "waves" anywhere from 3 to 12
  months apart.

www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
10

• A business should plan for approximately one
  quarter to one third of employees being absent
  during a pandemic. Some workplaces may need to
  close or be forced to close by order of a Medical
  or Public Health Office depending on the
  seriousness of the pandemic.
• When creating a business plan, remember that
• Health care resources will be less available as
  there will be more patients to care for and many
  health care employees may be sick themselves or
  have to care for family members.
• Other business will be similarly affected (less
  resources, sick employees, etc). Supplies/
  resources, and customers may not be available.
• Employees who are not sick themselves may have to
  stay home and care for family members.
  Alternatively, schools may be closed forcing
  parents to stay home.

What Should The Business Plan Include?
www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
11
If Cleaning Is Necessary, How Should It Be Done?

• Due to the fact that influenza viruses can live
  on hard surfaces for up to two days, additional
  measures must be taken.
• In most workplaces, wiping floors, walls,
  doorknobs, etc with Clorox disinfectant wipes is
  adequate.
• Hospitals and Health Care
• Facilities should contact a
• Mr. Janitorial specialist.

www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
12
What About Cleaning / Disinfection?

• In order to reduce the transmission of germs and
  infection in the home it is important to clean
  and disinfect commonly
• used/touched surfaces such as
• Telephones
• Door knobs/handles
• Counter/table tops
• Light switches
• Taps
• Keyboards
• Remote controls
• Clean the bathroom daily

www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
13
For further information on the H1N1 Pandemic
please visit
www.mrjanitorialsupplies.com
or
Health Canada http//www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.ph
p

• These guidelines are provided for best practices
  information for the prevention of influenza
  outbreaks in any workplace
• These guidelines capture the knowledge of
  experienced professionals, build on past research
  efforts, and provide advice on best practice
  based upon the best available evidence at the
  time of completion
• The guidelines are necessarily general and
  readers should not rely solely on the information
  contained within these guidelines. The
  information contained within these guidelines is
  not intended to be a substitute for advice from
  other relevant sources including , but not
  limited to, the advice from a health
  professional.
• These guidelines are intended for information
  purposes only