The 2009-2010 flu season is here early and it is featuring a brand new strain of H1N1(Swine). Since this new version of the flu emerged earlier this year it has made its trip around the world and has taken us all on a Pandemic learning curve of which we still can not see the end. While H1N1 has been in the news almost continuously since it emerged most of what has been covered does not translate directly into actions we can do at work.  First lets frame the issues.

Here is the breakdown for the USA so far:

Signs & Symptoms

The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Severe illnesses and deaths have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

What can a Supervisor Do?

Your company may or may not have a plan in place to deal with the novel H1N1 and if they do make sure as a minimum that you are following it. This is one of those cases where your example makes or breaks the whole process. If you don’t consistently take proper precautions neither will any of your staff and then bam! you have an outbreak.  Since we are talking human lives here as well as profits a failure can really stomp on your personal reputation and to be frank how happy you are with yourself.  Below is a list of the things you can do in your department, work unit, over all business to help keep the flu out of your life.

1. Talk regularly in the next few weeks about getting a flu shot. Encourage employees to get them, encourage your employees families to get them. If your business has health insurance these shots can be completely covered. Remember people are seeing this from the media already, all your doing is bringing it home.  The best solution of course is to have on-site vaccinations or a special clinic event but the minimum you can do is keep it on everyone’s mind.
2. Hand out informational materials. The old adage “Knowledge is power” could not be more true than when dealing with medical issues. Rumors, fears, and home remedies abound in the absence of quality facts.  So put this information in the hands of your employees. I would even go so far as to say during a safety talk read through a hand out with everyone, it all bares repeating. At the end of this post I will have links to some great materials.
3. Train and enforce good hygiene practices. Ok we are going to go back to grade school with this one but honestly this is where the most mistakes will happen and they will happen without people even being aware.

• Review with everyone how to properly wash their hands¹ which does not mean getting your fingers wet and then drying them off.. Then make it clear that there is a zero tolerance policy on not washing hands. If you catch someone not washing make them turn around and do it in front of you or to put a more positive spin on it thank people every time you see them doing it right.  Note: antibacterial soaps don’t do any good against a virus and in general are not a good idea, so don’t waste money on them.
• If soap and water are not available instruct your employees on the use of hand sanitizers. They need to have a minimum of 70% alcohol to be truly effective. Hand sanitizers work because they physically destroy the flu virus (just like normal soap) and if used properly are as effective.
• Instruct your employees to cover their  nose and mouth with a tissue when theycough or sneeze. Again enforcement or reinforcement are your duties.  Tell everyone to throw the tissue in the trash after it is used. Now is not the time to stick a tissue back in a pocket or to be using old style handkerchiefs. Both are great ways to spread virus’s.
• Make people aware that they are touching their faces. Most of us don’t even think about this as we move through our days but if you have touched a contaminated person or surface then your just making it easy for the H1N1 to make an entrance.
• We should all strive to polite because the world really could use more of it. However, during flu season polite can and should leave out hand shaking, hugs, or the sharing of personal items. If you suspect someone of being ill avoid close contact and give them the hello wave instead.
• Finally, all the major medical authorities are saying the following: Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®). Your motto should be “Just do it”

If the flu does become an issue in your workplace you may need to take additional step to keep things up and running or in worst case follow government directives. To do this I highly encourage a pandemic plan or at least a review of the headlines ever couple of days.  Remember, we don’t know how this flu season will play out and ignorance = danger. Play it safe and take the step to make not just this year but every year a flu free one at your job.

Your H1N1 & Pandemic Tool Box

• Flu.gov – Start here
• Planning for 2009 H1N1 Influenza: A Preparedness Guide for Small Business
  (PDF - 3.74 MB)
• Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the 2009 – 2010 Influenza Season (PDF – 101 KB)
• Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Business and Employers
• Updated Guidance on Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Related Frequently Asked Questions
• European Union Guidance
• Free Resources (handouts, pamphlets, etc.)
• Social Media (online, intranet, internet)