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INFLUENZA A (H1N1):
WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW

Workplace Guidelines
From MEDICard Philippines Inc.

The Healthcare I Deserve!
© 2009

Closure of government offices or business establishments and other workplaces is NOT recommended as an option to contain Influenza A (H1N1) infection in the workplace.

-- Department of Health
Interim Guidelines No. 13
Influenza A (H1N1) Prevention &
Control at the Workplace
What can employers do to protect their employees from Influenza A (H1N1)?
  • Regularly provide information about Influenza A (H1N1), including its transmission, disease outcome, & treatment options to all employees
  • Encourage sick workers to stay home and away from the workplace, and provide flexible leave policies.
  • Encourage infection control practices in the workplace by displaying posters that address and remind workers about proper handwashing, respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette.
  • Provide sufficient facilities for hand washing and alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizers (or wipes) in common workplace areas such as lobbies, corridors, and restrooms.
  • Provide tissues, disinfectants, and disposable towels for employees to clean their work surfaces, as well as appropriate disposal receptacles for use by employees.
  • Disinfect commonly touched hard surfaces in the workplace, such as telephones, computer equipment, work stations, counter tops, door knobs, and bathroom surfaces by with a household disinfectant.
What can employees do to reduce the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) in the workplace?
  • Stay home if you are sick. If you have influenza-like illness symptoms, stay home for 7 days after symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners can be used if soap and water are not available.
  • Try not to use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools & equipment
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Avoid close contact with sick people
What do we do if an employee has flu-like symptoms?
  1. If person has symptoms of Influenza-Like Illness (fever > 38C AND cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting) put a surgical mask on worker immediately and put worker in isolation if possible.
  2. Contact the Company Physician or send patient to the nearest clinic or hospital for outpatient medical consult.
  3. If person is at high-risk of developing complications from influenza (age <5 years or >60 years; has a chronic medical condition, eg. asthma, tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension, heart or kidney disease; is pregnant or immediately post-partum; is immuno-compromised, e.g. HIV/AIDS or organ transplant patient), send patient to the ER of the nearest hospital.
  4. Institute company health & safety measures, such as:
  • Inform patient’s supervisor, HR department, & health personnel.
  • Document event & patient information.
  • Disinfect all commonly touched surfaces in the workplace, especially the patient’s work area.
  • Inform employees to monitor themselves for symptoms and notify appropriate personnel in the event of illness.
  • Monitor all workers’ health through absences, etc.
  • Emphasize flu prevention guidelines, such as cough etiquette & hand hygiene.
  • Contact the DOH Influenza A (H1N1) hotline: 711-1001.
What can we do to anticipate and respond to the impact of Influenza A (H1N1) on our operations?
  • Identify essential employees, essential business functions, and other critical inputs (e.g. raw materials, suppliers, subcontractor services/products, and logistics) required to maintain business operations by location and function should there be disruption during the Influenza A (H1N1) flu outbreak.
  • Make sure all employees are aware of what to do in case they or a fellow worker gets sick while in the workplace
  • Determine who will be responsible for responding to ill individuals in the workplace, either through the on-site health clinic or as a first aid duty.
  • Share your plans with employees and clearly communicate expectations.
  • Implement business continuity plans if there is significant absenteeism in the workplace during this outbreak.
  • Review your plan with regard to increases or decreases in demand for your products and/or services during the outbreak (e.g., the need for hygiene supplies).
  • Establish an emergency communications plan. This plan includes identification of key contacts (with back-ups), chain of communications (including suppliers and customers), and processes for tracking and communicating business and employee status.
  • Develop platforms (e.g. hotlines, dedicated websites) for communicating Influenza A (H1N1) flu status and company actions to employees, vendors, suppliers, and customers inside and outside the worksite in a consistent and timely way.
What can we do to anticipate and respond to the impact of Influenza A (H1N1) on our employees?
  • Examine policies for leave and employee compensation and review with managers, supervisors, and employees so they are up-to-date on sick leave policies, leave donation, and employee assistance services that are covered under the different employee sponsored health plans. Leave policies should be flexible and non-punitive.
  • Plan for the possibility of unscheduled leave that encourages employees who are sick to stay at home to care for themselves and others who are ill with the flu or children dismissed from school.
  • Establish policies for flexible worksite (e.g., telecommuting) and flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts), if needed.
  • Communicate policies for employee access to and availability of health care, mental health, and social services including corporate and community resources.
Please visit our sources:
DOH http://www.doh.gov.ph hotline 711-1001
WHO http://www.who.int/ CDC http://www.cdc.gov
UN http://www.un.org OSHA http://www.osha.gov
All information as of June 15, 2009.
©MEDICard Philippines Inc. 884-9999;
http://www.medicardphils.com
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