Pandemic influenza checklist for businesses
The government recommends that all organisations adopt robust and flexible generic business continuity management arrangements which will help ensure that the impact of any disruptions will be minimised. Current advice from the World Health Organisation is that countries should be planning for possibleinfluenza pandemic, although timing of onset is highly unpredictable. In the event of an influenza pandemic, businesses will have a key role to play in reducing the risk to employee’s health and safety as far as possible, as well as maintaining essential operations. Given the highly uncertain nature of an influenza pandemic, we cannot know in advance how serious it will be and who will be most affected, it is therefore important that plans are developed which can address a range of scenarios. The UK influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan contains more information on the types of scenarios which may arise.
To assist you in developing and reviewing plans, the Government has developed the following checklist specifically regarding pandemic influenza. It identifies important and specific activities which organisations can do to prepare for a pandemic as well as where more general guidance will be provided by the Government. Directed mainly at medium and large businesses, some elements will be of use to smaller businesses.
Further information can be found at http://www.ukresilience.info including Guidance on contingency planning for a possible influenza pandemic and Chapter 6 of Emergency Preparedness (the statutory guidance that supports Part 1 of the Civil Contingencies Act; Chapter 6 covers business continuity planning). General information on an influenza pandemic and the impact it might have, including the UK contingency plan, can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/pandemicflu.
Download 'Pandemic Influenza Checklist for Businesses', click here PDF [128 kb]
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