I just received an email from the Red Cross about how to prevent spread of Influenza and viruses in the work place and it was very informative. If we could only get employees to wrap their minds around this we would be very blessed.

I haven’t checked it out yet but last year OSHA was working on guidance for the private sector and government employees with recommendations and methods of preventing the spread of pandemics in the workplace.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to promote the safety and health of America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

What do you think the possibilities are that we will have an Influenza Pandemic?  Is this something that every employer should be prepared for?

I realize it did happen in 1918 and many thousand people died, but that has been 91 years ago. I also realize that we are much more advanced in medicine than we were in 1918. However I do think that we should have some guidance on what to do and how to control the spread of this if it were to actually happen. However I don’t think we should panic we should just be educated and plan actions just in case it did.

Does anyone remember the steps we all took as we approached the year 2000? I remember the steps that we took and it was all very unnecessary because there was no problem with the computers after all the hubbub was over.

What I think of when I think about this is what are the possibilities that an Influenza Pandemic is going to happen and what will the work place have to deal with if it does.

I think that we deal with realities that actually have a possibility of happening. One example is that if you live in Tornado Alley, like my company does, you should have a tornado emergency plan, which we do and have used it.

Maybe we should have an Influenza Pandemic plan but I think it is crazy to stockpile respirators and face masks. Just tell the people not to come to work if they are sick, period. That is where we then have to depend upon our medical experts to advise us on exactly what we should do to defeat the spread of any such pandemic.

Just my opinion.

Joe Russell