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UK News - Breaking news in the field of health and safety
Pandemic guidance for US employers published
With the threat of a possible influenza pandemic brought once again to the UK public's attention through media reports concerning the outbreak of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in poultry on a farm near Lowestoft in Suffolk, large employers in a number of public and private sectors will be monitoring for any updating of advice from the relevant UK government agencies.
The U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA has this week published Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, which answers many questions and explains the basic difference between Seasonal, Pandemic Influenza and Avian Influenza.
The guidance offers the elements of a detailed disaster plan, and points out that companies providing critical infrastructure services, such as power and telecommunications, have a special responsibility to plan for continued operation in a crisis and should plan accordingly.
The disaster plan covers ground that gives an insight into the personal and organisational challenges anticipated in the event of a pandemic, eg employers need to - 'Assist employees in managing additional stressors related to the pandemic. These are likely to include distress related to personal or family illness, life disruption, grief related to loss of family, friends or co-workers, loss of routine support systems, and similar challenges.'
