What is a “pandemic” and why should businesses prepare for such an event? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a pandemic as a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new virus “emerges” in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. If a pandemic occurs, it could become a major threat to global business continuity and remain that way for over a year.
Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks or “epidemics” of influenza or the flu. Seasonal outbreaks are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that already circulate among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by either new subtypes, subtypes that have never circulated among people, or subtypes that have not circulated among people for a long time.
Many organizations are well-prepared for localized threats such as fires, bombs, riots, tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes. These are usually single events that once they have occurred, recovery can begin.
A pandemic isn’t isolated and by definition, can be a global event affecting customers and employees for months.
To minimize the impact on global businesses and their workforces, advanced planning and preparation is highly recommended during a sustained crisis such as a pandemic.
1. Planning For Business:
- Identify a coordinator for pandemic preparation.
- Identify essential employees and critical inputs required to maintain business operations.
- Cross-train your workforce.
- Develop scenarios for increased or decreased demand for your product.
- Determine the impact on business financials.
- Determine the impact on business-related domestic and international travel.
- Establish an emergency communication plan.
2. Planning For Employees:
- Forecast and allow for employee absences during a pandemic due to factors that may include personal illness, family member illness, community quarantines, school closures, and public transportation closures.
- Implement guidelines to reduce the frequency of face-to-face contact among workers and with customers including hand-shaking, shared workstations, and seating in meetings.
- Encourage vaccines for your employees.
- Evaluate employee access to healthcare services during a pandemic.
- Evaluate employee access to social services and mental health services during a pandemic.
It is critical for organizations to stay informed on the ever-changing pandemic picture. Accurate, up-to-date information is available at www.cdc.gov/business.
MRA is proud to partner with the Minnesota Safety Council (MSC) and the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council (IISC) to offer safety services to our members.
Minnesota Safety Council: www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org / [email protected] / 800-444-9150
Iowa-Illinois Safety Council: www.iisc.org / [email protected] / 800-568-2495
