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Karen Ellington
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Angie Ping
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Date Posted: Jan. 24, 2007

New Manual Presents Comprehensive Guide to Businesses Preparing for Pandemics

IFMA Foundation’s Free Pandemic Preparedness Manual Serves as Seminal How-to for any Industry

With threats of avian influenza, SARS and other pandemic outbreaks continuing, the IFMA Foundation announced today that it has released a new primer to help businesses plan for, control and respond to these concerns. The Pandemic Preparedness Manual available free-of-charge on the Foundation’s Web site, www.ifmafoundation.org, includes information regarding pandemics, as well as templates to help businesses in their continuity planning.

Workplaces have a vested interest in mitigating the effects of a pandemic. The Spanish Flu of 1918-1919, effected between 100 and 200 million people, of which more than 50 million died. Today, a flu outbreak could lead to the absenteeism of 25 to 50 percent of employees for up to four months. This could potentially lead to supply chain disruptions and the possible closure of retail facilities, causing a business to lose money.

To deal with these issues, the manual suggests that facility management professionals perform pre-planning and develop business continuity plans. Pre-planning involves establishing internal and external communication protocols, reviewing corporate policies on pay, time off, visitor restrictions, travel restrictions and medical clearance. Triggers for building closure, mandatory absences and other preventative measures also should be put into place.

The manual advises employers on steps they can take to help control the flu beginning with employee training on awareness and prevention measures. Employers are encouraged to make supplies such as tissues, hand soap and sanitary wipes available, and to be vigilant in sanitizing commonly touched surfaces.

“The risk of a pandemic outbreak has not subsided in recent years. On Monday, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, stated that we shouldn’t let our guard down when it comes to pandemic threats. It is the Foundation’s hope that this manual will help businesses remain vigilant against these threats and be prepared should a pandemic occur,” said William Rub, executive director of the IFMA Foundation.

The avian influenza, or bird flu, is naturally occurring in bird populations and has spread to humans working in close contact with infected birds, but has yet to become transmissible from human-to-human. Without the possibility of the bird flu spreading from person to person, the risk is limited, but there is a chance that the influenza could mutate with the regular flu and become transmissible. This would result in major problems for businesses as well as the individuals affected. The severity of the avian influenza and the mortality rate are higher than that of the seasonal flu.

Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of the human flu that often impacts more than 25 percent of the human population. Little immunity exists to the pandemic flu. If the avian influenza were to become transmissible from person to person, it would possibly become a pandemic flu.

Historically, pandemics have occurred every 25 to 40 years with wide-ranging impacts on human health. The most recent pandemic occurred in 1968 and was relatively mild.

A pandemic is expected to circulate around the globe in a matter of weeks and will impact humans in several waves. It is likely that the first wave will affect 20 to 30 percent of the global population with successive waves continuing during a period of one to two years.

Tips on Avoiding an Outbreak of Avian Flu:

• Wear protective gloves when handling dead bird carcasses.
• Wear safety glasses.
• Disinfect protective equipment after handling dead birds.
• Double bag dead birds and follow local public health or animal control guidelines.
• Don’t pressure wash areas where bird carcasses were found. Pressure washing can lead to airborne virus particles.
• Wash hands after handling bird carcasses, even when protective equipment is worn.

Tips on Avoiding the Spread of Influenza:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Be aware that surfaces may have the virus on them.
• Stay home when sick.
• Cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent spreading the virus.
• Wash hands frequently with soap or alcohol-based cleaner.
• Avoid touching the eyes, mouth or nose.

To download the complimentary manual, which was prepared by Environmental and Occupational Risk Management Inc., visit www.ifmafoundation.org. If you have any questions about the manual, or to link to the document, please contact William Rub, executive director of the IFMA Foundation at william.rub@ifma.org or 713-623-4362.

Established in 1990 as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, and a separate entity from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the IFMA Foundation works for the public good to promote priority research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management. The IFMA Foundation is supported by the generosity of the facility management community including IFMA members, chapters, councils, corporate sponsors and private contributors who share the belief that education and research improve the facility management profession. To learn more about the good works of the IFMA Foundation, visit www.ifmafoundation.org.