| Managing through the swine flu epidemic |
|
The advice from the Health Service Executive (HSE), that the
number of swine flu cases would increase towards the end of October,
has been shown to be correct.
Speaking at the NISO Annual Conference at the end of September, Dr
Anthony Breslin from the HSE told delegates that there would be a big
increase in the number of swine flu cases at the end of October and in
early November. The latest figures from the HSE record that nine people have died from swine flu (officially known as Pandemic (H1N1) 2009) and 492 people have been hospitalised - 45 of whom have been admitted to intensive care units. The number of cases confirmed by laboratories was 2,727, according to the most recent figures (October 25th). While swine flu is a public health issue, it is one that impacts on the workplace. The HSA, which has published a web information leaflet, Swine flu: frequently asked questions, notes that while the development of swine flu is not associated with work activity, the impact of absenteeism means that businesses need to consider the implications of the pandemic on their businesses. The HSE estimates that about 25% of the workforce will suffer swine flu and advises that employers need to plan for an average absence rate of between 12% and 15% at the peak of the epidemic. The HSE advises that in addition to high rates of absenteeism, businesses may face disruption to supply chains and business travel plans and a drop in demand for goods and services. ICTU, in its guidelines for trade union negotiators, says employers should plan for absence rates of up to 50%. ICTU points out that not only will those who are ill be unable to come to work, but also those who are looking after ill family members may be unable to come to work. Another factor identified by ICTU as a possible cause of absence is “difficulties with public transport”, which may be affected because of transport workers being on sick leave with swine flu. At this stage, most businesses will have considered the impact swine flu might have on their operations. Many will have attended seminars organised by IBEC, NISO and SPeco Safety Services. Now, as what Dr Breslin described as the “first phase” of the pandemic hits the country, employers will face the challenge of managing the impact of the pandemic on their businesses. What Dr Breslin describes as the “first phase”, the well-known occupational physician Dr Martin Hogan describes as the second phase or wave of the swine flu pandemic. He says Ireland has been through the first phase, which he describes as “a small first wave”. This wave that is now hitting the country will, he says, “approach peak levels in two to three weeks time and stay at high levels for six to eight weeks.”. He says models suggest a further wave sometime in mid 2010 but it is hoped a comprehensive vaccination programme will mitigate this. VACCINATION PROGRAMME Apart from managing in the absence of workers who are suffering swine flu, the first thing that employers need to be aware of is that this week the HSE has started to roll out its vaccination programme. Over the coming months, the HSE will offer swine flu vaccinations to the entire population. During the first phase of the programme, those most at risk are being offered vaccination. The first category of persons on the HSE’s most at risk group are women who are 14 weeks or more pregnant. The other most at risk group identified by the HSE are persons over 65 who are suffering from long term diseases, such as asthma and heart disease. What employers need to be aware of is that depending on the time vaccinations are available to people in the most at risk groups, they may face requests for time off to attend GP surgeries or clinics for vaccination. The HSE has launched a public information campaign advising people in the most at risk groups of why, how, and where they can get vaccinated. The HSE plans for the distribution of the swine flu vaccine do not include distributing it through workplaces. Dr Hogan believes that the vaccine should be made available in workplaces. It would, he says, “be very efficient”. He points out that the HSE clinics will only be open from 9am to 5pm, when most people are working. This would be particularly so once the most at risk groups have been vaccinated, when the vaccination programme will be rolled out to other groups. As Dr Hogan points out, this is when vaccination will be made available to the “vast majority of the working population”. KEEP STAFF HEALTHY The HSE’s guidance makes it clear that as well as managing though the pandemic, employers can play a part in preventing the spread of swine flu. The HSE’s guidance points out to employers that respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette are key measures in preventing the spread of respiratory infections. The measures include, when coughing or sneezing, turning your head away from other people, using a tissue to cover you mouth and nose and the placing of used tissues in waste bins. After disposing of a tissue, hands should be washed in soap and water or alcohol based hand cleaners (with at least 60% alcohol). Dr Hogan endorses this approach. He says the aim is to prevent transmission. Elaborating, he says, hygiene is very important. He points to the need to wipe down hot desks and phones, which people may be sharing. Also make sure lift buttons and doors handles are cleaned, he adds. ICTU says that personal hygiene is “one area in which unions and employers can start taking action straight away”. Healthcare is a work area where a lot of workers will be exposed to people suffering from swine flu. Healthcare workers are not however listed in the HSE’s ‘most at risk’ categories. The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention has published detailed guidance for healthcare workers. One issue for healthcare workers is wearing respiratory protective equipment. PPE expert Hugh Grennan, of MDAL Safety Solutions, points out that the UK’s Health & Safety Executive has recommended the wearing of FFP2 respirators for high risk categories of workers, including healthcare workers and support staff. MANAGING IBEC health and safety executive Carl Anders says businesses need to have in place business continuity plans and absence management policies. Health and safety consultant, Shane Mooney of SPeco Safety Services, says it is important that employers communicate with staff on the importance of hygiene and recognising symptoms”. The HSE advises employers to provide employees with information about swine flu and associated symptoms. Employers should appoint a person to be responsible for communicating with employees. This person could be the person appointed by the business to be, as recommended by the HSE, the pandemic co-ordinator. Mooney says that monitoring absence, certification of absence by GPs for employees and their fitness to return to work are important issues concerning employers. How absence will be certified is an issue that concerns ICTU also. ICTU is proposing that employees should be able to self certify absence for a period of between seven to fourteen days. They make the point that people who are ill with swine flu may not be able to leave their homes to visit a doctor. The HSE also advises that employers should consider asking visitors in advance of visiting a workplace to identify if they have swine flu symptoms or have been in contact with a person who has been affected. While one could see this working in places where visitors come by appointment, it would seem to be difficult to operate such a system in the retail, transport or banking sectors. REMAIN AT HOME IF UNWELL The HSE’s advice is that if an employee contracts swine flu, the employee should stay at home to prevent spreading it to others. The advice is to stay at home for seven days. Dr Hogan says that people who are out sick should stay at home until they are completely recovered. Shane Mooney endorses this advice, saying “people need to stay at home if suffering from a combination of swine flu symptoms” as the H1N1 virus shedding can last seven days”. INFORMATION To keep up to date with developments on the swine flu epidemic, visit the HSE’s swine flu website, www.swineflu.ie. The site includes a section giving advice to employers. The HSA’s ‘Swine Flu Frequently Asked Questions’ section on the Authority’s website, www.hsa.ie, should be checked regularly. One of the best sources of information is the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov. It includes detailed guidance for healthcare workers. The Forfas booklet Business Continuity Planning: responding to an influenza pandemic, which can be accessed and downloaded from the Forfas website www.forfas.ie, is essential reading. |
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