Pandemic flu plan

Scope

Your business may benefit from a written pandemic flu plan if it:

• Is regulated by a law/regulation that requires a written pandemic flu plan.
• Has contracts that require it to perform, no matter if there is a pandemic.
• Can obtain an insurance discount if it has a pandemic flu plan.
• Will be unable to wait to receive insurance relief during/after a pandemic.
• Has an insurance company that does not cover losses caused by a pandemic.
• Is publicly-owned with several shareholders
• Feels it has a legal obligation to customers and third parties.
• Feels it would be negligent if it did not have a pandemic flu plan.
• Cannot afford the estimated financial losses of a pandemic.
• Cannot afford the negative publicity of a pandemic.
• Wants to prevent or reduce the human impacts of a pandemic.
• Wants to ensure employees know what to do during a pandemic.
• Wants to document its procedures for pandemic containment.
• Has written a pandemic flu plan, but the plan is out of date or inadequate.

Regulatory citations

While the publisher is unaware of any federal or state laws and regulations requiring a pandemic flu plan, be sure to check for laws and regulations that may apply to your organization. Also, be aware of and review federal, state. and local health department pandemic flu plans. Incorporate appropriate actions from these plans into your own plan.

Key definitions

• Pandemic: An outbreak, or epidemic, of a disease that affects the entire world population. Influenza pandemics are recurring events which have typically occurred every 10 to 50 years throughout recorded history.
• Pandemic influenza (flu): A global outbreak of a new influenza A virus. According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza pandemics occur when new influenza A viruses emerge that are able to infect people easily and spread from person to person in an efficient and sustained way.
• Seasonal influenza: The periodic outbreaks of respiratory illness in the fall and winter in the United States. These outbreaks are typically limited. Most people have some immunity to the circulating strain of the virus.
  

Summary of requirements

While not required, a sound framework for a pandemic flu plan might include the following plan elements, if applicable:

• Purpose;
• Administrative duties;
• Critical business processes and people;
• Business impact analysis;
• Business assessment;
• Goals and objectives;
• Roles and responsibilities;
• Communication;
• Training;
• Inventories, supplies, and services;
• Technologies;
• Air circulation;
• Vaccination and antivirals;
• Hygiene and housekeeping;
• Personal protective equipment and face coverings;
• Social distancing;
• Travel and off-site worker restrictions;
• Screening, testing, and medical surveillance;
• Sick leave and time off;
• Stress management;
• Security;
• Coordination/collaboration with outside entities;
• Anti-retaliation policies;
• Other measures;
• Post-pandemic measures;
• Recordkeeping and reporting;
• Plan evaluation; and
• Appendices.