Singapore - In order to sustain business continuity, companies have been advised to prepare to activate business contingency plans should the swine flu outbreak ever reach Singapore.
While the current Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak has yet to hit Singapore, firms are already getting ready for the worst by implementing business contingency plans. Companies like OCBC Bank have issued thermometers, masks and gloves to every employee, according to a report by The Business Times. Other measures taken include requiring employees who travel to affected areas to monitor their temperature at home for five days. In addition, large group gatherings involving 25 or more people require temperature checks prior to the meeting.
International SOS also urged companies to prepare for any outbreak by adopting the following suggestions:
* Keep updated on the global influenza situation.
* Listen to the recommendations from healthcare experts on how to handle the outbreak.
* Ensure clear communication between staff and organisations involved with policy and disease control.
* Reduce the chance of infection by stepping up on hygiene.
* Identify those who fall into the "high risk" category, and if they should be relocated from their present location.
Dr Robert Allen, regional medical director North Asia of International SOS, says companies can further gear up against the outbreak by engaging doctors to brief their management team on how to deal with any emergencies.
"It's never too late to implement your company's pandemic preparedness plan. For businesses, a pandemic preparedness plan is critical to minimise the human and economic loss and the risk of interruption to business," says Allen.
He explains that good hygiene practices and other non-medical interventions will be the principal methods used to protect against or delay infection. In the workforce, managers should "communicate clearly to employees on the effective measures of minimizing the risk of disease transmission such as hand washing, avoiding unnecessary crowded spaces, cleaning and disinfection of potentially contaminated surfaces and objects."
