risk occupation can be stressful to both employees and their families. Employees in high risk occupations may have heightened concern about their own safety and possible implications for their family. Such workplaces may experience greater employee absenteeism than other lower risk workplaces. Talk to your employees about resources that can help them in the event of a pandemic crisis. Keeping the workplace safe is everyone’s priority. More information about protecting employees and their families can be found at: www.pandemicflu.gov.
Work Practice and Engineering Controls
Employers should ensure that employees have adequate training and supplies to practice proper hygiene. Emergency responders and other essential personnel who may be exposed while working away from fixed facilities should be provided with hand sanitizers that do not require water so that they can decontaminate themselves in the field. Employers should work with employees to identify ways to modify work practices to promote social distancing and prevent close contact (within 6 feet), where possible. Employers should also consider offering enhanced medical monitoring of employees in very high and high risk work environments.
In certain limited circumstances ventilation is recommended for high and very high risk work environments. While proper ventilation can reduce the risk of transmission for healthcare workers in the same room as infectious patients, it cannot be relied upon as the sole protective measure. Thus, a combination of engineering controls and personal protective equipment will be needed.
- When possible, health care facilities equipped with isolation rooms should use them when performing aerosol generating procedures for patients with known or suspected pandemic influenza.
- Laboratory facilities that handle specimens for known or suspected pandemic patients will also require special precautions associated with a Bio-Safety Level 3 facility. Some recommendations can be found at: www.cdc.gov/flu/h2n2bs13.htm.
- Employers should also consider installing physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards, to protect employees where possible (for example, reception or intake areas). The use of barrier protections,
