Are workers panicked? Put these facts in their hands
Get the word out immediately
What is the best way to communicate with employees during the H1N1 crisis? Every way.
"Utilize every venue possible," says Tamara Y. Blow, RN, MSA, COHN-S/CM, CBM, FAAOHN, manager of occupational health services at Altria Client Services in Richmond, VA.
Get out your message using e-mail, bulletins, verbal updates, and daily blurbs. "If you work in manufacturing, use the existing infrastructure such as daily work team meetings," advises Blow. "And the best way to get the information out so that rumors won't spread is to get it out immediately."
Contact company sites without worksite clinics to ensure that they also receive communications, says Blow. "Also, advise employees to check their state health department's web site. This is especially important for corporations with multi-state locations."
Kay N. Campbell, EdD, RN-C, COHN-S, FAAOHN, president of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, says give employees continuous updates on these items:
- what the H1N1 virus is, how it is transmitted, and the current state of the global pandemic plan and what that means;
- how they can plan for child care options if schools are closed;
- an emphasis that employees should not to come to work if they are feeling ill with fever, nausea, or vomiting;
- ways for employees to prevent themselves from getting sick: frequent hand washing, avoiding large crowds, covering your nose when sneezing, getting rest, and generally taking care of yourself.
J. David Clyde, MD, president and CEO of Atlanta-based Spinnaker Medical Consultants International, recommends giving each employee these steps to stay healthy, which are based on advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash after use.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth to avoid spreading the germs.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Avoid travel to areas with known cases of swine influenza.
- Stay home and avoid contact with others if you develop symptoms of influenza to avoid spread of the virus in the workplace.
It's also important to give good advice to business travelers to help them avoid exposure areas and the possibility of personal illness, along with the possibility of spreading a disease back into the workplace. "Prevention is always better than dealing with an exposure and the business impact that an illness can have on a company," says Clyde.
Campbell also says that you should begin preparations for seasonal flu vaccination right now. "It is a good time to market this program for increased participation," she says. "Remind employees of the vaccine they took last year and what types of flu it protected them against, and the value of vaccination. Promote when and where the vaccinations will be given in the fall."
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