Is your business prepared for a pandemic?

With the number of cases of Swine Flu rapidly increasing in and around the Midlands, it is a worrying time for everyone, particularly for those running a business.

Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, recently said that cases of Swine Flu are doubling every week and if it continues at this rate there could be over 100,000 cases per day by the end of August. Many organisations believe that, at the height of a pandemic, up to 75% of the workforce may be absent from work. It is therefore vital that business owners re-visit their business continuity plans as soon as possible.

Businesses cannot insure against the disruption that Swine Flu may cause under their business interruption insurance as it is not classed as a "notifiable disease". Whilst many firms will have business continuity plans to deal with a wide range of potential disruptions, they may not be adequately prepared for a pandemic.

We, therefore, would strongly recommend that in order to address this risk, firms need to monitor the situation very closely and examine and possibly amend existing continuity plans.

As a minimum, you should consider these six critical steps to protect your employees, customers, supply chain partners, additional stakeholders and business assets:

1. Ensure supply chain is uninterrupted by arranging backup suppliers.

2. Build a pandemic crisis communication plan, including a process for cascading critical messages to employees.

3. Develop a protocol to facilitate home working arrangements for employees.

4. Inform employees of any travel protocols/restrictions in place.

5. Look at succession planning for all levels of the organisation and ensure key functions have been addressed.

6. Construct a plan of action addressing the incubation period (three to four days prior to onset of symptoms) in the event that an employee is suspected of having the H1N1 flu virus at work, a family member is at risk, or an employee has been exposed to the virus.

Consideration should also be given to the possibility that should a very serious outbreak occur, it is likely that your premises may be put into isolation or closed. This would generally be a decision made by government agencies and would be out of your control. Your business continuity plan should address the steps needed to mitigate the cost of interruption in this scenario.

For further information on business continuity plans or for assistance in reviewing an existing plan to take account of the Swine Flu outbreak, please contact our risk management expert, Darren Briggs on 0115 942 0111 or at dbriggs@wilorg.com.

 

Sources of information:

World Health Organisation (http://www.who.int/en/)

Department of Health (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm)