Guidance

Pandemic flu checklist for businesses

The government has developed this checklist specifically regarding pandemic flu.

Documents

Pandemic influenza checklist for businesses

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The government recommends that all organisations adopt robust and flexible generic business continuity management arrangements which will help ensure that the impact of any disruptions will be minimised.

Current advice from the World Health Organisation is that countries should be planning for a possible influenza pandemic, although timing of onset is highly unpredictable. In the event of an influenza pandemic, businesses will have a key role to play in reducing the risk to employee’s health and safety as far as possible, as well as maintaining essential operations.

Given the highly uncertain nature of an influenza pandemic, we cannot know in advance how serious it will be and who will be most affected, it is therefore important that plans are developed which can address a range of scenarios.

The UK influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan contains more information on the types of scenarios which may arise. To assist you in developing and reviewing plans, the Government has developed the following checklist specifically regarding pandemic influenza.

It identifies important and specific activities which organisations can do to prepare for a pandemic as well as where more general guidance will be provided by the Government. Directed mainly at medium and large businesses, some elements will be of use to smaller businesses.

This checklist is not exhaustive. It is a guide to help you start thinking about what you may need to plan for.

Published 14 January 2011