Preparing your Company for the Unexpected: Community Health Concerns
The worldwide spread of the coronavirus has been a top news story in recent weeks. While this is indeed on the mind of health officials and the public the issue may not have reached the desk of the security director or emergency manager. With only 35 confirmed cases in the US as of February 21st, the most likely responses would be “This is so rare to be of concern to us” or “How and why would this affect my company/business/facility?”
In recent years serious national health concerns have included the Zika virus, Ebola, SARS, and Swine flu. There have been local and regional outbreaks of measles and food process or contamination cases. In some communities, the number of opioid overdoses and deaths increased to crisis levels with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention labeling this a national epidemic
Preparedness for pandemic and other community health issues should be a part of a company’s comprehensive emergency and business continuity plans. Rumors and misinformation among staff are often the initial impacts of a disease or other health-related problems on a business. The workforce will look for guidance and direction from a trusted source of information. They will have questions: Is it safe to interact with a customer who is wearing a surgical mask? What is the policy if I become ill from exposure to the flu at work? How much time off do I have? How can I disinfect my workspace to avoid becoming sick? Do we have a first aid kit and what does it include?
The security director and emergency manager need to be involved when community health concerns issues are discussed within the organization. First, to assure that the security staff is deemed essential to protecting the enterprise and given priority in the distribution of personal protective equipment and resources. Second, so that response plans can be made or updated, safety equipment and supplies inventoried and ordered, and there is coordination with external public safety agencies. Third, to provide information and training so that the security team retains response capability when faced with these out of the ordinary incidents.
Preparedness is one of the four phases of emergency management according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Think broadly when it comes to operational planning related to community health concerns.
Begin by conducting a risk assessment. Have a process to continuously monitor and evaluate the situation and the potential impact on your business. Develop plans to help mitigate any potential impact identified through the risk assessment. Don’t forget to consider staffing and the ability to obtain supplies.
Protectives measures could include:
Proactively monitoring employee health
Updating first aid kits
Supplying employees with P-95 particulate respirators or protective masks
Restrictions on non-critical business travel
Accommodations for employees to work from home
The foremost priority is the safety and well-being of people: staff, customers, and visitors. Want to talk more about being prepared? We’re all ears. Preparedness can start today!