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• Infrastructure Development

• Infrastructure Resilience

• Business Continuity

• Influenza Pandemic Planning

• 1. Reducing Risk of Infected Persons Entering the Site
• 2. Social Distancing
• 3. Cleaning
• 4. Managing Fear
• 5. Management of Cases at Work

1. Reducing Risk of Infected Persons Entering the Site

1. A list of worksite "Influenza Managers" will be maintained by the crisis team
2. The Influenza Managers will manage all local health related activities under the direction of the CMA
3. On notification from the CMA, the health staff and nominated Influenza Managers for each location will do the following:
   • Set up prominent notices at all entry points to facility, advising staff and visitors not to enter if they have symptoms of influenza
   • Set up Key General Infection Control (basic hygiene and hand hygiene) notices around workplace (including entrances, notice boards, meeting rooms and toilets)
   • Ensure they have adequate supplies of tissues, medical and hand hygiene products, cleaning supplies as well as masks for people who become ill at work
4. The CMA will ensure that employee communications include pandemic influenza fact sheet and information on Key General Infection Control Notices and Social Distancing

2. Social Distancing

1. Social distancing refers to strategies to reduce the frequency of contact between people. Generally it refers to mass gatherings but the same strategies can be used in the workplace setting
2. Information on social distancing will be sent by email by CMA
3. Influenza Managers should put up notices
4. Where operationally allowed, teams are encouraged to split into different work locations to build up back up and avoid cross infection
5. Where operationally allowed, shift changes should be managed as follows: when one shift goes off duty, there should be an interval before the next shift begins so that the worksite can be thoroughly ventilated (either opening all doors and windows or turning up air conditioning system)
6. Social distancing strategies include:
   • Avoid meeting people face to face - use the telephone, video conferencing and the Internet to conduct business as much as possible - even when participants are in the same building
   • Avoid any unnecessary travel and cancel or postpone non-essential meetings/gatherings/workshops/training sessions
   • If possible, arrange for employees to work from home or work flex hours to avoid crowding at the workplace
   • Avoid public transport: walk, cycle, drive a car or go early or late to avoid rush hour crowding on public transport
   • Bring lunch and eat at desk or away from others (avoid the cafeteria and crowded restaurants). Introduce staggered lunchtimes so numbers of people in the lunch room are reduced
   • Do not congregate in tearooms or other areas where people socialise. Do what needs to be done and then leave the area
   • If a face-to-face meeting with people is unavoidable, minimise the meeting time, choose a large meeting room and sit at least one meter away from each other if possible; avoid shaking hands or hugging
   • Set up systems where clients/customers can pre-order/request information via phone/email/fax and have order/information ready for fast pick-up or delivery
   • Encourage staff to avoid recreational or other leisure classes/meetings etc. where they might come into contact with infectious people

3. Cleaning

1. Office cleaning should be stepped up during the pandemic period
2. Filters of the air conditioning systems should be cleaned and anti-bacteria solution applied
3. Telephone sets in common areas should be cleaned daily
4. Anti-bacteria solutions should be applied to all common areas, counters, railings, washbasins, toilet bowls, urinals and septic tanks (where these are present) daily
5. Details of suitable cleaning solutions can be found in table below

4. Managing Fear

1. It is likely there will be anxiety regarding the pandemic situation and this is likely to contribute to increased work absence and/or increased distress to staff
2. The suggested ways to manage this is to:
   • Have communicated the possibility of a pandemic and the Business's preparedness to manage it very early to staff
   • Have a comprehensive management plan in place which is clearly communicated to staff
   • Provide clear, timely and proactive communications to staff when things are changing
   • Provide clear communications on how the Business is handling the situation if the pandemic does occur
   • Provide back up assistance for counselling staff through the EAP service

5. Management of Cases at Work

Influenza Managers will put up posters giving information on what to do if people get sick at work.

CMA will access latest MoH advice regarding managing staff who become ill, contact definition and contact management from their website and modify the process outlined below as appropriate. Then provide this information to Crisis Team and Influenza Managers.

CMA will send out emails to all staff regarding what to do if people get sick at work including key message: if they feel unwell, don't come to work. Send out information regarding difference between influenza and common cold.

If a person feels ill, or if someone observes that another person is exhibiting symptoms of influenza at work, they are to contact their Influenza Manager by telephone if at all possible.

Using the screening flowchart, the Influenza Manager:

1. Should avoid visiting this person if it can be avoided - manage the process over the phone
2. Check if the employee has any of the symptoms outlined in the first section of the flowchart
3. If the employee does not have any symptoms like those listed, they are very unlikely to have influenza, and should be reassured but advised to call the Influenza Manager again later or to contact their GP if they are still concerned
4. If the employee does have symptoms that match any of those listed, they should be treated as a "suspect case." The Influenza Manager should complete staff influenza notification form, including details of any staff and/or visitors the person has been in contact with. This information will permit the CMA/Influenza Manager to monitor staff whereabouts and well-being during the pandemic.
5. The employee/suspect case should be informed where they can find a surgical mask and instructed to wear it immediately. This is to help protect other staff.
6. The suspect case should leave work immediately and be advised to contact their GP by telephone for a review. They should not use public transport if at all possible - the business will pay for a taxi if necessary.
7. The manager of the suspect case should be informed that they have left work
8. Contact management - the Influenza Manager will
   • identify contacts (once an employee is suspected to be infected);
   • advise contacts in person that they have been in contact with a person suspected of having influenza; and
   • ask contacts to go home, and stay at home until advised otherwise
9. The suspect case's work station should be cleaned and disinfected, as indicated in the section on Workplace cleaning
10. Return to work of the suspect case and their contacts:
    • Advise staff member on how long to stay away from work (the Ministry of Health website will have advice on this once the characteristics of a pandemic are known)
    • Check on the staff member during his/her absence from work. This will facilitate treatment, contact tracing, etc., if they become ill
    • Staff are to have confirmation from GP that they are well prior to their return to work