Pandemic Influenza Planning

1. Pandemic Influenza Planning David M. Loughlin Occupational Health Consultant I NJ Department of Health and Senior Services Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Program 609-984-1863

2. Pandemic Influenza Planning Classifying Employee Exposure to Pandemic Influenza at Work • Very high exposure • High exposure • Medium exposure • Lower exposure risk

3. Pandemic Influenza Planning Very high exposure risk Exposure to high concentrations of known or suspected sources of pandemic influenza during specific medical or laboratory procedures Example - Healthcare employees performing aerosol-generating procedures on known or suspected pandemic patients

4. Pandemic Influenza Planning High exposure risk • High potential for exposure to known or suspected sources • Healthcare delivery and support staff exposed to known or suspected patients • Medical transport of known or suspected patients in enclosed vehicles • Performing autopsies on known or suspected patients

5. Pandemic Influenza Planning Medium exposure risk • Employees with high-frequency contact with the general population (such as schools, high population density work environments, and some high volume retail) • Requires frequent, close contact (within 6 feet) exposure to others

6. Pandemic Influenza Planning Lower exposure risk (Caution) • Employees who have minimal occupational contact with the general public and other coworkers (for example, office employees) • No frequent close contact (within 6 feet) with others

7. Pandemic Influenza Planning Hierarchy of Controls • Work Practice and Engineering Controls • Administrative Controls • Personal Protective Equipment

8. Pandemic Influenza Planning Work Practice • Providing resources and work environment that promotes personal hygiene • Encourage employees to obtain seasonal influenza vaccine • Provide employees with up-to-date education and training

9. Pandemic Influenza Planning Engineering Controls • Installing clear plastic barriers • Installing drive-through windows for customer service • Healthcare settings – Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) rooms • High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration • Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI)

10. Pandemic Influenza Planning Administrative Controls • Develop policies that encourage ill employees to stay home • Discontinuation of unessential travel to locations with high illness transmission rates • Consider home delivery of goods and services • Consider practices to reduce face to face contact between employees

11. Pandemic Influenza Planning Personal Protective Equipment • Surgical masks • Respirators – Disposable or filtering facepiece, Reusable or elastomeric, Powered air purifying (PAPRs) • Gloves • Goggles • Face shields

12. Pandemic Influenza Planning Surgical Masks vs. Respirators • Surgical Mask – not certified to prevent inhalation of small airborne contaminates • Surgical Mask – not designed to seal tightly against user’s face • Respirators – certified to prevent inhalation of small airborne contaminates • Respirators – designed to seal tightly against user’s face

13. Pandemic Influenza Planning Surgical Masks • Placed on sick people to limit spread of infectious respiratory secretions • Worn by healthcare providers to prevent accidental contamination of patient’s wounds • Worn by employees to protect themselves from splashes or sprays of blood or bodily fluids

14. Pandemic Influenza Planning Respirators • Employer must have written respiratory protection plan – including medical clearance, fit testing, and training • Must be certified by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) • Must be marked with manufacturer’s name, part number, and protection level

15. Pandemic Influenza Planning Steps every Employer Can Take • Encourage sick employees to stay home • Encourage good hygiene practices (hand washing, cough/sneeze etiquette) • Avoid close contact (within 6 feet) • Discourage sharing phones, desks, computers • Minimize crowded situations

16. Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic” http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3327pandemic.pdf Pandemic Influenza Planning