Thackray Williams

As more and more cases of Swine flu are being reported in south-east London, what steps should employers be taking to plan for swine flu affecting their staff?

The Government website www.bis.gov.uk (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) provides various links to useful guidance for employers including:-

• Introductory Advice to Staff on Planning for Pandemic Influenza;
• Pandemic Flu Guidance for Businesses from the Department of Health
• A Cabinet Office Pandemic Flu Risk Assessment for Occupational Settings and an accompanying Checklist for Businesses; and
• Pandemic Influenza Workplace Guidance from the Health & Safety Executive.

Employers would be well advised to download and familiarise themselves with these guides now, as part of their ongoing contingency and business continuity planning and risk assessment protocols.

The Checklist is a particularly useful list of issues which employers should be thinking about and planning for, in advance, whilst the other guidance suggests practical measures which might be put in place.

For information on any Employment related issue contact Lisa Judd on 0208 290 0440 or email lisa.judd@thackraywilliams.com