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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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