WORKSAFE Victoria has issued a guidance for employers on managing the occupational health and safety risks associated with the influenza and possible swine flu pandemic.
The guidance material outlines a safety management framework using risk management principles, and also carries general advice on workplace health and safety issues.
According to WorkSafe Victoria, the influenza pandemic is a global epidemic which occurs when a new influenza virus subtype emerges. The most recent virus is a virulent strain known as Novel Influenza A (H1N1), commonly termed by the media as swine flu.
The document says it is as yet unknown how contagious the strain is, but if it is highly contagious, a human influenza pandemic is possible.
Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and pains, and cough. However, the illness may advance rapidly and lead to pneumonia and other severe and life-threatening complications.
If the pandemic reaches Australia, WorkSafe Victoria expects large scale community, social and business disruption from illness and from the imposition of public health and other emergency measures.
Up to 50% of the workforce could be absent from work during the height of a pandemic. The absenteeism could be due to illness, care, fear, anxiety, infection control measures, restricted transport, and the impact of possible deaths and serious illnesses.
Employers under the OHS Act are required to take all reasonably practicable steps to protect the health and safety of their employees at work. This means they have a duty of care to undertake planning and preparation for potential workplace exposure to Novel Influenza A (H1N1).
Employers must consult with their employees when assessing a risk to the health and safety of employees at any workplace under the employer’s control. Consultation is also required in the selection and application of control measures.
Employees must co-operate with their employer in implementing risk control measures. They must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure they avoid doing anything that creates or increases a risk to the health and safety of themselves or others.
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