Pandemic Influenza: Continuity Planning Guide for Canadian Businesses

Downloaded more than 400,000 times in 2006 during the avian influenza outbreak, CME's guide provides need-to-know information to assist all businesses in Canada in preparing business continuity plans.

Revised in April 2009, Pandemic Influenza: Continuity Planning Guide for Canadian Businesses contains:

• A background summary of the potential impacts of an influenza pandemic on business;
• An overview of the human resource issues involved; and,
• The critical elements that should be incorporated into business continuity strategies for managing the impact of an influenza pandemic, including how to:
• Maintain essential activities; and,
• Contain/minimize the spread of infection in the workplace.

This complete toolkit provides a comprehensive list of federal, provincial and international contacts where businesses can find more information about pandemic influenza and emergency preparedness measures.

Pandemic-proofing your business. Are you prepared?

The World Health Organization has raised its alert level to phase five indicating a pandemic is imminent. Phase six signals a global pandemic is underway.

Only 13% of manufacturers and exporters prepared for pandemic: CME survey

Despite the threat of Avian Flu in 2006, a majority of manufacturers and exporters across Canada are still not prepared for a possible pandemic, according to a membership survey by Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

Approximately 87% of the 527 companies polled in the survey conducted over three days last week indicate their businesses do not have a continuity plan in place to deal with an emergency situation like a pandemic, while 90% are not sure what steps to take to safeguard their operations, including their supply chain.

"With the current threat of A/H1N1 virus, there is a risk of grinding an already-struggling economy to a halt," says Jayson Myers, CME president. "The first step in mitigating the impacts of any crisis like a possible pandemic is borrowing a lesson from the Boy Scouts - be prepared."

With an estimated reduction of up the 35% workforce due to the effects of a pandemic flu, business continuity planning is essential for the survival of businesses already hard hit by the recession and therefore to the economy as a whole.

"Businesses need to prepare to maintain operations in the wake of any crisis like a pandemic," Myers says. "Not many companies can weather a pandemic-type shock when economic conditions are good.  In today's recession, any further jolt to the Canadian economy would be bad news for all Canadians." Already, 37% of respondents report their business is feeling the impact of the A/H1N1 virus.

"Successful continuity planning goes well beyond ensuring your employees wash their hands properly," adds Myers. "It's imperative to have a strategy from the boardroom to the shop floor that safeguards all operations of your business, including your supply chain."

"The best business strategy for any company is to act now," says Myers. "Failure to plan is a plan that will undoubtedly fail."

CME is here to help you

While there is no way to predict either exactly when the pandemic might occur or the severity of the impact, once a pandemic virus emerges, it will be too late to begin planning.

Businesses should plan for up to 50% staff absences

As with any risk that threatens the viability of business operations, continuity planning is critical. All businesses will be affected by an influenza pandemic. In addition to the threat to human health, the economic impacts of a pandemic, including absenteeism in the workplace or the downstream effects stemming from supply chain and travel disruption, will be significant and widespread.

Influenza pandemic fast facts:

• Pandemic influenza, or flu, is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person.
• Seasonal flu is a viral infection of the lungs that appears each year between November and April.
• About 4,000 Canadians die each year from seasonal flu. Health Canada estimates that a pandemic flu could claim 11,000 - 58,000 lives.
• Experts agree: it is not a question of if, but when the next flu pandemic will strike.
• An influenza pandemic could last for a year or more, infecting up to one-third of the population of Canada.
• Despite all preparedness efforts, Canada will not be spared from a flu pandemic.
• All businesses, hospitals and government agencies will feel the effects of a pandemic.
• 15 to 35 per cent of your workforce may be ill at any one time.
• Unlike other disasters, a flu pandemic will touch everyone in every part of the country, and every part of the world. Moving operations to another location is not likely to be a viable option.
• A flu pandemic could cost the Canadian economy billions of dollars in lost productivity and medical expenses.
• During a pandemic, it will not be business as usual.

Influenza A (H1N1) updates

For situation updates on the influenza outbreak, visit the World Health Organization's epidemic and pandemic alert response site at: www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

CME’s membership is drawn from all sectors of Canada’s manufacturing and exporting community and from every province across the country. The association represents Canada’s leading global enterprises and more than 85% of CME’s members are small and medium-sized enterprises. Join CME and become part of Canada’s largest business network.