CDC has issued the following recommendations for face mask and respirator use in preventing infection with H1N1. These apply to non-ill persons in home, community, and occupational settings.
Setting
Persons not at increased risk of severe illness from influenza(non-high-risk persons)
Persons at increased risk of severe illness from influenza (high-risk persons)
Community
No novel H1N1 in community
Face mask/respirator not recommended
Novel H1N1 in community: not crowded setting
Novel H1N1 in community: crowded setting
Avoid setting.If unavoidable, consider face mask or respirator
Home
Caregiver to person with influenza-like illness
Avoid being caregiver. If unavoidable, use face mask or respirator
Other household members in home
Occupational (non-health care)
Novel H1N1 in community
Face mask/respirator not recommended but could be considered under certain circumstances
Occupational (health care)
Caring for persons with known, probable, or suspected novel H1N1 or influenza-like illness
Respirator
Consider temporary reassignment. Respirator
“Respirator” refers to N95 or any other NIOSH-certified filtering face piece respirator.
The threat of a flu pandemic can have a devastating impact on your company and your employees. Pandemic awareness training is essential, and BLR’s new Pandemic Flu: How to Prevent and Respond PowerPoint® presentation allows you to conduct a self-paced audio training session that gives workers critical guidance without your having to spend hours on research, preparation, or presentation. Get the details.
In addition, CDC has issued the following recommendations for face mask use for persons ill with confirmed, probable, or suspected H1N1.
Recommendation
Home (when sharing common spaces with other household members)
Face mask preferred, if available and tolerable, or tissue to cover cough/sneeze
Healthcare settings (when outside of patient room)
Face mask, if tolerable
Nonhealthcare setting
Breastfeeding
The threat of a flu pandemic can have a devastating impact on the nation, your company, and your employees. Panic will be less (and more employees will be at work) if employees know what to expect and what to do to protect themselves, their co-workers, and their families in the event of a pandemic.
That makes flu pandemic awareness training essential. BLR’s new Audio Click ’n Train PowerPoint® presentation, Pandemic Flu: How to Prevent and Respond, allows you to conduct a training session giving critical guidance without spending hours on research and preparation. With the audio, you even have what amounts to a “guest speaker.”
BLR’s Pandemic Flu: How to Prevent and Respond teaches employees how to prevent the spread of infection and how to deal with pandemic flu at work and at home. Find out more.
Throughout the session, interactive activities involve employees and make certain that they understand how they can help protect themselves from careless risk of infection. It reinforces good hygiene and simple precautions.
Pandemic Flu: How to Prevent and Respond will give you confidence that you’ve taken effective steps to make employees aware of pandemic risks and have implemented strategies for responding effectively to the threat.
Get more information or order.
Other Recent Articles on HR Policies and ProceduresFeudal Mentality About Business Travel?Pay Differences Not Related to Race or Gender? Prove ItJob Descriptions: Your 'Weakest Link'?Employees ‘Gruve’ on NEAT 'Exercise'
If you have comments about this tip and want to post them on this page to share your thoughts with other HR Daily Advisor readers, simply enter your comments below. NOTE: Your name will appear on any comments posted.