Pandemic Planning
Risk Analysis Tool
The tool below will help you identify how flu could be spread in your workplace, what activities pose the greatest risk, and options for preventing infection. In all cases, it is assumed that the basic public health practices of hand washing and drying, good safe coughing/sneezing practice, and social distancing are being emphasised.
How to use this tool:
Look down the list of risk factors, think about the seriousness of each risk in your particular workplace and mark them high, medium or low. Then look down the list of possible options for controlling risks and highlight the ones applicable to your workplace. Deal with risk factors marked as "high" first, then move onto the others. Talk with staff, unions, suppliers and key customers about other options for reducing risks.
| Risk Factor | Seriousness of the risk at your workplace | Ways to reduce the risks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | Medium | Low | Look down the list of possible controls and highlight those appropriate for your workplace | |
| Number of times staff come in contact with people each day | High might be 100 or more a day | low might be no face to face contract | Reduce the number of people in contact with staff each
day Conduct business by telephone or the internet Use a telephone-operated reception desk Conduct meetings and training sessions by phone or online Reduce or suspend travel and use of public transport Introduce or increase use of shift work and working from home Stagger lunch hours and other use of communal facilities |
|
| Types of people contacted | High might be hospital patients, overseas visitors etc | Reduce the number of people in contact with staff each
day Conduct business by telephone or the internet Reduce or suspend travel and use of public transport Introduce working from home Require people you come in contact with to wear a mask |
||
| Length of contact | High might be long meetings | low might be mom- entary contact with customers |
Suspend meetings and training sessions or reduced in length Reduce or suspend travel and use of public transport Introduce or increase use of shift work and working from home |
|
| Distance between people | High might be physical contact, or small, enclosed workspaces | Conduct business by telephone or the internet Increase distances separating staff from each other and customers (E.g. use wider counters) Provide barriers and screens between staff and customers (E.g. use 'Night counter' type facilities) Use larger rooms for meetings and training to maintain physical separation |
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| Likelihood of exposure to infected droplets | Might be high in medical centres or schools | Provide physical separation and physical barriers Set up full infection controls in medical facilities Wear personal protective equipment, such as respirators Require the people you will come in contact with to wear masks |
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| Meetings / Training sessions | Suspend meetings and training sessions or reduced in length Conduct meetings and training sessions by phone or online At meetings limit numbers and use larger rooms to maintain adequate separation between people |
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| Travel and use of public transport | Reduce or suspend travel and use of public transport Conduct meetings and training sessions by phone or online |
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| Risk infected people will not be identified early | Initiate procedures to monitor employee health, such as
checking for temperatures and other symptoms Retain a medical advisor Give staff clear advice on how to report suspected cases of flu, and what to do if they think they have flu |
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| Risk infection could spread through poor ventilation | Ventilate workspaces between shifts Where possible open windows and doors Ensure air conditioning meets standards in the NZ Building Code |
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| Risk poor workplace procedures could contribute to spread of infection | Review health and safety procedures to ensure they are
clearly thought out, appropriate, safe, widely communicated, and practised Train staff in influenza controls, particularly basic hygiene Supervise influenza controls to ensure they are taking place correctly Reinforce important information using workplace signs, emails etc Appoint an influenza manager within the organisation to oversee risk controls Give staff clear advice on how to report suspected cases of flu, and what to do if they think they have flu |
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| Risk infection could spread through poor hygiene | Make sure staff know, and practise, good coughing and
sneezing habits Make sure staff know, and practise, proper hand washing and drying techniques Make sure staff know, and practise, proper workplace cleaning Provide necessary facilities and equipment, such as soap, cleaning products and sinks |
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