In the past few days, United States health officials have declared a public health emergency over the steadily increasing number of humans affected by Swine Influenza. This declaration, and the intensive media coverage that followed, has sparked nationwide concern as the government and its various health agencies hasten to contain the outbreak. While Swine Influenza has yet to be declared a pandemic, the prospect that it could become more widespread raises an important question: does your business have sufficient mechanisms in place to deal with a public health emergency or other disaster?

Businesses play a significant role in protecting employees’ health and ensuring employees’ safety in the event of a pandemic or other crisis. As such, advance, strategic planning is crucial. Employers should take time now to educate themselves about available resources in an effort to minimize an emergency’s impact and, in the case of a pandemic, to reduce the spread of disease. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have formulated guidelines to help employers plan for a pandemic and other comparable disasters. These guidelines, along with comprehensive checklists for employers, are compiled on the CDC’s “Workplace Planning”  webpage. The United States Chamber of Commerce has similarly developed a list of issues employers should consider now given the potential for a Swine Influenza pandemic.  The following is a sample of the Chamber of Commerce’s many suggestions: