Swine Flu (influenza A H1N1)

Simple Advice for Businesses from Wilton Technology 
 

What is Swine Flu and how is it spread?

• Swine flu is an illness that affects the lungs.

• Swine flu has been confirmed in a number of countries and it is spreading from human to human.

• The World Health Organisation has classified swine flu as a pandemic (i.e. world wide) flu outbreak.

• The latest outbreak of swine flu is different to the normal flu because it’s a new virus to which no one has any immunity. It can therefore affect anyone including healthy adults, older people, young children and those with existing medical conditions.

• Flu is spread through the droplets that come out of your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze which are then inhaled by other people. These droplets also settle and survive for up to a day or more on surfaces which can infect people who touch them 
 

What can businesses consider doing to reduce the likelihood of swine flu?

1. Prominently display signs with the following advice:

Emphasising the importance of using hand tissues to cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing at all times and the regular cleaning of hands

2. Arrange regular, safe collection and disposal of washroom waste

3. Provide disposable paper towels for hand drying in preference to air hand dryers

4. Provide suitably positioned alcohol gel dispensers for hand sanitising particularly at entrances

5. Provide a supply of paper tissues

6. Clean surfaces frequently using a hard surface cleaner with biocide on materials such as; door handles/push plates, phones, keyboards, remote controls, horizontal surfaces etc.

7. Promote a culture that encourages staff that are unwell to stay off work until they are healthy

8. Consider conducting meetings by phone/video conferencing rather than a gathering

9. Review/develop Business Continuity Plans in the event of an outbreak of Swine Flu at your place of work (What if a key member(s) of staff is affected and is out of work?) 
 

Do I Need a Face Mask?

Evidence suggests that face masks do not protect people from becoming infected. The best way to protect yourself and stop the spread of flu viruses is by using and disposing of tissues and frequent washing of hands. 
 

Useful Contacts and Sources of Information:

For advice, poster signs, awareness leaflets and videos including in other languages, and news feeds with the latest updates, visit the Health and Safety Authority website at; www.hse.ie and further links at; www.who.inthttp://ecdc.europa.eu/en/  
 

Some Company’s are already planning to display a poster stating; ‘Please do not come to work or enter this building if you have flu symptoms’ - sudden onset of fever, cough or shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose or loss of appetite. 
 

Catch It, Bin It, Kill It

Follow these simple hygiene rules:

1. If you cough or sneeze, use a clean tissue to cover your mouth and nose every time; ‘Catch it’
2. Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully after one use in appropriate waste containers; ‘Bin it’
3. Wash your hands after disposing of dirty tissues with Hand Sanitising Gel; ‘Kill it’

What can Wilton Technology do to help my Business?

Wilton Technology can supply you with all the items required to help ward off the Swine Flu. We offer;

Hand Sanitising Gel with a wall mounted dispenser – for easy dispersal of Gel – no need for water, The Gel is applied directly to the hands and there is no need to rinse it off

Hand Tissues – In the event that people use soap to wash their hands

Facial Tissues – Leave a box in appropriate areas to encourage their use

All shapes and sizes of Bins - for the collection of used paper, etc.

Hard Surface Cleaner with Biocide – spray on door handles and other surfaces that are frequently used by other people. 
 

Contact Wilton Technology to order your supplies 
 
 

VAT extra on all prices @ 21.5%