Pandemic Tool Kit available through the GICC

At the height of a flu pandemic, up to 50% of all employees may be absent from work.

That startling statistic is quoted in a pandemic planning tool kit developed for businesses by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and available through the Greater Innisfil Chamber of Commerce.

Ontario has been affected by three major disruptions to its economy since 2001. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in September, 2001 sent a shockwave through North America and caused significant disruption to trade and supply routes.

In 2003 the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak affected Toronto directly but rippled through the entire healthcare system in Ontario and to communities like Innisfil which suffered lost business.

And on August 14, 2003 the largest blackout in North American history literally turned the lights out on 50 million people.

Although we do not wish to see another major emergency, scientists predict that an influenza pandemic might affect the world in the next few years. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that due to the interconnected nature of the globe, all countries will be affected by a pandemic and adds that a pandemic will cause social and economic disruption.

Ontario's economy can not be inoculated completely against the impacts of a possible pandemic. However, careful planning by all businesses will help cushion the effects.

The largest impact on businesses will be staff absences. While it's predicted that if a pandemic occurs, businesses will also see interruptions in the supply of essential services like telecommunications, energy and transportation; trade disruptions; reduced capacity of sub-contractors and increased or decreased demand for services depending on the nature of their operations.

Based on the experience of SARS, sectors that rely on heavy foot traffic, like tourism operations or restaurants, will experience a significant downturn as people avoid public places and crowded spaces.

The Pandemic Planning Tool Kit, available through the Innisfil Chamber provides detailed instructions for businesses so that they may help mitigate these effects.

The kit guides businesses to identify key staff positions, cross-train employees to ensure coverage of these duties, build flexibility into their operations (for instance accommodating work from home), protect key company documents, create communications plans and adopt strategies to protect employee health.

These, along with other strategies identified in the tool kit, should allow businesses to lessen the impact of a health emergency such as an influenza pandemic on their operations.

A copy of the Pandemic Planning Tool Kit can be obtained at www.innisfilchamber.com or by calling 431-4199.