Emergency Procedures

In the event of occurrences of the Pandemic flu, the following are steps that the Building Management staff will implement to assist in safeguarding occupants in the building. Building staff has reviewed its operations and has made provisions for a number of steps to facilitate operations before, during, and after a pandemic occurrence.

Before the flu season, Tenants are asked to review internal plans and develop a pandemic response plan and business continuity plans. Attached is a guideline for employers to review to develop their plans for a pandemic flu from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Upon occurrence of flu outbreak in the area:

Tenants will be asked to implement their pandemic plans. Tenants will also be asked to notify the management office should an employee report an incidence of a pandemic flu in the employees or immediate family members. While we recognize privacy concerns, please report the floor and quadrant of any affected employees so that cleaning efforts can be directed, especially early in the process.

Management staff will monitor developments on the occurrence and spread of the flu in the area by utilizing resources such as the CDC website (www.cdc.gov).

Using this electronic handbook, tenants may subscribe to receive updates and notifications via email and/or text message. The notification system will be utilized to update tenant contacts of developments in the local area and how they affect the building. Tenant informational resources will also be distributed such as the attached CDC flyer.

Day cleaning staff will wipe down building entrance doors, elevator call buttons, washroom doors, countertops, restroom partition door handles and tenant entrance doors with anti-bacterial agents.

Night cleaning staff will wipe down hard surfaces in the building, including building entrance doors, elevator call buttons, washroom doors, countertops, restroom partition door handles and tenant entrance doors with anti-bacterial agents.

It is widely recognized that hand sanitation and hand washing may be one of the best preventative measures any individual can take to prevent the spread of flu viruses. Tenants are encouraged to frequently wash hands. Portable hand sanitizing stations will be set up in the elevator lobbies on the lower level and first floor for use by building visitors, occupants and employees.

Tenants will be notified via the Tenant Notification System, which uses email and/or text message, of potential and actual service impacts as soon as absenteeism rates begin to climb.

Service response times for maintenance calls may increase, office cleaning frequencies may change, or security patrol service may be limited to perimeter door checks only.

Lobby posters will reflect when service levels noticeable to individual occupants will be affected. For example, if trash removal services will be limited to kitchen areas only, that information will be posted.

Should public health officials or absenteeism rates warrant closure of the building (either mandatory or voluntary) for a length of time, notification to tenants will be made via electronic means as well as signage at the building entrances. Voluntary closure will be based on internal decisions by Building Management’s executive level and building ownership input.

Flu Basics

Prior to the flu season approaching, Tenants should distribute the following information to their employees. Any flu virus is particularly life-threatening to the very young, elderly and those battling disease, infection, etc.

There are five flu-safety tips which will help you avoid swine flu (or any flu), plus will help ensure that the virus does not spread needlessly:

• Tip #1: Stay home if you are sick.
• Tip #2: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Tip #3: Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Utilize alcohol-based hand sanitizers when water for hand washing is not available.
• Tip #4: Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Tip #5: Keep up with health information in your community.
• Tip #6: Get a flu shot.

By practicing these flu-safety basics, you will lower your chances of getting a host of illnesses, including the swine flu.

The “Swine Flu”, or the “H1N1” flu virus (a more technical name for the same virus), is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People don’t usually get swine flu, but infections can and do occur.

The “swine flu” virus can be spread the same way that “regular flu” viruses spread - person to person transmission through coughing, sneezing and touching infected people or surfaces: doorknobs, shopping carts, countertops, etc. It is a good idea to carry your alcohol-based, disinfecting wipes, sprays and gels with you. The influenza-like symptoms include fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

What can employers do to protect employees:

• Encourage sick workers to stay home and away from the workplace and provide flexible leave policies.
• Encourage infection control practices in the workplace by displaying posters that address and remind workers about proper hand washing, respiratory, hygiene, and cough etiquette.
• Provide sufficient facilities for hand washing and alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizers (or wipes) in common areas such as lobbies, corridors, and restrooms.
• Provide tissues, disinfectants, and disposable towels for employees to clean their work surfaces, as well as appropriate disposal receptacles for use by employees.
• Influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface; therefore, disinfect commonly touched hard surfaces in the workplace such as work stations, counter tops, door knobs, and bathroom surfaces by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.

Resources

For further reliable information, the following are several local, state, federal and international resources.

Utah Department of Health
www.health.utah.gov

United States Centers for Disease Control
www.cdc.gov

World Health Organization
www.who.int

One-Stop Access to U.S. Government Information on Pandemic Influenza
www.flu.gov

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