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In only 18 months from 1918 until 1920, more than 50 million people died. The cause was the flu, in what is considered the most recent major influenza pandemic. It was called the “Spanish Flu.” In some countries censorship prohibited publication of stories about the flu, but not in Spain. The Spanish press published more stories about the epidemic. Many of the people who died in this pandemic were healthy, fit young adults.

Why should employers and employees care about ancient history? Because it just might happen again… and OSHA wants you to be prepared.

According to a recent OSHA alert, whether you are an employee or an employer, you should include a plan for a worldwide influenza plague in the emergency plans at your workplace.

Most healthy adults develop some resistance to the ordinary influenza virus, and it doesn’t represent a dangerous illness. It is just annoying and uncomfortable. This ordinary influenza can be a health hazard in some groups of people, like those susceptible to illness, the elderly, and the little children.

It is not the same with an influenza pandemic, as explained in the Wisconsin OSHA alert. A new variety of the virus emerges and no one is safe. A pandemic could have a greater effect on the global economy than a terrorist attack.

Fortunately, today there is no flu pandemic and no new varieties of the virus have appeared. And the cyclic flu that occurs during fall and winter is not dangerous.

Some personal tips to stop a pandemic or avoid being infected, include the following: using disposable tissues to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing hands frequently, staying at least 6 ft. away from a sick person, and of course not going to work or to school if you are infected.

Guidelines to stop contagion in the workplace can include installing drive-thru windows between customers and employees, using conference calls instead of meeting, or allowing some workers to do their jobs from home.

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