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Every Alabama employer should be prepared for an influenza pandemic, or a worldwide outbreak. That’s right, the OSHA wants everyone to be prepared in case of an influenza pandemic. Should you panic? No. You should, however, make a plan just in case, as you would for a fire, severe storm or power outage. It may seem unlikely to you, but the flu we have come to know could change into something we aren’t immune to. That is how an outbreak could occur.

The Alabama OSHA alert about a possible flu pandemic, is nothing to ignore and nothing to get upset about. Should a new strain of the virus emerge, is could spread from person to person across the globe. So far, we haven’t had a mutation of the flu virus or anything to that effect, so everything is fine, to date. Thank goodness! That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a plan. It is true that disasters can occur suddenly, so please understand the need for preparation.

Did you know that there was a flu outbreak not to far back in history? Towards the end of the first World War, in 1918, millions died of the Spanish Flu over the course of 18 months. This pandemic swiped away the lives of 50 to 100 million people! Of course the war claimed the lives of many as well, about 9 million soldiers, but we lost many more to the outbreak, unfortunately.

Imagine a pandemic: grocery stores will be hectic, as consumers purchase needed materials. Many supplies, like hand sanitizer and tissues, may be in short supply. Healthcare facilities and clinics might become overloaded. However, some companies may experience an abrupt decline. For instance, malls, restaurants and movie theaters will likely be nearly empty, as people elect to stay home, shop online and download movies. Since the flu is contagious, it would probably be a wise decision to stay at home.

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