Influenza Information
What You Need to Know
What can businesses do to prepare?
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, in the event of pandemic influenza, businesses will play a key role in protecting employees' health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Planning for pandemic influenza is critical.
In conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed a checklist for businesses. It identifies important, specific activities businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help in other emergencies. The checklist covers a number of topics, including:
- Planning for the impact of a pandemic on your business
- Planning for the impact of a pandemic on your employees and customers
- Establishing policies to be implemented during a pandemic
- Allocating resources to protect your employees and customers during a pandemic
- Communicating to and educate your employees
- Coordinating with external organizations and help your community
Even though a pandemic is not inevitable, it is important to prepare and plan for pandemic influenza.
What products are recommended for influenza preparedness?
Conney Safety has put together a quick guide to the types of safety products you should consider having on hand:
- Facemasks: Facemasks, while popular because of their comfort for the wearer, are designed primarily to keep droplets from spreading from the person wearing the mask. They also protect the wearer's mouth and nose from splashes (and keep the wearer from unconsciously putting their hands in contact with their nose or mouth). They are not created to protect the wearer from breathing in very small particles. Look for face masks labeled for surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation or laser use.)
- Disposable Respirators:Disposable respirators, while similar in appearance to facemasks (especially flat-fold respirators), are designed to protect the wearer from breathing in small particles. Respirators fit more snugly on the face than facemasks so that most air is breathed through the filter material. They work best if they are fitted specifically to the person wearing the mask. Respirators with exhalation valves protect the wearer from inhaled particles, but do not stop the spread of germs, as air is exhaled through the valve. Valve-less disposable respirators, on the other hand, protect both the wearers and those around them. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rates respirators according to their filter efficiency and their resistance to the effects of oil. When selecting a disposable respirator, consider the following:
- N95: The most common and least expensive option. "N" indicates that the contaminant being protected from has "no oil". Viruses, including H1N1 influenza, contain no oil, so the N95 is appropriate.
- R95: The "R" indicates "oil resistant" and implies that the respirator is approved for using the product up to 8 hours in an environment with oil. The "R" has no bearing on flu virus protection, so works the same as the N95.
- P95: "P" stands for "oil proof" and implies that the respirator fabric is completely oil proof and is not degraded over time by exposure to oil (no time limit concerns). While slightly more expensive than the R95 respirators, P95 respirators are just as effective as an N95 for influenza protection.
- N99: Like the N95, the "N" here indicates no resistance to oil (which doesn't matter for influenza protection). The "99" indicates that it is 99% effective against contaminants down to a .3 micron particle size. N99 respirators are slightly harder to breath through than an N95 respirator and are more expensive. The N95 has been determined to be effective enough to properly block out virus aerosols, so while N99 respirators will certainly offer protection from influenza, going to the higher-rated filter isn't necessary.
- N100 or P100: These are the highest rated of all the filters and indicates a 99.97% efficiency down to a .3 micron particle size. These respirators are the hardest to breath through (and the most expensive) of all the filter styles out there. They are normally reserved for very fine cancer-causing particles (such as lead or asbestos), but can certainly can be used for protection from an influenza virus.
- For more information on how to choose the respirator which best fits your needs, see: Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use in Certain Community Settings Where Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Transmission Has Been Detected
- Hand Sanitizers: Hand hygiene plays a critical role in helping to keep any type of flu from spreading, so this should be a focal point for all to consider. This includes frequent hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizers in situations where hand washing might not be convenient or available.
- Surface Sanitizers: Keeping common work areas clean and sanitized is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection. Have employees wipe down their telephones or headsets, as well as keyboards/mouse, at the beginning and end of each shift. Janitorial staff should take extra care wiping down door handles, time clocks, surface areas in breakrooms, restrooms, and other areas with common equipment used by many employees.
- Disposable Exam Gloves: Disposable exam gloves are an important way to prevent germs from spreading. Health care workers and other public safety professionals go through hundreds of pairs of gloves a day. Additionally, anyone who has frequent contact with the public and cannot wash their hands between contacts should wear gloves to protect themselves from disease transmission. Don't develop a false sense of security by wearing a mask or respirator but no hand protection. The easiest way to get the disease is by touching a door knob, gas pump handle or grocery cart after someone who is sick has used it.
For more information:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Safety Council (NSC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
Conney Safety's Influenza Preparedness Products:
Conney Safety is continuously working with our suppliers to ensure that we have sufficient quantities of high-quality safety products to help you prepare for the possibility of pandemic influenza. Please select one of the categories below to see a list of products within that category along with pricing and availabilty. Conney is committed to helping you keep your business prepared and your employees safe.
 |
N95 Disposable Respirators without Valve | |||
 |
N95 Disposable Respirators with Valve | |||
 |
Dust Masks | |||
 |
Surgical Masks | |||
 |
Hand Sanitizers | |||
 |
Surface Disinfectant | |||
 |
Exam Gloves | |||
