Bird Flu – Are we crying Wolf?

The travel section of The Times (14/01/06) urged readers not to dismiss travelling to Turkey out of hand because of a few far flung cases of bird flu. 

The front page and business leader of the Financial Times (10/01/06) described the contingency planning that global blue chip corporations are putting in place and The Observer (15/01/06) mentioned SARS – The Pandemic That Never Was. 

A pretty mixed picture then. . . 

The truth of the matter, speaking with both a medical and a crisis management hat on, is that we just don’t know what might happen.  If outbreaks in new areas continue and more humans catch it, then there is an increased likelihood that a human strain could develop creating a possible pandemic.   

HSBC is estimating that in this event up to half of its staff could be absent, double the 25% absence rate that the World Health Organisation suggests, and has been putting contingency plans in place since last September. 

So if we are aware of this potential threat to life, health and business continuity - surely common sense suggests that we should consider the best ways to prepare.  

So what are some of the practical considerations of a flu pandemic?

• Absences will not only come from illness but from those caring for the sick, those looking after children as schools and nurseries close, those  unable to get to work as transport networks fail and those who opt to stay at home to avoid infection.

• The pandemic won’t be contained within a brief one off period, infection could continue for up to three months.  Other outbreaks of infection in different parts of the world at varying times will create additional issues.  A single business could be affected several times over.

• All employees are at risk and job functions need to be carefully considered to spread the load.  Plans often overlook the risk of illness to senior staff or specialist employees.

• Putting in place stringent hygiene measures will help; including strict hand-washing, workplace cleaning and safe disposal of paper tissues.

A special seminar, ‘Flu Pandemic’ is being held by one of our partners, healthcare specialists, Number One Health.  The seminar which takes place on Monday 30 January will gather together a panel of experts to talk about health, safety, planning and communication issues.  Speakers will include Professor Julius Weinberg, specialist advisor the House of Lords Select Committee on Pandemic Flu.

The aim of the event is to help people assess where they are on the planning cycle and using information from existing plans provide further insight into other elements they should be considering.  For more information on this seminar, visit www.numberonehealth.co.uk.

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Buncefield - an explosive cocktail?

The explosion at the Buncefield Oil Depot in December, just three miles from our offices in Hertfordshire, was a timely reminder that crisis incidents are like Martini – they can happen anytime, anyplace, anywhere.

As we watched the black cloud roll overhead, we reflected on the difficulties that lay ahead for those caught up in the crisis. Over 400 businesses were affected varying in size from small family businesses through to the distribution centres of some of the UK’s biggest companies. For several days while the fire raged, people were shut out of their offices; even those not directly affected were unable to enter their sites because access had to be kept clear for emergency vehicles.

The timing was catastrophic; the Post Office found itself without Christmas issue stamps in many parts of the country, major retail outlets waited in vain for those vital Christmas stocks to replenish shelves during their busiest time of the year and local hotels had to turn away lucrative Christmas parties. The loss of income from this incident will run into millions.

What is amazing is that there wasn’t a single fatality, nothing short of a miracle. Had the explosion happened the following morning an hour into the working day – there would have been a very different story.

Post July 7, a Cable and Wireless survey found that one in three companies had not updated their continuity plans. Now that the smoke is long gone from Hemel Hempstead, I wonder how many local businesses are dusting down their crisis plans or are they sticking to that old adage, ‘lightening never strikes twice’?

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