Swine Flu Could Cripple the Economy

Swine flu could soon destabilise the economy, which is already struggling because of recession. Although the initial panic has apparently subsided, it could be a silence before the storm as many experts foresee a global outbreak in the near future.

Rowlands Solicitors, a specialist commercial and private law firm in Manchester, has warned the companies of the impending danger that can wreak havoc on their businesses, if they get embroiled in health litigations and other legal issues.

The H1N1 flu, according to medical professionals could assume an alarming shape with the possibility of one in three person falling prey to it in the coming few months. It will be a terrible blow for the recession-hit economy, which just cannot afford long-term absences due to employees getting affected by the disease.

If the predictions do indeed turn out to be true, then the British economy will incur a massive loss of nearly 1.5 billion pounds per day with one fourth of its employees not attending work. According to William O’Neill, Head of Employment at Rowlands Solicitors, it is the duty of the employers to undertake an assessment of the health risks and chalk out an action plan giving recommendations on how to minimize the risks for the future.

In case swine flu strikes, the employers should restrict mobility of their employees to potentially hazardous zones. Business deals clinched over e-mails and company strategies made on either telephonic or video conferences should be the order of the day. In addition, a mandate needs to be in place for employees to work from home.

Mr O’Neill also emphasised on maintaining impeccable hygiene standards at the workplace by having antiseptic hand wash, dirt-free tissues, and speedy disposal of wastes to prevent infections. It is also the employers’ duty to spread awareness amongst the employees about swine flue, its causes, and symptoms, the methods of containing it and getting immediate medical attention at an early stage.

Employers will have to walk on a tight rope in order to ensure that they have sufficient work strength to deal with the current market scenario and also ensure occupational hygiene by letting infected employees avail long-term sick leaves to recuperate.

Make sure that your company is not in the dark when it comes to new health and safety regulations. The other way to keep up-to-date is to make sure that you take advantage of the risk assessment for fire courses operated by reputable companies such as Workplace Law.