Recommended Preparations
EPA encourages our stakeholders (i.e., federal departments and agencies, Congress, environmental groups, regulated entities, state, local and tribal governments, and others) to plan to protect the health of their employees during the period of widespread illness.
- EPA recommends that you identify the essential functions that will need to continue during an influenza pandemic. You may not be able to continue all of your current operations.
- Based on the identification of your most critical functions, EPA encourages you to identify essential personnel (including back-ups) to perform these functions.
- You will also need to identify what information technology systems, contracts, and facilities will need to be available to perform these essential functions. This may require some individuals to receive additional training to perform new duties.
- EPA recommends that you identify the most effective and sustainable means of communication during the pandemic period. This information (e.g., e-mail addresses, cellular numbers, home phone numbers, etc.) will be important to share with EPA in advance of a pandemic, and consistent with the Privacy Act, with other stakeholders you deal with on a normal basis or may need to contact in an emergency.
- Your organization may need to provide infection control supplies, practice "social distancing" or have employees work from home.
- For additional advice on preparing your organization for an influenza pandemic, refer to the National web site (www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/), which contains useful guidance and checklists on: