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With the looming danger of swine flu turning into a global pandemic, businesses are quite vulnerable. Manchester based law firm Rowlands Solicitors has warned employers of the alarming situation and advised them to evaluate the potential threat to their business and take necessary action towards conforming to all the laws and regulations in terms of work-related health.

Going by the ominous predictions made by medical experts, one out of every three persons could be hit by the killer disease in the coming months. This could prove to be a major concern for companies who are already reeling under another global problem, the economic meltdown. In this scenario, the British economy can suffer a loss of a staggering 1.5 billion pounds per day if more than 25% of its work strength is affected by swine flu.

Employers will have to play a crucial role in tackling the situation to ensure the safety of their employees and thus avoid the chances of any lawsuits being filed against them.

The Head of Employment at Rowlands Solicitors, Mr. William O’Neill underscored the importance of carrying out necessary risk evaluation procedures and reducing the chances of their employees coming in contact with those infected. Instead of face-to-face meetings, the employers can make use of advanced telecommunication technologies like the internet and video conferencing, apart from allowing employees to stay home and work.

He also asserted that cleanliness and personal care practices should be advocated by employers and a number of measures should be implemented at the workplace in order to ensure it. Spic and span washrooms stocked with hand antiseptics, fresh tissues and a full-proof waste disposal system in place should take care of the hygiene issues at work. Wearing surgical masks at work could be an option to contain the spread of virus, although its effectiveness is not scientifically established.

Mr. O’Neill also suggested that the companies should issue a notice to educate the employees about the symptoms of swine flu, to keep indoors and undergo immediate medical examination if they suspect any indication of infection.

According to him, it is going to be a tricky situation for employers, as they would need to strike a balance between having a high attendance at work to deal with the recession and also granting enough leaves to affected employees in order to prevent the infection from spreading.

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