What BC Manager should focus on Pandemic Preparedness?
The average Business Continuity Plan is built to tackle multiple crisis scenarios: fire, flood, terrorist attacks, power outages, and so on and so forth. In light of the disruptions caused by the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the one thing a Business Continuity Plan needs to be able to handle is the possibility of a Pandemic Outbreak.
A BC Manager(for pandemic preparedness) is a very specific appointment geared towards Pandemic Preparedness within an organization's Business Continuity program.
A BC Manager's main role is to ensure that all employees within the organization are both familiar and compliant with the Pandemic Preparedness measures to be undertaken during a Pandemic. They are to ensure that, to the best of their abilities, all possible preventive precautions are put in place to minimize contamination and infection.
Depending on the size of the organization, there may be more than one BC Manager. An assistant BC Manager could be appointed to help the BC Manager cover his duties. In the largest organizations, the BC Manager may serve as the leader of the Pandemic Response Team reporting to the Crisis Management Team.
Roles and Responsibilities of a BC Manager
Educating Employees
BC Managers are responsible for staff education. Prior to any Pandemic Outbreak, BC Managers should educate employees on their roles and responsibilities in the Business Continuity Plan during a Pandemic Outbreak. During a Pandemic Outbreak itself, BC Manager should educate staff on the latest news about the pandemic, the transmission methods, as well as the list of infection control measures all staff should take during and outside work hours.
Monitor Updates
Working along with Human Resources and the Crisis Communication Team, BC Manager should constantly be monitoring the media for the latest developments of the Pandemic, allowing them to provide the Crisis Communication Team with the necessary information to pass messages to both internal and external stakeholders.
Signage
Ensure Health advisories and related signage have been placed up around the building. If the building has a quarantine room, ensure that is labelled properly. Hand Washing posters should be pasted up around the washrooms, pantries, and places with a sink. If relevant to the organization, PPE wearing guides should also be posted up
Quarantine measures
Employees who have travelled to affected countries should not be allowed into work. The BC Manager should take the liberty of informing them that they are under quarantine for an average of 7 to 14 days. The BC Manager should periodically check-in via phone, email, or text. If the employee is developing symptoms, the BC Manager should advise the employee to go to see a healthcare specialist. Additionally, the BC Manager should identify Quarantine rooms to temporarily keep sick staff inside in the event that a staff member starts showing symptoms while at work
Contact Information
The BC Manager should ensure all staff information is updated at least annually.
Equipment
The BC Manager is responsible for ensuring that PPE (masks and gloves) and disinfects are present in abundant supply.
Health Specialists
Ensure the list of nearby hospitals/clinics have been identified.
Reference
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143067/
https://menafn.com/1099675553/Singapore-appoints-flu-manager-for-coronavirus
Reference Guide
Goh, M. H. (2016). A Manager’s Guide to Implement Your Infectious Disease Business Continuity Plan, 2nd Edition. GMH Pte Ltd.
Do You Want to Continue Training During A Pandemic Outbreak?
Due to the pandemic outbreak, BCM Institute will be conducting its certification courses via interactive video conferencing, online and e-learning mode. Find out more about the Business Continuity Management (BCM) and Crisis Management (CM) Blended Learning (BL) courses.
For this period, the content will include the managing and implementing of the Pandemic Influenza plans.
