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Pandemic Procedure – September 2009

In preparation for the potential effects of the H1N1 Flu Pandemic MRDC Operations Corporation has developed the following information and preventative procedures.

Pandemic Plan – Phase 1: Communication

MRDC Communication with Employees

Communication will be key before and during a pandemic outbreak. MRDC is now on the contact list to receive pandemic updates from River Valley Health and these updates will be circulated to all employees via email and bulletin boards postings.

MRDC will also inform its employees when internal preventative and health safety precautions are upgraded. Employees should always follow the basic procedures for hand washing and sanitizing to prevent infection.

Employee Responsibility

It is the responsibility of each employee to notify their supervisor if they are experiencing the effects of a flu pandemic. These effects may include the employee themselves not feeling well, or if an employee has to stay home to care for a family member. (see attached notification to employees)

What should I do if I get sick?

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

Contact your health care provider if you are worried about your symptoms. If you have influenza like symptoms and need to seek medical care you should contact your health care provider to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital so they can minimize your contact with others when you get there.

However, the following emergency warning signs require that you go directly to an emergency room or urgent care centre:

In children: Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color

Not drinking enough fluids

Not waking up or not interacting

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Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Fever with a rash

In adults:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

Sudden dizziness

Confusion

Severe or persistent vomiting

Pandemic Plan – Phase 2: Contingency Preparation

Operational Contingency

MRDC has planned and is continuing to improve its processes for continuing essential processes in the event 25% of its operations staff become ill, or if key management staff are absent.

Winter Operations:

Fleet Complement: 19 Plow Vehicles and 4 sparesFacility Plow Routes: 8 Routes

MRDC deploys 19 plows on the Fredericton – Moncton Facility during snow and ice control operations. To operate these units MRDC normally schedules the following winter season staff.25 First Line Operators and 29 Second Line Operators = 54 Operators

A 25% reduction in staffing indicates that 14 operators would be unavailable for snow and ice control operations, therefore leaving MRDC with 40 operators. Therefore MRDC would be able to operate its 19 plow units and still have 21 operators in reserve, enough for the second line.

Additional Operators

MRDC also has a number of patrollers and mechanics who are properly licensed and trained in snow and ice control operations. These employees act as backup operators in the event additional emergency staffing is required.

In addition to our internal backup resources, MRDC may also be able to call upon external operators from Brunway Highway Operations.

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Management and Supervisor Contingency

The management at MRDC has reviewed the key administration functions and has developed cross training and contingencies in the event managerial staff become ill.

Senior Management: The General Manager and Operations Manager can work effectively from home.

Accounting: The Administration Manager can work effectively from home. There is also a second

person trained to perform essential administration functions.

Computers:

Reception: MRDC Operations Corporation phone system is covered 24/7 by Brunway Operations, in

the event that both the Receptionist and Administration Manager are not available. The MRDC receptionist is also able to work from home during a pandemic.

Buildings and Grounds:

Superintendents and Supervisors: Patrollers and the Operations Manager would provide backup for the operations

supervisors.

Support Coordinator The Support Coordinator has the ability to work from home.

Safety and Quality The Safety and Quality Offices could work effectively from home.

Health Materials and Preparation

MRDC will order and store prevention materials such as:o Maskso Plastic Gloves

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o Disinfecting wipeso Install hand sanitizers at all depotso Store backup cleaning materials at all depots

MRDC will contact the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) in order to schedule the regular flu season shot for all employees.

Flu and Pneumonia Shots: River Valley Health is still recommending that individuals receive each of the following inoculations.

Regular Flu Shot – Scheduled for Oct 21st H1N1 Flu Shot (Available in November 2009 at designated Provincial clinics.) Pneumonia Shot (if you have diabetes or diseases of the lung, heart, kidney or liver)

Early Prevention: Hand Washing

Hand Washing is the most recommended method of eliminating the risk of infection and transmitting infection to others. Wash your hands frequently (5-10 times per day) and follow the directions posted in each washroom for proper hand washing techniques.

Early Prevention: Hand Sanitizers

Hand Sanitizers have been installed at multiple locations throughout each maintenance depot. Sanitize your hands each time your enter or exit any facility.

Pandemic Plan – Phase 3: High Alert from River Valley Health

Hand Washing

Hand Washing is the most effective method of protecting yourself and others. During Phase 2 and 3 wash your hands at regular intervals and follow the hand washing procedures posted in the washrooms.

Masks

Approved face masks shall be available to any employee who wishes to utilize this preventative action. An individual’s hands which are infected with the virus which then touch their face is common method of infection. H1N1 is not an airborne virus. It is contracted by touching an infected surface or person.

Equipment Disinfection

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Disinfecting wipes shall be placed in each vehicle or at the depot entrance. When operators are finished using equipment they must wipe down and disinfect any surface in which they come in contact with.

Depot Disinfection

At the conclusion of each working day the Patrol Supervisors shall schedule employees for 15 minutes to help disinfect the working services at each depot. This will include;

desks light switches telephones door knobs tables counters keyboards

Any surface that comes into contact with human hands may become infected. Plastic gloves shall be worn by each employee before completing this procedure.

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Sample Notification to Employees

September XX, 2009

Dear Employees:

A / XX case(s) of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has/have been identified at MRDC Operations Corporation.

Please monitor yourself daily for influenza-like illness (fever and cough, and one or more of thefollowing: sore throat, body aches and fatigue). If you develop these symptoms, please follow the current public health advice on this issue, which includes isolating yourself from others when sick,covering coughs and sneezes, and frequent hand-washing. You should isolate yourself from others until you are free of symptoms, and feeling well. Taking antiviral medication to prevent this disease in otherwise healthy people is not recommended at this time.

It is possible that further spread of this infection within the workplace has already occurred, so it is important to review routine infection control measures, such as frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding sharing personal items, and isolating yourself from others when sick.

For more information on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 flu virus, please feel free to contact your local RHA Public Health office during normal office hours. For the most up-to-date information on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 at any time, please visit www.gnb.ca/flu or call our 24-hour Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 phone line at 1-800-580-0038. The website is updated almost daily and the phone line provides information, symptom triage, and health advice.

Your support in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Ross MathersGeneral Manager