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 Spring Singapore has made a new guide to ‘flu pandemic business continuity planning for SMEs available via its website. It offers a comprehensive and practical resource, providing business continuity responses for different outbreak alert levels.
The guide starts by highlighting some of the general consequences and impacts of a pandemic outbreak, including:
General Impact
• Public gatherings may be discouraged.
• People with flu-like symptoms may not be allowed in public places.
• Public transport may be disrupted.
• Rumours may arise, and people will want regular updates and clarifications.
Business Impact
• Supplies may be disrupted.
• The number of customers may drop, especially for businesses in the service sector catering to the public.
• Likely increase in electronic communications, e.g. phonecalls, e-mail and internet use. Communication systems and company call centres may be overloaded.
• An estimated 25 percent of staff in any organisation may be absent from work.
In the next section of the guide, Spring Singapore encourages small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) to start planning now to ‘ensure that their businesses remain viable in the event of an outbreak.’ Headline actions for SMEs include considering how to:
a) Operate with minimal face to face contact between staff, between staff and customers, and with suppliers
b) Operate effectively if key members of staff are absent from work
c) Operate if supply chains are disrupted.
Business continuity plans need to address key risks to the company’s:
• Employees
• Processes and business functions
• Business infrastructure
• Stakeholders
• Communications, both internal and external.
The remainder of the document looks at specific business continuity measures which need to be considered at different levels of ‘flu alert which will be declared by the Singapore government. These alert levels will be:
Green
• Isolated overseas or local cases of animal-to-human transmission. Threat of human-to-human infection remains low.
Possible scenarios:
• Heightened awareness amongst members of the public, e.g. more people are vaccinated against flu and avoid travelling to affected areas.
Yellow
• Slight human-to-human transmission. Small risk of it being imported into Singapore, but has not resulted in sustained spread.
Possible scenarios:
• Travelling to and from affected areas may be restricted
• Companies to start briefing staff on business continuity plan.
Orange
• Avian influenza evolves into human disease. WHO confirms several outbreaks in one country, spreading to other countries
• Deaths expected. Local confirmation of new cases and evidence of more than one transmission
Possible scenarios:
• The public starts to avoid crowded areas
• Business travellers and tourists to Singapore decrease or postpone their trips
• Companies start temperature taking and other BCP measures
• Airport and points of entry start temperature screening of overseas visitors
Red
• Widespread infection. Increase in deaths
• Healthcare system likely to be overwhelmed
• Essential services need added protection to ensure full operational capacity
Possible scenarios:
• Certain countries may impose border closures
• High absenteeism from work may occur
Black
• High death rates reported
• Economic activities are severely disrupted, as panic sweeps through the community
Possible scenarios:
• Economic activity may slow down to a standstill as the public focuses on survival
Download the Flu Pandemic Business Continuity Guide.
•Date: 16th Feb 2006• Region: SE Asia • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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