Administrative controls are those that

modify workers’ work schedules and tasks in

ways that minimize their exposure to workplace hazards.

Examples include:

• Developing policies that encourage ill workers to stay at home without fear of any

reprisals.

• Discontinuing nonessential travel to locations having high prevalence of illness.

• Developing practices to minimize face-toface contact between workers such as

extended use of e-mail, websites and teleconferences. Where possible, encourage

flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting or flexible work hours to reduce

the number of workers who must be at the

work site at one time or in one specific

location.

• Relying on home delivery of goods and

services to reduce the number of clients or

customers who must visit your workplace.

• Developing emergency communications

plans. Maintain a forum for answering

workers' concerns. Develop Internet-based

communications, if feasible.

Work practices are procedures for safe and

proper work that are used to reduce the duration, frequency or intensity of exposure to a

hazard. When defining safe work practice

controls, it is a good idea to ask your workers

for their suggestions, since they have firsthand experience with the tasks. These controls need to be understood and followed by

managers, supervisors and workers.

Examples include:

• Providing resources and a work environment that promotes personal hygiene. For

example, provide tissues, no-touch trash

cans, hand soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectants and disposable towels for workers to

clean their work surfaces.

During an influenza pandemic, transmission

of the pandemic virus can be anticipated in

the workplace, not only from patients to

workers in healthcare settings, but also from

customers and coworkers in general work

settings. Employers can use a set of occupational safety and health controls referred to

as the “hierarchy of controls” to reduce exposures to pandemic influenza in their workplaces. The types of control measures, listed

from most effective to least effective, that

may be used to protect yourself, your workers

and your customers are:

• Engineering controls;

• Administrative controls;

• Work practices; and

• Personal protective equipment (PPE).

Most employers will use a combination of

these control methods. There are advantages

and disadvantages to each type of measure

when considering the ease of implementation, effectiveness and cost.

Engineering controls are those that involve

making changes to the work environment to

reduce work-related hazards. These types of

controls are preferred over all others because

they make permanent changes that reduce

exposure to hazards and do not rely on

worker or customer behavior. By reducing a

hazard in the workplace, engineering controls

can be the most cost-effective solutions for

employers to implement.

Examples include:

• Installing physical barriers, such as clear

plastic sneeze guards.

• Installing a drive-through window for customer service.

• Using specialized negative-pressure ventilation for aerosol-generating procedures in

healthcare settings.

FactSheet

What Employers Can Do to Protect

Workers from Pandemic Influenza
• Encouraging workers to obtain a seasonal

influenza vaccine (this helps to prevent illness from seasonal influenza strains that

may continue to circulate).

• Providing workers with up-to-date education and training on influenza risk factors,

protective behaviors, and instruction on

proper behaviors (for example, cough etiquette; avoiding touching eyes, nose and

mouth; and proper care of PPE).

• Providing education and training materials

in an easy to understand format and in the

appropriate language and literacy level for

all employees.

• Developing procedures to minimize contacts between workers and between workers and clients or customers.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is

protective gear needed to keep workers safe

while performing their jobs. Examples of PPE

include respirators (for example, N95),

faceshields, goggles and disposable gloves.

While engineering and administrative controls and proper work practices are considered to be more effective in minimizing

exposure to the influenza virus, the use of

PPE may also be indicated during certain exposure situations and during emergencies.

The appropriate types of PPE for use during a

pandemic will be based on the risk of contracting influenza while working and the availability of PPE. Check the www.pandemicflu.

gov website for the latest guidance.

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer toTitle 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

DSG 5/2009

It is important that PPE be:

• Selected based upon the hazard to the

worker;

• Properly fitted and some need to be periodically refitted (e.g., respirators);

• Conscientiously and properly worn;

• Regularly maintained and replaced in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications;

• Properly removed and disposed of to avoid

contamination of self, others or the environment; and

• If reusable, properly removed, cleaned, disinfected and stored.

If used correctly, PPE can help prevent some

exposures; however, they should not take the

place of other prevention interventions, such

as engineering controls, cough etiquette and

hand hygiene (see www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/

stopgerms.htm).

For additional information on what employers

can do to protect their workers, please refer to

OSHA Publication No. 3327, entitled Guidance

on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza

Pandemic, which can be accessed at: www.

osha.gov. Also consult www.pandemicflu.gov

to obtain current and additional detailed information about all aspects of pandemic

influenza.

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information: