H1N1, or swine flu, has infected and killed people here in Canada and in many countries across the world. This pandemic flu spreads in the same way as the common flu, but because it is new we haven't built up an immunity to fight it off. An influenza pandemic means the virus is spread easily between humans and affects a wide geographic area.

So far, the vast majority of patients with H1N1 experience mild symptoms and recover fully without hospitalization or medical treatment. However, pandemic flu has the potential to greatly impact our country and our workplaces. If this flu worsens, the number of people who miss work will increase significantly and result in a further slow-down of our economy.

While there is currently no need to panic, workplaces need to be prepared. It is the employer's responsibility to protect their workers. Unfortunately, there is currently no occupational health and safety law on pandemic flu at either the territorial or federal level.

However, employers need to implement infection control measures and emergency plans now, so that workers are fully protected. Unions and workplace health and safety committees need to be involved in every step of the development of these measures and plans.

Health and safety committees should be reviewing the current programs, plans and policies of their employer to ensure that measures are in place for a pandemic. They should also be ensuring that needed supplies are available - soap, tissues, cleaning products, and where applicable, N95 respirators.

Safe work practices can be a very good way to protect workers from getting the flu virus. These include, but are not limited to:

- frequent hand washing with soap and water, alcohol-based wipes, or gel sanitizer.

- limit close contact with co-workers, customers or clients.

- cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then dispose of the tissue in 'no touch' garbage containers.

- regularly clean all surfaces that are frequently touched (door knobs, telephones, computers, etc.)

- stop or reduce the practice of sharing desks or equipment.

- set up flexible work schedules to reduce the number of workers on site at the same time.

- allow workers to work from home if possible; and

- decrease work-related travel so workers are not exposed to other potentially high-risk workplaces.

Employers need to train workers concerning pandemic flu in the workplace. The training should include ways to catch the virus at work, symptoms of pandemic flu, and methods to prevent the virus from spreading. Workers should also be informed of the safe work practices and infection control measures implemented in their workplace.

Employers must keep the workplace clean. Cleaning and disinfecting equipment and surfaces that could be contaminated, as well as having guidelines in place for the handling and disposal of contaminated waste help reduce the spread of the pandemic virus.

Finally, it is important for workers to remember that they have the right to refuse unsafe work.

- Mary Lou Cherwaty is president of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour