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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Work instructions if you become ill or exposed

Individuals who pose a risk of infecting others as a result of personal illness with H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) or who have been exposed through direct caregiving may not enter IBM work environments until the risk ceases.

Please be sure Integrated Health Services receives notification as soon as possible about an illness or exposure concern. Immediate action may be needed to evaluate next steps associated with these issues. If you are unable to notify IHS yourself, please contact your manager to handle in your behalf. To reach an IHS representative, please refer to the local IHS team to whom you would report workplace health concerns. Please see below for specific instructions:

Illness
If you have been diagnosed with H1N1 Flu or have symptoms of this illness including fever and cough, sore throat or body aches you are not permitted to come into any IBM work environment (including customer). This restriction applies for a minimum of seven calendar days following the onset of symptoms or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.

For all other (non-influenza) illnesses and symptoms, the above requirement does not apply. Contact your manager or Integrated Health Services (for IBM employees) and follow the normal return to work practices.

Exposure
Management of H1N1 Flu exposure situations can vary based on the nature of exposure, country requirements and business considerations. In some circumstances, individual risk assessments may be required. Integrated Health Services should participate in those risk assessments.

Travel from an H1N1 Flu affected community/country:
IBM is not requiring anyone to self quarantine at this time as a result of travel.
NOTE: Self quarantine means restricting entry to IBM work environments for 7 calendar days from the last date of exposure (including offices, meetings, customer locations, etc.)
Some countries may impose a period of self quarantine. In such cases, country regulations apply.
Some customers may require a period of self quarantine. In such cases, a business unit decision along with IHS consultation is appropriate.

Caregiver Exposure
If you are directly caring for someone who is ill with H1N1 flu (such as a small child or incapacitated adult) and have had prolonged periods of close face to face contact such as during feeding or bathing the person, it may be possible for you to transmit the illness to someone else just prior to becoming ill yourself. Because of this, you are restricted from coming into an IBM work environment (including customer) for seven days from the date you stop providing direct care. During this time period, you should conduct daily self screening for illness symptoms and fever.
In all other circumstances, exposed individuals may come into the workplace unless otherwise directed by the local/country health department or customer/client instructions. The exposed individual should conduct self screening for illness symptoms and fever daily for seven days from the last date of exposure.

Self screening
Individuals are asked to perform H1N1 Flu illness self screening following exposure to a confirmed or suspected case.

To conduct self screening, please perform the following steps:

Step One: Check whether you have symptoms of illness including fever and cough, sore throat or body aches.

Step Two: Check your temperature using a standard, good quality thermometer following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Step Three: If you have symptoms as described in Step One or you have a temperature greater than 100.4o F or 38o C, you must not go into the workplace.

You should:

Notify your manager that you are unable to report to work.
Contact an IHS representative; please refer to the local IHS team to whom you would report workplace health concerns.
Contact your health care provider for further health instructions, especially if you are at higher risk for complications.
Refer to the guidance in Work Instructions if You Become Ill or Exposed.

Stop the spread of H1N1 Flu

This virus spreads from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that seasonal influenza viruses spread, through coughing and sneezing. Cough etiquette and hand washing are essential to stopping the spread and preventing exposure to the virus.

Wash Hands:

Before eating or preparing food.
After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
After using restroom facilities.

Handwashing Technique
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Rinse well, with hands held downward. Dry with a paper towel, then use the towel to turn off the faucet.
For health reasons, IBM is only recommending hand sanitizers be present in work areas when soap and water are not available. Though hand sanitizers can be effective in killing some germs, they are less effective than soap and water for removal of germ containing debris on the hands that can be deposited when coughing and sneezing.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs often spread when a person touches something contaminated and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth.

Go home if you get sick at work
Ill individuals should leave the work environment immediately or as soon as possible. Inform your manager or lead that you are ill and need to leave the workplace. Keep at least 1 meter/3 feet from others to protect them from getting sick. Practice cough etiquette. Cover your mouth and nose if coughing or sneezing, using tissues and disposing of them properly. Wash your hands afterward.


For tips on how to stay healthy while traveling, please check the Online Swine Flu Help. For country specific advisories and mandatory quarantine or restrictions on community movement for those who exhibit H1N1 illness symptoms or were exposed to ill travelers, please refer to International SOS Country Guides (see Closures & Quarantine, Airport Screening or Travel Restrictions) or country government agencies such as embassies and state departments.

H1N1 Flu Facts from the World Health Organization (WHO)

H1N1 is now the dominant flu strain in most parts of the world. Studies have detected no signs that the virus has mutated to a more virulent or lethal form.
The pandemic will persist in the coming months as the virus continues to move through susceptible populations.
The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and may include fever, cough, headache, body aches, chills, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat and runny nose. A significant number of people who have been infected with this new H1N1 virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
The overwhelming majority of patients continue to experience mild illness.
At higher risk of serious complications from H1N1 flu are people age 65 years and older, children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or immunosuppressed).

While this is a new health problem that may cause concern, there are many actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and the workplace.