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.