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10 Questions for Pandemic Planning

Business risk consultancy Control Risks identifies ten questions organizations can use to determine their level of preparedness in the event of a pandemic emergency

By , Senior Editor

May 01, 2009 — CSO —

As news of the swine flu continues to dominate headlines, businesses are evaluating the potential impact on operations should the virus become a massive interruption. Control Risks, an international business risk consultancy based in Washington, DC, has issued a list of ten questions companies can use to determine just how prepared they are for a pandemic emergency (Also see CSO's Pandemic Preparedness Planner).

"The challenge of preparing for a pandemic is different from any other scenario," said Brian Kaye, Vice President and National Practice Leader for Business Continuity at Control Risks. "It is a unique effort and must take into account variables such as the business model of the firm, the geography where a company operates and most importantly the culture of the organization."

While many organizations may have cut back on preparedness spending in the current challenging economic climate, Kaye stressed there are a number of specific areas companies should consider to minimize the risk exposure of their businesses and people.

"There are measures that can help corporations and that will guarantee the continuity of their operations," he said. "For corporations with outdated or without pandemic preparedness plans, the first step is for the executive management team to set guiding principles for the coming weeks and months which address duty of care responsibility and to communicate those decisions, as appropriate, to the workforce. There are also policies and protocols that, once put in place, can have a strong impact in countering a pandemic emergency."

Control Risks encourages organizations to take stock of the following ten questions:

1. Have you defined reliable information sources that you will monitor for situational awareness in the event of an influenza pandemic?
"It is essential to ensure that the information sources you choose are reliable, appreciate nuances and bring a degree of expertise and analysis to these types of events," said Kaye.

The information gathered from these sources will be critical for your decision-making process and you want to make decisions based on the best possible knowledge available.

2. Has top management documented a set of guiding principles that outlines, among other things:
- The commitments the firm will make to protect employees and ensure duty of care;
- The types of programs the firm will keep in place;
- The budget available for planning;
- The person responsible for implementing these programs at Corporate HQ.

When considering guiding principles during a pandemic, there is a variety of options companies can take, said Kaye. It is important for firms to confirm their guiding principles early on, in order to guide the planning effort.

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