Many companies in Hong Kong are unprepared to handle health-related emergencies, according to a snapshot survey.
The results of the survey were revealed on the same day that the World Health Organisation declared a swine flu pandemic.
The study by human resources (HR) consulting firm Mercer showed that about 40 per cent of Hong Kong employers appear to have no co-ordinated policy in place to effectively deal with health-related emergencies.
This is despite the crippling Sars outbreak in 2003 and early warnings about the potential threat posed by the deadly bird-flu virus.
With a Phase 6 global flu pandemic now declared, and the Hong Kong authorities closing primary schools, kindergartens and child care centres for at least two weeks, far too many companies are still scrambling to implement HR policies to safeguard staff and other contacts without overly impeding normal business functions.
If they have not done so already, the top measures businesses should be considering include stockpiling personal protective equipment and restricting employee travel. They should also be providing additional training on the symptoms and preventive measures, and taking steps to split rosters and allow staff to work from home, said Robert Allen, regional medical director for North Asia at International SOS.
