Pandemic

Pandemic preparation Tasmania

A pandemic like COVID-19 can spread quickly and affect many people, leading to widespread illness and major disruptions to our daily lives and the economy.

Know your risk

The effects of a pandemic can lead to significant illness of your staff and those in other businesses that you rely on.

This can cause disruption to supply chains, services and even customer demand.

By using a Business Continuity Plan you can consider what impact a pandemic could have on your business and identify ways to manage and minimise the risk.

Prepare for a pandemic

Create or update your business continuity plan to include strategies to mitigate the impact of a pandemic, including financial.
Discuss your pandemic procedures with your staff.
Determine if any of your business tasks can be done remotely or in a different way to keep people safe.
Monitor the Tasmanian Department of Health's website for major updates and to view any public health orders and restrictions.
Understand your obligations as an employer.
Review your insurance policy to ensure it provides sufficient coverage for pandemic-related risks, including loss of income. Be sure to understand any policy requirements.

Types of risk:

Keeping your business financial records up to date and managing your cash flow will help you to understand your financial position.
Seek advice from your accountant or other financial professional.
Check your eligibility for a tax deferral by speaking with your tax advisor or visit the ATO website.
Find out if government support is available and if your business is eligible.
If your business has been disrupted, you may wish to discuss your situation with your bank/lender, insurance provider and/or utility providers. They may have available hardship support. The earlier you do this, the more options there are available.

Tell your customers about any changes to your business hours or services. Visit the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website to understand your legal obligations.
Plan how you will communicate with your staff during a pandemic. Consider using a digital, multi-channel approach such as email, social media, website, collaboration apps and document-sharing platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Google Workspace.
Ensure your staff are aware of pandemic procedures and their roles including knowing the trigger for pandemic plans and how this will be communicated.
Keep emergency and staff contact numbers up to date in your business continuity plan.
Encourage staff to get an annual influenza vaccination to reduce the impact of seasonal flu on the community, workplace and health services.
Consider what effect high rates of staff shortages over an extended period may have on your business. Determine if a minimum staffing level is needed to maintain service delivery or production levels.
Identify key roles and responsibilities and decide if additional training or cross training is needed. This ensures if a staff member is unavailable, another team member can step in.
Develop and maintain step-by-step guides for key processes and procedures. This will help maintain consistent and efficient operations, improved quality, compliance and staff onboarding.
Identify ways to support your staff’s health and wellbeing during a pandemic such as access to counselling services.

Consider maintaining a supply of hand hygiene products (including alcohol-based hand gel), tissues and non-touch rubbish bins.
Consider maintaining a supply of face masks for staff who are likely to be in close contact with people at work.
Purchase and maintain technology and equipment to support alternate work arrangements. For example, laptops, mobile phones and video-conferencing software and equipment.

Online resources:

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for information on your obligations to your customers.
Australian Government health and safety for information on preventing harm and injury at work.
Australian Government COVID-19 guidance and resources to manage work health and safety.
Australian Government Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub.
Fair Work Ombudsman for information on workplace entitlements and obligations during a pandemic, and medical certificates.
Tasmanian Department of Health for information on infectious diseases and prevention.
Coronaviruses and COVID-19 guidance and resources for businesses.
COVID-19 resources.
World Health Organisation.
WorkSafe Tasmania for information on work health and safety (WHS), workers compensation, and first aid requirements.

Download a pandemic checklist

Pandemic

Pandemic preparation Tasmania

Know your risk

Prepare for a pandemic

Types of risk:

Financial

Staff and business visitors

Infrastructure and property

Online resources: