Influenza A(H1N1)
OOCL has implemented a contingency plan to allow us to respond immediately to any potential outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) in the regions where we operate. As a Hong Kong-headquartered company, we are very experienced in handling influenza outbreaks and we fully understand the importance of high vigilance and taking precautionary measures.
All OOCL’s global business operations are continuing as usual. We have sent an advisory to all colleagues on land and at sea to alert them to possible symptoms and precautions that should be taken. We are closely monitoring the situation and will advise our customers immediately if there are any implications for their supply chain due to local government measures.
For more information about influenza A(H1N1), please visit the World Health Organisation (WHO) website.
For customers' reference, our contingency plan is outlined in detail below.
OOCL GUIDELINES
The following guidelines have been adopted in our offices globally.
- Do NOT come to the office if you have flu-like symptoms.
- Immediately contact your healthcare provider.
- Follow guidelines on What You Must Do to Stay Healthy.
- Please contact HR before you leave on your holiday or business trip to Mexico or areas that are known to have the virus. You may be asked to NOT come to the office for seven (7) days, depending on where you have been.
- Every office must ensure there are plenty of liquid soap, alcohol hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes to clean desk top, keyboard tray, mouse, telephone, door knobs, calculators, etc., etc. in various locations.
- All non-essential vessel visits and terminal visits have been suspended for the month of May as a precaution.
What Colleagues Must Do to Stay Healthy
- FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE: Wash your hands often with soap and water. This removes germs from your skin and helps prevent diseases from spreading.
- Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of water and eat nutritious foods.
OOCL MEASURES AND CONTINGENCY PLAN
We are thoroughly prepared for the worst. According to the local situation, each Region shall use the following color-coded alert system and principles to work out and adopt its own contingency plan. Our priority is to ensure health, safety and business continuity. At the moment, all regions are operating as Normal (Green).
Principles to observe in working out contingency plans:
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Staff segregation plans for employees who need to be physically present to ensure business continuity, namely Customer Service and Documentation, or some Operations staff.
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Marketing and Sales, and other support functions (Management, Human Resources and Administration, Finance & Accounts, etc.) can work at home in case of contingency.