Measures against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the Japanese workplace: Differences between large enterprises and small and medium ones

Imai, Teppei

Friday, March 23, 2012

Ground Floor (Cancun Center)

Teppei Imai, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University Of Occupational Environmental And Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan

Ken Takahashi, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University Of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Tomohiro Ishimaru, Occupational Health Training Center, University Of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Takashi Maruyama, Occupational Health Training Center, University Of Occupational Environmental And Health, Kitakyushu, Japan

Toshiaki Higashi, Department of Work Systems and Health, University of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan

Yoshitaka Miyamura, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Norihide Nishinoue, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Masamichi Uehara, Department of Work Systems and Health, University of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan

Koji Wada, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan

Keita Morikane, Clinical Laboratory, Yamagata University Hospital, Yamagata, Japan

Koji Mori, Occupational Health Training Center, University Of Occupational And Environmental Health, Kitakyusyu, Japan

Introduction
To deal with the outbreak of pandemic influenza, preparing in the pre-pandemic period is important for enterprises. However, there might be significant differences in the preparedness levels among enterprises especially by their scale. The aim of this study is to assess (1) the Japanese enterprises’ preparedness levels in the pre-pandemic period of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and (2) the differences between large enterprises and small and medium ones (SMEs).

Methods
We conducted a questionnaire survey concerning “conception of institutional measures against pandemic influenza in the pre-pandemic period” on 958 enterprises distributed throughout Japan, of which 679 were large enterprises and 279 were SMEs. The questionnaire was administered during July-August of 2009. The chi-square test was used to analyze the statistical differences between large enterprises and SMEs.

Results
Among 958 enterprises surveyed, 438 valid responses (46%), of which 331 were large enterprises and 107 were SMEs, were received and analyzed. Although many enterprises felt they provided infection control measures to their employees [“information (73%)” and “protocols (64%) ”], few enterprises held the notion that they prepared business continuity measures [“business continuity plan (30%)” and “cooperation with supply chains (23%)”]. There were significant differences between large enterprises and SMEs for the above institutional measures [“information (76% vs. 64%)”, “protocols (68% vs. 52%)”, and “BCP (33% vs. 19%)”], except for “cooperation with supply chains (24% vs. 21%)”.

Discussion
In the pre-pandemic period, many Japanese enterprises felt they provided the infection control measures to their employees, however, few enterprises felt they were prepared for the business continuity measures. Comparing with large enterprises, the preparedness levels among SMEs were insufficient in both infection control and business continuity measures. To prepare for a future pandemic, it is important to enhance the implementation of (1) business continuity measures among all Japanese enterprises and (2) infection control measures among SMEs.

A1369 Measures against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the Japanese workplace: Differences between large enterprises and small and medium ones