Recent facility shutdowns due to COVID-19 cases and the resulting supply chain disruption has shown the food industry that being prepared for pandemics is increasingly vital to business resiliency. While COVID-19 is certainly the most impactful, it is the third pandemic in 18 years, the others being SARS and H1N1. This history makes it clear these types of diseases and the resulting impacts aren’t going away, so being prepared for them is essential.
To help companies support worker health, build bottom line resiliency and unlock insurance benefits in this new normal, AIB International has launched Pandemic Prepared Certification. The first pandemic certification created specifically for the food and beverage industry, Pandemic Prepared Certification examines and certifies your plans and protocols against our best-in-class standard. To become certified, your operation will need to demonstrate proficiency in the following five areas.
1. Crisis Management
A crisis management plan assesses the risk of events that may negatively impact facility operations, people, and a company and their reputation. Does your company have an effective crisis management plan that prepares responses and assigns responsibilities so you can effectively deal with a pandemic as it unfolds, manage risk during the crisis, and restore operations back to normal when the crisis passes?
2. Supply Chain Disruption
A supply chain management plan is essential in preventing and minimizing disruptions to your supply chain. Do you have a plan that ensures materials required for manufacturing and employee protection are provided and maintained at acceptable levels in event of a pandemic?
3. Intermittent Operations
Due to rapid changes in consumer demand and worker availability, many facilities have repeatedly stopped and started operations. Do you have a plan that outlines scheduling and internal communication to ensure effective resources management of materials, workforce and downtime?
4. Cleanliness & Sanitation
Research shows cleanliness and sanitation as one of the top consumer concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the event of a pandemic, do you have processes to identify exceptions to routine procedures and practices in order to develop additional measures that prevent workplace transmission?
5. Worker Health
Maintaining worker health is important in reducing workplace transmission. Have you assessed national and local health department protocols and recommendations and tailored them to your facilities?
Get free pandemic preparedness checklists each week when you sign up for our Get Started email series.
Contact us at ppc@aibinternational.com to learn more about Pandemic Prepared Certification.
