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Home > Resources > Emergency Preparedness > Communicable and Pandemic Diseases
Communicable and Pandemic Diseases
Grainger wants to help you limit your vulnerability and losses from predictable events. Find products and services to help you prepare for, respond to, and recover from hazards, including communicable diseases such as colds and influenza.
Most experts believe that seasonal colds and flu are spread when droplets from ill people, by coughing, sneezing, or simply talking, reach the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. They may also spread by touching your mouth, eyes or nose after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it.
Preventing Colds and Flu
Prevention is always the best and most important action to take. For detailed recommendations, visit CDC sites for common colds and influenza.
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Prevention Tips
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water
- Use alcohol-based hand cleaners if soap and water are not available
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, and dispose of tissues promptly
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Avoid close contact with sick people
- If you get sick, stay home and limit contact with others
Source: CDC
If a Cold or Flu Outbreak Occurs
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Response Tips
- To help prevent the spread of cold and flu viruses, keep surfaces clean by wiping them with a disinfectant.
- Help destroy the flu virus with heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]).
Source: CDC
Pandemic Diseases
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines a pandemic as a global disease outbreak. The CDC classifies a flu pandemic as an outbreak of a new influenza virus that humans have little or no immunity to and that has no vaccine. This virus causes serious illness and can spread globally.
Avian Flu Protection
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published "Guidance for Protecting Workers Against Avian Flu." This document provides background information on the disease and offers recommendations for employees or individuals who could potentially be exposed to avian flu. Learn more about avian flu with these articles and resource links.
H1N1 Protection
The CDC recommends that employers develop pandemic influenza response plans in the event of a serious outbreak of influenza. Learn more about H1N1 with these articles and resource links.
Preventing the Avian and H1N1 Viruses
Grainger has a variety of products to help prevent the spread of the Avian and H1N1 viruses around your workplace.
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West Nile Virus Protection
With the warmer temperatures come those pesky mosquitoes. Grainger has put together fast facts about the West Nile Virus, plus an assembled list of preventative products that could help you or your workers if your exposure risk is high.
Preventing the West Nile Virus
Grainger offers several DEET products and other insect protection to help keep the mosquitoes away.
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Avian Flu Articles, Links and Info
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- FDA Approves vaccine for humans against the H5N1 influenza virus
- OSHA's Guidance for Protecting Workers Against Avian Flu
- OSHA's Pandemic Preparedness Guidelines for Healthcare Workers
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- World Health Organization
- Quick Tips 285: Proper Handwashing
- An example of a pandemic preparedness checklist for businesses
- OSHA's workplace safety and health guidance document will help employers prepare for an influenza pandemic
- International Society For Infectious Diseases
- NIOSH Publication - Protecting Poultry Workers from Avian Influenza
Grainger Services
Grainger provides special emergency services to our customers and their communities.
After-hours Emergencies
When an emergency occurs after business hours, call 1-800-CALL-WWG (1-800-225-5994) and we will open a branch for you. A $50.00 fee may apply.
Emergency Support Teams
When an emergency unfolds, we have a plan in place that quickly mobilizes internal and external resources to assist troubled communities.
Extended Hours and Personnel
During major emergencies, Grainger branches may stay open 24 hours (unless curfews are imposed by local authorities). Additional personnel are often brought in to take orders, assist customers at the counter, and load trucks. Our Call Centers are able to accept phone orders 24 hours a day.
Essential Product Availability
Typically within hours of an emergency, trailers containing critical products are dispatched to support the relief effort. Contingency plans with our suppliers allow us to provide additional equipment quickly
The Ready Rating Program provides an easy, actionable framework to help any organization assess their readiness and build and implement response plans.
Ready When the Time Comes, a corporate volunteer program, taps the human resources of corporate America.
