Five Helpful Ways To Keep Your Restaurant Safe From The Swine Flu Virus

Mexico is a bad place right now for restaurant operators. In Mexico, not only are you more likely to get infected there, but most people would rather stay inside than leave the house and eat pork at some restaurant. The situation’s bad, and we can only hope for better news in the coming weeks.

As restaurant operators we need to make sure our staffs and customers are well-aware and protected from this possible swine flu pandemic, what they now call H1N1 influenza A. Here are some foodservice safety precautions issued by the National Restaurant Association.

• Remind employees of the possible pandemic
• Partner with the local health department
• Observe the basics of proper hygiene
• Inform your employees about the symptoms
• Be open to consultations

Remind employees of the possible pandemic
Remind your employees from time to time that knowing is half the battle. Make sure they understand that their safety and health—and that of your customers, too—are your top priorities. If your employees are made aware that you value their safety more than anything, they’ll be less likely to do things that’ll compromise their health and ability to work.

Partner with the local health department
Coordinate with the local health department regarding any precautions that might help restrict the spread of the virus in your local community. Keep in close contact with them, and make sure they give you a call whenever something, anything, new comes up. It’s always good to know that a restaurant I like is close friends with the local health department.

Observe the basics of proper hygiene
Don’t forget to observe basic hygiene procedures. Always wash your hands, cover the nose and mouth when you sneeze, and avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. It doesn’t hurt to post this as a bulletin for your customers near the dining area.

Inform your employees about the symptoms
Order a general meeting and discuss the symptoms with your employees. They are body aches, fatigue, sore throat, chills, cough, headaches, fever, and vomiting, even diarrhea. Ask them to see a doctor as soon as they start feeling any of these symptoms and, if the doctor recommends it, don’t show up for work.

Be open to consultations
Encourage your employees to come and talk to you about anything that concerns the swine flu. You’re here to help, not to lecture. Also print a copy of the symptoms and make sure it is posted in the work area and visible to employees at all times.

The NRA promised to post updates as soon as new information—and hopefully, vaccines—are discovered. Only time will tell what this new virus has in store for restaurant operators. In the meantime, let’s do our best to keep our restaurants a clean and safe place to eat.