Freeman Shares Avian Flu Contingency Plan
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 2/26/2007
Freeman has created a comprehensive contingency plan to deal with the possibility of an avian influenza pandemic, and is sharing it with others on the Intl. Assn. of Exhibitions & Events Web site.
The Freeman plan is to enable the company to maintain business continuity during a bird flu pandemic. According to David Klutts, Freeman corporate director of risk management services, Freeman Chairman and CEO Don Freeman had been keeping an eye on avian flu developments because of the SARS outbreak several years ago in Asia and Toronto.
"An outbreak could impact us as far as work processes go, so we began to examine the issue a year ago, when there was a lot of talk about whether or not avian flu could be passed from human to human," Klutts said.
He said Freeman's plan was specific to the company, but when company-specific information was extracted, it became a good template to work from. He said it was useless if it wasn't used, and that Freeman wanted to share it because some companies might not have the resources to develop plans of their own.
"Some day, competitors at a tradeshow may help each other if another's labor force is impacted by avian flu," he said, adding that Freeman understood that in the event of a crisis like widespread avian flu, there would be a need to work closely with clients, facilities, other vendors and competitors, as well as the community and health care services.
IAEE got involved because Klutts is on its Security & Safety Task Force, which hadn't acted on avian flu. IAEE asked to use Freeman's plan, and Don Freeman and Vice President of Marketing Carrie Freeman Parsons agreed to put a version, minus Freeman specifics, on IAEE's Web site.
The only cost was the time and effort expended. Insurance and other issues were examined, and Freeman employees from sales, operations, finance, human resources and other areas contributed.
Freeman is conducting a company-wide employee training session that includes a prepared presentation of the plan and an opportunity for employees to share questions and concerns. The plan's topics include:
- why it exists
- background and characteristics of avian influenza
- predictions of the possible impact on business
- examples of teams and duties during progressive stages of a pandemic
In addition, it provides information on hygiene, protective equipment and stress management, as well as references for additional information.
Freeman began to develop its first comprehensive disaster recovery plan after a 1999 fire in its Houston operation. It has since been expanded and updated several times.
The company's 240 New Orleans-based employees also used it during the 2005 hurricane season.
