Creating a Pandemic Preparedness Plan for ISNetworld or for ANY Company
If you are a contractor to large refineries and manufacturers like we are, you are likely a member of one or more safety oversight companies like ISNetw...
If you are a contractor to large refineries and manufacturers like we are, you are likely a member of one or more safety oversight companies like ISNetworld. Recently clients have been asking contractors to upload a Pandemic Preparedness Plan for ISNetworld, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Other non-ISNetworld clients may have also been doing the same, or you as a safety professional may have been thinking about what your company should develop.
⚡ TL;DR: A comprehensive pandemic preparedness plan must cover 11 key elements: ownership assignment, hand washing/hygiene facilities, periodic training, work-from-home policy, continuance of operations, immunization encouragement, communications, gathering limitations, cleaning protocols, plan reviews/testing, and lessons learned processes. ISNetworld requires these plans, and OSHA expects all employers to maintain pandemic preparedness documentation.
Using ISNetworld’s program questionnaire can help any company determine what should be included in a plan and give a place to start. The following are the topics covered by the questionnaire for the current Pandemic Preparedness Plan for ISNetworld. Even if ISNetworld doesn’t apply to you, this may give you some ideas for best practices:
- Assignment of Ownership
Who is going to be in charge of carrying out the plan? Who is on that team and how is it decided?
- Hand Washing Facilities, Cleansers and Other Hygiene Items
What hand washing facilities will be available to your employees? What other sanitizing products will be available (i.e., hand sanitizers, disposable towels, etc.). In this section you could also cover personal protective materials to be provided as well.
- Periodic Training
Periodic training should be conducted regarding illness prevention and spread of disease. It should also communicate your policies regarding illness. At what frequency will they be conducted, and who will do (or be responsible for) that training.
- Work From Home Policy
What is your company policy regarding working from home, or staying at home when an employee is ill or taking care of an ill family member.
- Continuance of Operations
What is your company’s strategy for continuing operations if a large percentage of your staff becomes ill? What’s your plan for maintaining operations during quarantine or stay at home orders?
- Immunizations
Does your company encourage employees to get proper immunizations?
- Communications
How are employee and internal communications conducted?
- Gatherings
Does your company limit large or crowded gatherings during outbreaks or increased disease levels? What does that look like?
- Cleaning
What is your strategy for cleaning workplace surfaces and equipment?
- Reviews and Testing
How will this plan be tested? How often will it be reviewed? Who is responsible for doing so?
- Lessons Learned
What is your process for implementing lessons learned? How will that be done, and who will do it?
⚠️ What’s at stake: Facilities lacking documented pandemic preparedness plans face OSHA citations under the General Duty Clause. ISNetworld contractor audits that find missing pandemic plans can result in contractor deactivation, contract loss, and bid rejection from major refineries and manufacturers in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Writing the Plan
Hopefully this gives you a start on creating your own Pandemic Plan. If you do not have the time nor the labor right now to do this, let us help! We have written these Pandemic Preparedness Plans for ISNetworld compliance and for our own company. Contact us today for pricing!
Does your facility have a current pandemic preparedness plan? Is it ISNetworld-compliant and tested? iSi Environmental can develop or audit your pandemic plan to ensure compliance with ISNetworld requirements and OSHA expectations. Get pandemic plan support →
💰 The cost of non-compliance: Facilities failing ISNetworld audits lose contractor status and bid eligibility, potentially costing millions in lost revenue. OSHA citations for inadequate pandemic preparedness carry fines from $3,000–$15,000. Unplanned operational shutdowns from pandemic events without a plan cost $50,000–$500,000+ per day depending on facility size.
If you need help getting started, we have a template plan for you to purchase for $100. Click below to buy and download this Microsoft Word document now.
Purchase Template
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is ISNetworld and do pandemic preparedness plans apply to non-ISNetworld companies?
ISNetworld is a safety oversight platform used by large refineries, manufacturers, and contractors to manage contractor safety compliance and documentation. While pandemic preparedness plans are required for ISNetworld compliance, all companies benefit from developing comprehensive pandemic plans regardless of ISNetworld membership. OSHA and CDC guidance encourage all employers to maintain pandemic preparedness plans. iSi Environmental helps companies in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas develop pandemic plans that meet both ISNetworld requirements and general occupational safety standards.
Q: What are the key components of an effective pandemic preparedness plan?
A comprehensive plan should include: (1) clear assignment of ownership and team structure, (2) hand washing and hygiene resources, (3) periodic employee training on illness prevention, (4) work-from-home policies, (5) business continuity strategies if staff becomes ill, (6) immunization encouragement, (7) employee communication procedures, (8) protocols for limiting gatherings during outbreaks, (9) workplace cleaning strategies, (10) plan testing and review schedules, and (11) processes for implementing lessons learned. ISNetworld’s questionnaire provides a structured framework for developing these components.
Q: How often should pandemic preparedness plans be reviewed and updated?
Plans should be reviewed and updated regularly as disease threats evolve, as your business operations change, or as you implement lessons learned from pandemic events. A minimum annual review is recommended, though more frequent updates may be necessary during active disease outbreaks. Responsibility for reviews and updates should be clearly assigned to specific personnel. iSi Environmental helps companies establish regular review schedules and implement updates to keep pandemic plans current.
Q: Are there regulatory requirements for pandemic preparedness plans under OSHA rules?
OSHA requires employers to develop pandemic preparedness plans under the General Duty Clause and other standards, though specific pandemic plan regulations vary by industry. Healthcare facilities, refineries, and chemical manufacturers face heightened requirements. CDC and OSHA guidance strongly recommend all employers maintain pandemic plans covering employee health, continuity of operations, and risk mitigation. Contractors to large manufacturers (particularly refineries in Kansas and Oklahoma) face specific ISNetworld requirements. iSi Environmental ensures plans meet both regulatory requirements and contractor expectations.
Every satisfactory pandemic preparedness program starts with documentation, testing, and continuous review. iSi Environmental helps contractors and manufacturers in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas develop and maintain ISNetworld-compliant pandemic plans. Schedule pandemic plan development →
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