Pandemic Awareness, Preparedness & Response Training
Practical guidance for businesses on planning, response, and protecting workforce health during a pandemic.
Course Overview
This course equips employers and staff with the knowledge to understand the impact of a pandemic on business operations, workforce health, and the broader community. It explains the essential elements of a business continuity plan and outlines hazard controls and practical measures to protect employees and maintain critical operations.
Why this training matters
While pandemics are infrequent, their effects can be widespread and long-lasting. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how rapidly a pathogen can disrupt normal business activity. Preparing in advance ensures a faster, more effective response that reduces risk to employees and helps sustain business continuity.
Who should take this course?
- Business leaders and continuity planners
- HR and occupational health professionals
- Facilities and operations managers
- Supervisors and frontline staff
- Safety and emergency response teams
Learning Objectives
- Describe the public health and business impacts of a pandemic.
- Outline the components of an effective business continuity plan for pandemics.
- Identify engineering, administrative, and PPE controls to reduce transmission risk.
- Develop communication, response, and recovery procedures for workforce safety.
- Plan for workforce resilience, remote work, and critical operations continuity.
Course Outline
- Introduction to pandemics: definitions and historical examples
- Public health principles and transmission dynamics
- Business continuity planning: risk assessment and critical functions
- Hazard controls: engineering, administrative, and PPE strategies
- Workforce protection: screening, testing, vaccination policies, and mental health support
- Communication and stakeholder engagement during a pandemic
- Recovery, post-event evaluation, and continuous improvement
- Exercises, scenario planning, and template business continuity plans
Format & Duration
- Format
- SCORM-compliant eLearning for LMS delivery or instructor-led workshops
- Duration
- 1–3 hours (self-paced) or half-day/full-day workshop options
- Assessment
- Scenario-based exercises and knowledge checks; certificate upon completion
This Pandemic Awareness, Preparedness, and Response Training equips you to confidently navigate a global health crisis. Upon completion, you'll be able to:
- Grasp the far-reaching effects of pandemics on businesses, industries, and communities.
- Learn about Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and their importance in protecting your workplace from outbreaks.
- Differentiate between a regular business continuity plan and a specialized infectious disease preparedness and response plan.
- Explore the specific strategies and actions for all three phases of an infectious disease preparedness and response plan.
- Understand OSHA's occupational risk pyramid and utilize its hazard controls and intervention strategies for different exposure groups.
- Navigate OSHA standards and recordkeeping requirements specific to COVID-19.
- Summarize the guidelines for individuals and employers during the three phases of resuming work operations post-pandemic.
- Discuss emerging work trends that may shape businesses and individuals in a post-pandemic world.