FACULTY AND STAFF INFORMATION

Guidelines and Procedures for Employees

Fever	Cough	Sore throat	Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches	Headache	Chills	Fatigue
A significant number of people who have been infected with novel H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Some of these symptoms are similar to that of the common cold. According to the CDC, a differing characteristic for the flu is that it usually comes on suddenly.

• an education and awareness program will focus on preventive measures, including vaccinations.
• elements include hand sanitizer stations throughout campus and signage.  These will be prominently and conveniently located in areas such as washrooms, dining facilities, residence halls, classrooms, laboratories, and building entrances.
• a web site will be available to enable students to notify Mines of flu-related absences.

• each department should take steps to ensure that they have on hand an adequate supply of hand sanitizer and should ensure faculty, staff and students are encouraged to frequently use it.  Departments can request supplies of hand sanitizer for public areas and public service desks from Facilities Management through their work order system.
• department heads, directors, managers and supervisors need to discuss with their faculty and staff preparations and expectations during a flu outbreak -- at a minimum, this discussion should include preventive measures and communications that faculty and staff are expected to make with the department.
• departments should also ascertain which employees can work remotely and, assuming that the employee has off-site internet access, ensure that they have the appropriate applications that may be needed on their home computers for a secure connection.

• employees with symptoms of the flu are not to come to work, are toremain away from work until 24 hours after any fever resolves (without the use of fever-reducing medication), and are to report usage of sick leave using the leave system.
• employees are to communicate directly with their departments, generally to their direct supervisors or alternates or as otherwise directed by their supervisors or managers.
• employees who are not ill themselves, but are caring for ill family members, need to communicate with their direct supervisors or alternates.
• in either case, employees who can work remotely may do so, but must coordinate this, including approvals if necessary, with their respective departments
• employees with flu-like symptoms or who are caring for sick family members do not need to apply for Family and Medical Leave if their absence from work is longer than three (3) days; however, if a serious medical condition manifests that will require follow up physician visits or hospitalization, supervisors should be notified so that they can alert the Benefits Office and cause FML notifications to be sent to the employee.

• need to reinforce and communicate departmental expectations of employees with regard to the above guidelines as well as any other department protocols.
• if employees are manifesting flu-like symptoms at work, managers and supervisors must send the employee home with instructions not to return until 24 hours after the symptoms resolve.
• if an employee does not agree that he or she is manifesting flu-like symptoms, the supervisor must send the employee to the Student Health Center where a medical professional will determine whether the employee can safely remain at work.
• employees should use sick leave for these absences – for classified employees, standard state leave use rules will generally apply. However, because of the extraordinary nature of a pandemic, for employees who do not have sufficient paid leave balances (sick and annual leave) to cover absences, advanced use of future sick leave accruals will be permitted – the supervisor must coordinate this with Human Resources.
• Supervisors are to send e-mail notification of employee absence due to flu to Linn.Havelick@is.mines.edu with the words FACULTY/STAFF FLU in the subject line – this will permit Mines to understand the prevalence of any outbreak.

• Symptoms / Illness – During a pandemic flu outbreak, it is possible that many physicians’ offices will be overwhelmed with contacts and the need to see seriously ill patients. In such a situation, employees may find it difficult to consult with their physicians or find information specific to their needs. Faculty and staff who have their health insurance through Mines have access to insurance “hotlines” that are staffed by nurses or physicians. Contact information for these “hotlines” is:

• Software / Off Campus Work and Connectivity: Contact CCIT staff at helpdesk@mines.edu or go to the help desk web at http://helpdesk.mines.edu for information.

 

Environmental Health & Safety

EHS Main Office
   Chauvenet Hall, Room 194
   Phone:  303-273-3316
   Fax:  303-384-2081

Chemical Storage & Distribution (CSDF)
   Coolbaugh Hall, Room 030
   Phone:  303-273-3555
   Fax:  303-384-2123