INFLUENZA (FLU) IN THE WORKPLACE
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NIOSH Flu-related Work
The annual direct costs, such as hospital visits, doctor’s office visits, and medications, of influenza (flu) in the United States are an estimated $10.4 billion. The flu causes U.S. workers to lose up to 44 million workdays at an estimated $6 billion a year in lost productivity from illness.*
To lessen flu risks at work, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) does surveillance, Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs), and research.
- Surveillance helps detect the flu earlier, and by analyzing data and monitoring trends, it shows what efforts best prevent the flu.
- The HHE program responds to requests from employers, employees, and union representatives to evaluate work-related issues that involve the flu. HHE reports help identify ways to reduce worker risks.
- Research topics, such as understanding how the flu spreads and identifying the best types of respiratory protection, lead to more knowledge about workplace issues involving the flu.
These NIOSH activities relate to the safety and health of workers who could be exposed to seasonal flu:
*Molinari NA, Ortega-Sanchez IR, Messonnier ML, Thompson WW, Wortley PM, Weintraub E, Bridges CB [2007]. The annual impact of seasonal influenza in the U.S.: measuring disease burden and costs. Vaccine 25(27):5086–5096, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17544181
- Page last reviewed: November 24, 2015
- Page last updated: December 29, 2016
- Content source:
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Office of the Director