• Access general swine flu guidance on the Health and Safety Executive website
• Download detailed NHS guidance for employers in the workplace from the Department of Health website
• Download a pandemic flu checklist from the Cabinet Office website

• See our guide on crisis management and business continuity planning.
• Find out how to handle the risks of diseases, infections and allergies in the workplace.
• Identify potential risks in your workplace: see our guide on risk assessment - an overview.
• International traders - find out more about the importance of health and safety controls in international trade.

Following the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) level 5 pandemic alert, the government organised a leaflet about swine flu to be sent to every household in the country. It explains how to prevent transmission of the disease and access vital services if a pandemic does occur. You can get it here right now. Download the NHS leaflet on swine flu from the Directgov website

You can also access the leaflet on swine flu in alternative languages and formats on the Directgov website.

If you employ staff, we recommend that you email this leaflet to them, and suggest that they forward it to friends and family.

The key prevention messages are:

• always carry tissues
• use clean tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze
• bin the tissues after one use
• wash your hands with soap and hot water or a sanitizer gel often

Or in short: "Catch it, bin it, kill it."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has advised that the novel influenza A H1N1 strain has not been found in pigs in the UK but they maintain their surveillance. However, the transmission to pigs is not unexpected and their guidance to pig keepers reflects this. The novel strain does not pose a food safety risk to consumers. It has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating pork and pork products.

Find swine flu advice for pig keepers on the Defra website

European Union (EU) rules currently allow the import of live pigs from Canada to the EU. Trade in live pigs to the UK, from Canada, is limited and only one consignment has been sent this year (in February). Defra will review the current rules at EU level. Given the high health status of the consignments likely to come from Canada, their infrequency, and the fact that disease has been found in only one herd to date (with an epidemiological link to Mexico), the risk from live pig imports from there is very low. Their advice to pig keepers is that, if they have influenza signs, they should stay out of contact with pigs. This is consistent with the Health Protection Agency advice to returning travellers which asks people to stay out of contact with other people if they have influenza signs.

If your workers are routinely in contact with the general public, it will not usually be necessary for them to wear masks. In some special settings, masks can be advisable. You should consider the duration and frequency of contact with the public, and also review:

• Are your workers likely to encounter members of the public who are displaying symptoms, for example, in a healthcare setting?
• If so, what other steps could you take to minimise contact?

If you decide that masks are needed, you can find information on choosing the right type of mask on the Department of Health website.

Currently the government is not advising avoidance of mass gatherings or social events and there are no restrictions in place. This includes sporting events, concerts and other public events.  

Pandemic alert levels