OGDEN -- Handshakes are out and nods are in as the preferred greeting among city employees to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu.
The city's fire, risk management and human resources departments have joined forces to develop a plan to limit contact between workers so they stay healthy.
"It's got everything to do with prevention and social distancing," said Fire Chief Mike Mathieu.
Four city employees have had confirmed cases of H1N1 in the last two months, said Mark Johnson, the municipality's management services director.
In addition, about 10 percent of the city's 108 firefighters have recently reported flu-like symptoms, Mathieu said. Firefighters are particularly at risk because they share close quarters and as first responders come into contact with the sick, he said.
As a precaution against H1N1, city officials have placed signs throughout municipal buildings encouraging workers and visitors to nod to each other instead of shaking hands.
In addition, hand sanitizers have been placed on employee desks and in building hallways.
The city's janitorial staff is also vigilant about wiping off door handles, elevator buttons and hand railings to minimize exposure to H1N1, Mathieu said.
Workers with flu-like symptoms are encouraged to stay home, said Johnson. "We don't want them spreading it," he said.
The fire department also has about 500 adult doses of Tamiflu available to city employees who have prescriptions from their physicians, said Mathieu.
The medicine was acquired by the department in 2006 at the time of a bird flu pandemic, he said.
Tamiflu works by helping to stop the flu virus from spreading, according to the medication's Web site at www.tamiflu.com.
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