Safe and healthy workplace
Oxy consistently ranks among the safest companies in the U.S.; for 12 consecutive years, the employee IIR has been less than 1.0. In 2007, Oxy's employee IIR of 0.5 was virtually identical to the prior year's performance. According to the most recently published (2006) industry data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Oxy's safety performance is about nine times better than that of the average U.S. company.
Oxy also is one of the top safety performers in its industry. The most recent data available from API indicate that the average IIR for all U.S. exploration and production company employees is 0.62, while the average for ACC peer companies is 1.12.
Our focus on minimizing the risk of injury to employees also has reduced the number of severe injuries. Oxy's worldwide Lost Time Case Rate, which represents the annual number of cases per 100 workers that resulted in an employee being unable to return to work or perform normal duties the day after an occupational injury or illness, is just 0.33 – significantly lower than the rate of 2.3 for U.S. industry overall, based on the most recent BLS data.
Oxy's business segments rely on service contractors for specialized or short-term work. HES performance is an important factor in the selection of contractors. We monitor our contractors' performance during the contract period, requiring notification of all injuries, along with plans to prevent recurrence.
Contractors working full-time for Oxy perform better than those doing similar work for other companies. Oxy's 2007 consolidated worldwide full-time contractor IIR was 1.06, reflecting a 40-percent improvement over the past 10 years. Based on 2006 BLS data, Oxy's contractor results were more than five times better than the average for the U.S. construction industry.
Oxy is committed not only to our employees' well-being, but that of their families and surrounding communities as well.
Oxy's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers confidential counseling services to employees, retirees and their dependents at no cost. The services include assessment, treatment, referral and crisis intervention.
Some Oxy business units, including Oman and Colombia, work with community nurses and physicians who provide instruction on topics such as water treatment, food safety and preventing illness.