Oxy has a companywide commitment to operate in an ethical and responsible manner. We strive to ensure safety, respect human rights, safeguard the environment and promote positive, mutually beneficial outcomes in each of our business locations around the world.
In fulfilling our social responsibility commitment, Oxy is guided by a number of key corporate policies, practices and standards, including our Human Rights Policy, Code of Business Conduct (PDF) and Health, Environment and Safety Management System (HESMS).
The cornerstone of our social responsibility program is the Human Rights Policy, which reinforces Oxy's commitment to the promotion of human rights for employees, contractors and neighbors of our operations. The Policy, which Oxy adopted in 2004, focuses on four main areas.
Stakeholder Dialogue and Awareness
Oxy engages proactively with stakeholders - including neighbors, local governments, customers and partners - and seeks to be attentive to their concerns. Such communications assist in gauging and increasing the effectiveness of company policies and business practices.
Assessment of Risks and Opportunities
Prior to the start of work in new international locations, assessments are conducted to determine the potential social and economic effects, opportunities and risks associated with Oxy's operations. Assessment results help to identify local issues and to design mutually beneficial programs to address them.
Contractors and Suppliers
Oxy has an expressed preference for contractors and suppliers who share our social responsibility values, and requires these key stakeholders to meet the company's expectations with respect to training, compliance with laws and regulations, ethical business conduct, and protection of health, safety, the environment and human rights.
Training
Human Rights
Human rights training is provided to managers, security personnel and other designated employees at Oxy's overseas operations. The company also provides training materials to contractors in many locations to ensure Human Rights Policy compliance, content consistency and quality.
Code of Business Conduct
The Code of Business Conduct governs all corporate activities and is applicable to all Oxy employees, officers and directors. In many instances the Code is more stringent than analogous laws and regulations. Translated into Arabic and Spanish for use in our international operations, the Code sets forth company policies regarding business relationships, equal opportunity, securities trading, conflicts of interest, protecting company property, and other important areas.
Oxy has a number of procedures in place, including an anonymous and independently operated Compliance Line, to facilitate reporting by employees, contractors or others of any complaint or inquiry regarding compliance with company policies. Compliance Officers investigate all credible allegations of policy violations. The Compliance Line and website are operated by an independent third-party vendor. All reports are treated confidentially to the extent possible.
Health, Environment and Safety
The formal HESMS is embedded into Oxy's operational processes worldwide.
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Social responsibility: From Policy to Results
Policy
- A strong Human Rights Policy
Practice
- Assess risk and impact
- Know the community
- Solicit employee and contractor participation
- Train comprehensively
- Address stakeholder concerns
Implementation
- Clearly defined and measurable performance standards
- Integrated into HES management system
Results
- Building a reputation as a trusted partner and neighbor
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Dedicated to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace and responsible environmental stewardship, its robust programs promote continuous performance improvement by encouraging individual responsibility, quantifiable results and communication about progress.
System performance is routinely reviewed and verified through audits, evaluations and other quality-assurance and quality-control methods.
Because this broadly used management tool encompasses business planning, stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, training and performance evaluations, the HESMS has proven to be an ideal vehicle for integrating social responsibility into the companywide enterprise. Since launching this unified approach in 2006, Oxy has continuously worked to increase dialogue, consistency and accountability in regard to the Human Rights Policy and Oxy’s Social Responsibility Program.
OxyChem has tailored its HESMS to incorporate the elements of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) Responsible Care® initiative. The Responsible Care program includes a set of HES metrics, many of which are more stringent than corresponding government requirements. OxyChem plants also regularly participate in community advisory panels to discuss HES improvements, performance and other information of interest.