Workplace health
Our approach
We take all health issues seriously, whether work-related or not. Our goal is for our employees to be healthy throughout their careers and in retirement.
What we are doing
Throughout Imperial’s eight health centres across the country, our occupational health (OH) professionals – physicians, nurses and industrial hygienists – are well situated to address issues in a timely manner whether it is to provide advice on promoting a safe and healthy workplace or respond to individual health concerns. We also offer support programs and services to help employees prevent, identify and manage personal and workplace illnesses. These programs include:
Tracking potential workplace health risks
We have health surveillance management systems in place that enable us to track current and potential health risks in the workplace and provide support to our workers and business units. In 2009, the main illnesses the company tracked were the H1N1 virus, repetitive strain injuries and the Norwalk virus.
Providing the latest in hearing protection and practices
Our industrial hygiene and safety departments work jointly to identify and reduce noise hazards, provide protective hearing equipment, and give advice on the latest protective practices.
Because industrial hearing loss progresses over a long period of time, with symptoms such as ringing in the ears progressing to an inability to hear as the result of long, repetitive exposure, early prevention is key. Biannual audiograms are a component of the company’s hearing conservation program. In 2009, 1,578 employees in the Upstream and Downstream businesses, who were identified as potentially at risk, agreed to have their hearing tested.
Monitoring worker health in the field
Workforce and community health considerations are incorporated into project planning, as well as at each stage of exploration and project activity. OH professionals work closely with engineers to identify opportunities at the project design stage to minimize potential health and ergonomic risks to workers. Work camps are also inspected to ensure strict standards are met for factors such as water quality, noise and chemical exposures.
Up close:
Imperial’s occupational health (OH) professionals share their expertise
Imperial named a recognized centre for OH training
In 2009, Imperial became a recognized centre for OH residency training by the University of Alberta’s medical school. The company was chosen because it has a team of certified occupational medicine specialists and programs in a range of OH settings from corporate offices to remote operations, and it exemplifies the use of OH best practices in the oil and gas industry. Three senior residents took part in industrial rotations at Imperial’s operations in Sarnia, Edmonton and Rainbow Lake, Alberta, as well as at the corporate head office. Rotations ran between one week and two months.
Focusing on the personal health of employees
In 2009, we introduced a program in the Downstream that looks at health as a continuum, from prevention to screening and diagnosis to disability case management. As part of this program, OH professionals in the Downstream provided one-on-one sessions focused on retiring healthy. The goal was to educate employees about the concept that illness can take years to develop and, because of this, we need to each take personal responsibility for our own health. At different times of the year, group medical education sessions were presented to joint industrial councils and management.
We continued efforts to raise personal health awareness among employees through health seminars and fairs, and the company intranet. In 2009, for example, more than 420 employees attended a two-day health fair in Calgary. Community experts from Calgary Police, FMC Sleep Centre, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Diabetes Association, and Heart and Stroke Foundation were invited to make presentations. Employees could also have their cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index tested.
We also continued to provide a 24-hour confidential counselling and information service through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to employees and their families who experience mental health issues or other concerns affecting their well-being. During the year, about 10 percent of employees and their families accessed the service.
In late 2009, we enhanced our EAP service with support for employees with child and elder care concerns. Our program now assesses, identifies and locates care giving services based on need. Employees can arrange an appointment with a family service specialist who conducts research on their behalf. Depending on the requirement, employees may also be provided with a customized package of resources.
Supporting community health studies
Imperial advocates the use of science-based studies as a means of better understanding complex community health issues. In Sarnia, local community groups have raised concerns about the cumulative effects of air emissions on community health. Through the Sarnia-Lambton Environmental Association (SLEA), we remain strong supporters of a community health study to assess concerns.
In 2008, SLEA, the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce and the County of Lambton committed more than $60,000 in local funding to establish a board to oversee the study. SLEA and its partners are now looking to other levels of government to contribute to this community initiative. This spring, the Ontario Ministry of Health contributed $50,000 to the next stage of the study.
In the Kearl-related cooperation agreements with the Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN) and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), we committed funds to support the development of "community health strategies." This work was completed by the FMFN in 2008 and has yet to begin for ACFN in Fort Chipewyan. In the Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN) agreement, we also designated funds to support a baseline health study in Fort Chipewyan.
In the Kearl Joint Review Panel decision, it is stated that Imperial Oil is to participate in Cumulative Environmental Management Association's (CEMA) health risk studies and the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) Human Exposure Monitoring Committee. Imperial Oil continues to fund a share of CEMA and WBEA budgets. Alberta Health and Health Canada, however, indicated that they would be following up jointly on further studies in these areas.