Health

The well-being and physical and mental health of our employees are the foundations for a successful company. Health management at OMV is both a strategic and an operational system. Its success depends on leadership, commitment, and participation at all levels and functions in the organization, from medical specialists and partners to employees.

Specific Policies and Commitments

We have established a Group-wide health care standard to ensure a high level of care for employee health across the Company. OMV’s internal Group Health Standard describes the main principles, roles and responsibilities, and lines of communication within the OMV Group. The standard provides a framework for managing preventive health measures and curative health care as well as collaboration among HSSE specialists. It supplements local legal requirements, allowing us to establish a harmonized level of health care services and access to medical facilities at all OMV sites.

The Group Health Standard governs the work of operative medical service providers in relation to the following areas:

• Planning of human resources, medical facilities and services, and local health plans
• Operational health risk assessment and management, emergency preparedness, preventative initiatives such as targeted health promotion campaigns, health programs and trainings, and curative care
• Minimum equipment and materials for our clinics – both on land and offshore – such as electrocardiograms (ECG), defibrillators, suction units, rescue devices, and emergency medication
• Checks and audits of medical suppliers (laboratories, partner clinics, pharmacies), hygiene in food facilities, customer satisfaction
• Reporting
• Collaboration with contractors and subcontractors on health and safety

Management and Due Diligence Processes

Risk Assessments

OMV applies its own risk management standard which provides for a thorough assessment of possible risks, including health-related risks. We have therefore developed guidelines – based on international guidelines from IOGP/IPIECA – for health risk assessments covering such risks as harm from chemical agents, psychological strain, physical injuries, and others.

Preventative Care

OMV maintains or works with a total of 43¹ All health data excluding Borealis medical units at all locations where we have operating facilities. To mitigate occupational health risks, our medical staff carries out specific preventive examinations in accordance with the legal regulations of the countries in which we operate. These examinations include blood tests for employees working with specific hazardous substances and hearing tests for employees exposed to noise. We offer general health screenings to our workforce. In addition, we run seasonal campaigns to provide free vaccinations against flu and tick-borne encephalitis in affected areas.

Audits

A special health audit program developed by the Corporate Health Management department serves as an evaluation tool to ensure that our common corporate health care standard is implemented and followed throughout the Group. The program stipulates that all clinics and medical partners be audited every three years, and clinics also report on a self-conducted audit every year. Due to the COVID‑19 pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed, only very few audits could be completed on-site in 2020 and 2021 – all other clinics carried out self-audits. Audit findings serve as the basis for identifying areas for further improvement and analyzing the effectiveness of our health management approach.

2021 Actions

Every year, we organize health promotion activities to enhance the knowledge of our employees on health-related issues.

• In 2021, we conducted the “Passport for Health” campaign at OMV Petrom for the sixth time. This campaign aims to raise awareness of health care to encourage employees to participate in voluntary health programs and to start living a healthy lifestyle. Like other activities, this year’s program was held online.
• At the Health Circle in Gänserndorf (Austria), employees gather regularly to address work-related health issues and create customized solutions in collaboration with the local health team. In 2021, the main issues discussed were how to deal with the impact of COVID‑19, skin protection, and flu vaccinations.
• The Corporate Health Department and the Learning Department also developed a new collaborative initiative for raising awareness on health issues. In 2020, webinars were launched that focus on issues such as ideas for achieving a better work-life balance and correct lifting and work ergonomics, inspired by the European Agency on Safety and Health at Work. In 2021, this was expanded to regular hour-long HealthConnects sessions, where employees share knowledge and personal health promotion experiences – like exercise activities or ideas for mechanisms for coping with daily stress – and provide mutual motivation and inspiration.

In 2021, as in 2020, our health promotion activities focused on the impact of COVID‑19.

The presence of OMV first aid facilities benefits the local population, as it often provides necessary medical help in remote areas where medical services might not be easily accessible quickly (e.g., in Yemen). In 2021, OMV first aid facilities supported around 1,461 individuals in the local population in need of urgent care. From this perspective, our assistance to the local population provides a positive impact outside OMV’s operational boundaries, thereby contributing to building a good relationship with our neighbors. (Read more about our engagement on SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being in the Community Investments section.)

Outlook

Due to COVID‑19, we were forced to cancel many first aid courses and emergency drills. We plan to focus on carrying out this training in 2022, especially as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has issued new guidelines on first aid.

Unfortunately, the year 2022 will still be influenced by COVID‑19, so we have to continue to focus on new pandemic developments, vaccines, health protection, and treatment. Mental health needs have come to the forefront due to COVID‑19 in particular. We will continue to step up our efforts toward providing mental health support with training and other measures.

Health promotion also has to serve local needs. Therefore, we will ask our medical workforce to think about the health risks specific to their locations and develop promotion activities – like a health hour or vaccination campaigns.