Health

The physical and mental health and well-being of our employees are the foundations for a successful company. Health management at OMV follows 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 an OMV 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, preventive initiatives such as targeted health promotion campaigns, health programs and training sessions, and curative care
• Minimum equipment and materials for our clinics – both on land and offshore – such as electrocardiograms (ECGs), 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.

Preventive Care

OMV maintains or works with a total of 45 medical units across 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 2023, a voluntary screening and check-up service for cardiovascular issues was offered to all OMV Group colleagues based at the head office in Vienna, and similar check-ups were offered at many other clinics for employees in other workplaces and countries. In addition, we run seasonal campaigns to provide free vaccinations against flu and tick-borne encephalitis in affected areas. In 2023, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters were offered once again.

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. In 2023, after most of the COVID-19 related travel restrictions were lifted, Corporate Health Management was once again able to perform health audits in Romania, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Serbia, and Bulgaria; all other clinics carried out self-audits. Audit results serve as the basis for identifying areas for further improvement and analyzing the effectiveness of our health management approach.

Community Engagement

The presence of OMV’s first aid facilities benefits the local population, as it often provides necessary medical help in remote areas where medical services might not be easily or quickly accessible (e.g., in Yemen). In 2023, OMV’s first aid facilities supported 1,737 individuals in the local population in need of urgent care. From this perspective, our assistance to the local population ensures 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.

2023 Actions

In 2023, COVID-19 prevention was still on the agenda of medical staff in some countries (e.g., Romania, Germany, and Austria), where it was legally possible for vaccinations to be administered at workplaces.

In fall 2023, doctors and other health care professionals came together and discussed the main challenges, such as mental health issues and the latest developments in emergency medicine. The focus topics for preventive care for 2023 were discussed and a plan for implementation developed.

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

• 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.
• The Corporate Health and Learning departments have developed a new collaborative initiative to raise awareness of health issues over the last few years. In 2023, webinars were held focusing on issues such as ideas for achieving a better work-life balance, while another was organized to discuss the promotion of mental health.
• Locally in some countries, face-to-face health promotion sessions were able to take place, with the main topics including a breast cancer awareness campaign that continued in Romania and offers free and voluntary breast ultrasounds, followed by the availability of a specialist doctor examination in case of abnormalities.

Outlook

In collaboration with a task force from the health committee of IOGP/Ipieca, we will elaborate a guideline and training materials for the relationship between mental health and leadership. Emphasis will be placed on raising awareness of this relationship and how to improve it. The first pilot training session are scheduled to for the second half of 2024 so that training can be organized at all our workplaces starting in 2025.