National Safety Council & ExxonMobil Establish International Award for Excellence in Safety, Health and the Environment 9/8/2003
From: John Ulczycki of the National Safety Council, 630-775-2160 or 847-951-2847 (onsite/cell) CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 8 -- The National Safety Council (NSC) announced today that it is establishing a global leadership award that will be presented annually to companies that demonstrate commendable leadership and excellence in safety, health and environmental performance. The new award is being underwritten by a 5-year, $1 million commitment from ExxonMobil, through its Foundation. The award will recognize businesses that demonstrate the value they place on safety, health and environmental (SH&E) excellence and show how measurable achievement in SH&E performance is linked to productivity, profitability and other measures of business performance. "SH&E excellence is a reflection of how companies value human life, their employees and their citizenship in the communities in which they live," said Alan McMillan, NSC President. "We believe that SH&E systems are not simply a necessary cost of doing business, but are a direct contributor to improved business performance. We plan to demonstrate this linkage to the world's business leaders by sharing the stories of the winners of this award." "We want to use this award to educate the world's business leaders on how they may learn from the best and adopt leading-edge systems and practices that improve SH&E and overall business performance," McMillan said. "We are delighted to present this new global award, and we are grateful to ExxonMobil for co-developing the award and providing the funding that makes it possible." "ExxonMobil leads the energy industry in safety performance and we believe a company's commitment to the highest standards of safety, health and environmental care contributes to and is indicative of superior performance in other aspects of its operations," said Lee Raymond, chairman of ExxonMobil. "It is because of this commitment that ExxonMobil established this global award with the National Safety Council, as an opportunity for companies worldwide to distinguish themselves among their peers and to serve as role models for others. We expect the award will identify best SH&E practices across the globe that all of industry can tap to drive improved performance." According to Raymond, last year ExxonMobil recorded the safest year in the company's history. In 2002, ExxonMobil invested $186 million in SH&E technology research and development, capital project support and technical applications. ExxonMobil's Operational Integrity Management System (OIMS) serves as the company's framework for meeting the highest standards of safety, health and environmental protection. OIMS is designed to drive all operational incidents as close to zero as possible and helps support ExxonMobil's "Nobody Gets Hurt" program. Winners of the award will be selected by a panel of 40 reviewers. These reviewers, to be selected by a group of international safety and health organizations, will include internationally known experts and leaders in business, education, safety, health and environmental fields. They will represent all regions of the world and represent management, labor, academic and government perspectives. The review process will include comprehensive evaluations and site visits to finalist organizations. Applications for the award will be available from the National Safety Council and on the NSC Web site beginning in October 2003. The first winners of the award are planned to be announced in October 2004. About National Safety Council The National Safety Council is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, international public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Members of NSC include more than 45,000 businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. Founded in 1913, and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the primary focus of the NSC is preventing injuries in workplaces, in transportation and in homes and communities. For additional information about the National Safety Council, visit http://www.nsc.org. About ExxonMobil Foundation ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation engages in a broad range of philanthropic activities focusing on the communities where Exxon Mobil Corporation has significant operations. In addition, the Foundation supports research and dissemination on selected topics of national interest to the energy industry. Focus areas include education, health and environment. In 2002, ExxonMobil Foundation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, and its divisions and affiliates provided $98 million in contributions worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.exxonmobil.com. |