Health Starter Kit and Health Planning Resource Pack for Occupational Health Assurance
Authors: Delaney M , Martin A , Morgan Ms L , Ross L R 
Published: December 2007

BP Amoco's commitment to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) performance are simply stated: No accidents;No harm to people;No damage to the environment.

Everyone who works for BP Amoco (BPA), anywhere is responsible for getting HSE right and BPA's business plans include measurable HSE targets. Therefore where ever BPA operates or when ever it enters into new and different ventures and countries; management systems for implementing the relevant HSE programmes, procedures and legislative requirements should be either already in place or being initiated.

Normally, of the three HSE elements, ‘Health’ is the least well understood and resourced, and is therefore given the least attention. To help ensure that Health aspects in BPA Exploration (BPAX) are initially identified, easily understood and then addressed in an on-going and suitable, sufficient and timely manner, two documents, ‘Health Starter Kit for Occupational Health Assurance’ (1) for emerging assets and a ‘Health Planning Resource Pack’ (2) for operating and mature assets have been developed for use.

The Starter Kit is divided into eleven main elements, which are subsequently split up into individual medical and occupational health and hygiene topics. The kit includes a ‘Health Activity Chart’ which indicates at which stage of the asset development each element should be considered; starting with the appraisal stage and working through the selection, defining and executing stages to those required when an asset is fully operational. The eleven main elements range from the initial ‘General Health Risk Assessment’ through ‘Workplace Design’ to ‘Workplace and Personal Monitoring’. Besides the occupational aspects of health protection, welfare matters are covered by the ‘ Kitchen’ and ‘Hotel Checks’ elements along with all aspects of occupational medicine and hygiene. It has purposely been produced in pocket size, card checklist format with a hard protective cover, so that it can be easily and conveniently carried around and used by BPAX managers and HSE personnel whilst they are out and

The concept of health planning is important for three reasons: It is based on examined practice;It is an effective way of managing the business issues of health;It shares a common language with that of safety.

The Health Planning Resource Pack was developed to provide a framework for better health management. It also works well as a marketing vehicle or device to raise the profile of health as a business performance issue. Each pack contains an overview of the health planning process and offers a number of tools to assist Business Units (BU's) in constructing their own specific health plan. The principal planning tool is a Generic Planning Matrix or table designed to capture the main elements of an occupational health management programme, to set out clear expectations and outcomes to improve health auditing and assist in identifying key performance measures. The generic table is modified to reflect the needs of each business unit and it then becomes the BU Specific Planning Matrix which is used by the site health planning team to develop their needs on a three year rolling timeline.

In addition, seven specialist appendices ranging from Occupational Hygiene to Stress Management have also been prepared as further guidance. The pack also contains an introductory brochure, several health planning graphics, an outline of a health planning seminar or workshop and reference materials.