This involves working with the facility design teams to integrate health and safety programs and processes into the new operations, visiting the sites early in the start-up phase to review and address local and national regulations, and assessing the public health infrastructure. Production began at IBM Thailand during early 1998, with the OHS department preceeding it. Start-up of the medical facility required a thorough understanding of the public health infrastructure of rural Thailand. The site's health center is equipped with an ambulance and provides 24-hour emergency care, along with physician services, immunizations, food, water and other wellness programs. At IBM Singapore, wellness and health education programs include hepatitis awareness, stress in the workplace, cholesterol management and others.
Employees also receive routine eye and hearing tests and vaccinations.
Limited outpatient health care and occupational health services are integrated on-site by an external health services provider. Hailiang Storage Products Co. Along with a trained emergency medical team, these companies provide employees with occupational health services, including walk-in medical services, immunizations, yearly health exams and health education programs. Since the start-up of IBM Hungary in 1995, the site's OHS team has grown along with the workforce. The staff provides evaluations of occupational injury and illness, advice on ergonomics and workplace health issues, on-site health screening and educational programs. Though IBM strives to maintain the same high standards for all its sites and employees around the world, it recognizes that particular areas may have special needs.