Health and working environment 

There are risk factors in our business that can entail a health and safety risk, and we must have good systems for managing this risk. This is done through defining requirements when we design workplaces. We closely monitor physical, chemical and organisational factors in the working environment, and we have a system for following up groups that are exposed to risk. Special attention is devoted to chemical health hazards, and, in 2007, action plans were drawn up for the individual business areas.

The psychosocial working environment is important. A good balance must be achieved between work requirements, the opportunity the individual employee has for control and participation and support from colleagues and managers. We are focusing strongly on health and job satisfaction in the integration process. Prior to the merger, emphasis was placed on preparing managers to look after the interests of employees and on improving their insight into human reactions to change. This will be closely followed up in the time ahead.

The company's health service is adapted to suit its activities and to meet requirements in the different countries in which it operates. Medical emergency response capability is established where necessary.

StatoilHydro is an inclusive workplace enterprise. We actively monitor the working environment and make adaptations to prevent sickness absence. In connection with sickness absence, employees are followed up with a view to help them return to work as soon as possible. We are concerned with ensuring that employees have a stimulating working environment and are subject to a good personnel policy in all phases of their professional careers.

Sickness absence in StatoilHydro in 2007 was 3.5%. It has remained stable and low at 3.5% for the last three years. The average sickness absence in Norway in the third quarter of 2007 was 6.0%.