BOC requires its businesses around the world to manage employee health activities in accordance with local laws and regulations and according to own codes of practice.
The main potential health issues that exist in BOC operations differ across business units. For example, in the global gases businesses, the main potential health issues are exposure to noise from gas compression activities and from cylinder handling, potential exposure to some gases filled into cylinders, potential exposure to chemicals used in metal cleaning, vehicle maintenance and painting operations, and ergonomic and manual handling risks particularly associated with cylinders.
OHH programmes have been developed to deal with these issues and are applied across the Group through local initiatives and the safety, health, environment (SHE) integrated management system. A 'wellness' programme in the UK continues to deliver benefits, due largely to the identification and treatment of high cholesterol and blood pressure amongst employees.