The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the importance of establishing and maintaining solid health and safety standards. Today, as LyondellBasell celebrates World Health Day, we reflect on the unwavering commitment our employees have demonstrated to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) while navigating new challenges brought on by COVID-19.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our employees have implemented additional safety measures at our global work locations, keeping our operations running safely and protecting their colleagues and families,” said Dr. Gerard Guderian, LyondellBasell corporate medical director. “From entry and exit screenings to facial covering requirements, as the pandemic evolved, so did we. Keeping our employees safe and slowing the spread of the virus has been of the utmost importance.”
At the height of the pandemic, LyondellBasell created useful tools for employees such as an internal Coronavirus Resource Center for continuous updates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Later, as COVID-19 vaccinations became widely available in many parts of the world, the company developed and introduced an employee campaign, “Advancing Immunity.” The campaign’s goal was to encourage vaccination amongst employees by highlighting scientific facts and benefits of receiving the vaccine.
“In order to address the abundance of misinformation about vaccinations on the internet, we debunked popular theories and pointed employees to trusted sources,” said Guderian. “We also educated employees on what to expect as new variants emerged and shared tips on how to protect mental health during the pandemic. Thanks in part to the Advancing Immunity campaign, we saw vaccination rates among employees at many of our sites jump from 20% to 30% and as high as 100% vaccinated.”
The “Advancing Immunity” campaign also included a weekly video series featuring employees from around the world who had chosen to be vaccinated. The employees, or “vaccine champions,” as they were fondly called, shared their personal stories about why the vaccine was the right choice for them.
While World Health Day has served as an opportunity to reflect on the important work completed to protect employees’ health and safety, there is even more to be done to ensure a healthier tomorrow.
For more stories on how LyondellBasell and its employees continue the fight against COVID-19, click here.
