Centre for Occupational Health Services - a beehive of healthy activities
CPCL has played a pioneering role in the area of Occupational Health Services (OHS), in the oil industry. CPCL is committed to improving the working conditions of employees and promoting their health. A center for OHS - a unique service conforming to ILO guidelines, functions at CPCL's Manali refinery. This center provides services in occupational medicine, occupational hygiene and toxicology. It not only serves CPCL's employees and their families, but also the neighbouring industrial units.

The comprehensive health programmes at the center include: modification of stressful working conditions, periodic health examination of employees and health screening of employees for early evidence of asymptotic illnesses namely; hypertension, diabetes mellitus, etc., nutrition & weight control, drugs & alcohol abuse prevention, smoking cessation, stress management and health education & information.

The Petro-chemical industry operates in the midst of potential hazards. Occupational exposure to gases, complex mixtures of hydrocarbons, other chemicals, heat stress, high noise levels, etc., are encountered in this industry. This necessitates constant vigilance through occupational health programmes that provides a scientific basis for decisions aimed at protecting the health of employees.

With these in mind, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited has implemented its in-plant Occupational Health Services (OHS) to promote the overall health of its workforce. The OHS is well-equipped and maintained with sincere effort, demonstrating the company's commitment to employee welfare.

Activity Analysis
The center for OHS at CPCL, has a fully trained and well-equipped organisational framework. The staff is highly skilled and the facilities include precision apparatuses & testers to make high quality scientific work possible, within a shorter span of time.

The essential components are
Occupational hygiene monitoring of the work environment that involves the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of environmental agents, which may pose hazards at the workplace.

Health evaluation of employees
Pre-employment / Pre-placement examination to ensure that workers are placed on jobs according to their physical capacities, mental abilities and emotional make up.

Periodic health examination – We undertake "Hazards related Biological Monitoring" to monitor employee health in relation to specific health hazards. This is done to determine the risk of developing subsequent diseases or to identity them in their early state.

"Well–Person" screening for early evidence of chronic multi-factorial illnesses such as ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, etc.

Visual Performance Screening in order to maintain an individual's visual abilities to the highest possible levels.

Hearing Conservation Program including measurement of noise and audiometry for determining acuity of hearing.

Specific protection through immunisation.

"Health Education", mental health and counselling at individual level, sickness absence control program, lifestyle modification – alcohol / smoking control program, etc.

Equipped with basic diagnostic and resuscitative facilities to provide emergency care.

Development of an efficient data system – “Health Information System” for storing and organising data on occupational hygiene, medical information, and hazard information, on each chemical exposure profile and for locations where potential exposures can occur.

Applied research, documentation to disseminate information. A library with a rich collection of the latest books and a number of elective components of the program, constitute Occupational Health Services in CPCL.

The center has been developed as a "resource centre" to provide professional and technical assistance to the neighbouring industries, for the study of environmental hazards encountered within the industry.

The center has been a precursor for the establishment of similar systems in other Petro-chemical industries in the country.

The center has established linkages with national and international agencies for technical co-operation.