Boeing, IBM, First Chicago, and Johnson & Johnson Named 1998 "Healthiest Companies"
Chicago, April 29, 1998--The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) announced today that The Boeing Company, IBM, First Chicago NBD Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson are winners in its second annual Corporate Health Achievement Award (CHAA) competition.
The 1998 CHAA winners were recognized as the nation's "healthiest companies" at the ACOEM Opening Session held during the American Occupational Health Conference in Boston, Mass. Medical directors from the winning companies described their model programs in a later conference session.
The CHAA award was created to provide national recognition and honor to companies within North America that have superior employee health, safety, and environmental management programs. It is also intended to encourage corporate self-assessment and continuous improvement, and to call attention to the importance of such initiatives.
The 1998 competition was open to any manufacturing or service organizations employing more than 1,000 employees. Participants were rigorously reviewed by a professional team of trained examiners, who looked at written applications and examined the finalist companies during in-depth, on-site visits.
Competing organizations were judged on their commitment to and excellence in creating comprehensive and innovative health, safety, and environmental programs. Examiners looked for measurable results in 23 quality categories covering 4 areas: healthy people, a healthy environment, a healthy company, and leadership.
The 23 categories explored such concerns as the degree to which employees are rehabilitated following illness or injury; inspection and abatement of workplace hazards; environmental protection programs; involvement in developing governmental health and safety regulations; and collection and analysis of data concerning the impact of the company's programs.
To encourage ongoing superiority in their efforts, all participants received extensive feedback from examiners on their program strengths as well as areas needing improvement. Specific areas were singled out for praise in each organization.
"These companies are models of excellence, with outstanding achievements in employee health, safety, and environmental medicine," said Kent W. Peterson, MD, 1997 president of ACOEM and one of the award program organizers.
The 1999 award program will be expanded to include profit and not-for-profit sectors in manufacturing, service and government organizations with 1,000 or more employees.
ACOEM, an international society of 7,000 occupational medicine physicians, provides leadership to promote optimal health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments by educating health professionals and the public; stimulating research; enhancing quality of practice; guiding public policy; and advancing the field of occupational and environmental medicine.
Information about the CHAA program is available from the CHAA administrator, Susanna Matthew, 804-970-7744, or from ACOEM, 847-228-6850.
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NOTE TO EDTIORS/WRITERS: Individual news releases noting specific features of each company's award-winning program are available by contacting Kay Coyne, Director of Public Relations, ACOEM, 55 W. Seegers Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005; 847-228-6850, X152; E-mail, [email protected].
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