"PIHO is a policymaker and companies are the main executors. Big endeavors are required on the part of managers and staff so that we can realize the major demand of PIHO, which is preventive and healthcare issue," Habibollah Samie said. 

According to results achieved from industrial medicine assessments in 2017, cardiovascular and non-contagious diseases were among the major health problems of petroleum industry staff. 

"In addition to undermining the quality of life and efficiency, these diseases increase direct and indirect costs of treatment and increase more absence from activity and the probability of accidents," he said.

"That is while preventive interventions and timely care to health can reduce costs and enhance the quality of life and bring about productivity. Improving the nutritional behavior is one of the most important interventions with a view to reducing the spread of aforesaid diseases," he added. 

A meeting was held in the p presence of Samie in order to analyze the results of industrial medicine examinations conducted on the staff of the Khazar Exploration and Production Company (KEPCO) with a view to study the health conditions of the staff. 

"Protecting the health of the staff and their families is a major obligation assigned to PIHO. On the basis of policies formulated to that effect we are going through preventive activities and promoting culture of changing lifestyles in order to safeguard the health of our staff seriously," he said. 

Samie underlined the need for full coverage of periodical exams and cares to health and controlling cardiovascular and non-contagious diseases in the petroleum industry, saying: "The most significant priority of HSE and occupational health is to conduct necessary interventions to reduce cardiac arrest or stroke risks. That will be done during the second half of the current calendar year, which is possible by improving physical activities and reforming nutrition behavior." 

Ali Osouli, CEO of KEPCO, offered his gratitude to PIHO managers for their cooperation in upgrading bilateral communications for enhancing the health of staff.

Stressing the significance of health and prevention, he said: "Through interaction by colleagues at PIHO, operational and executive approaches must be applied in order to reform incorrect patterns."

Ali-Reza Qaseminejad, head of HSE and civil agency division of KEPCO, presented a report highlighting the significance of establishment of staff health committee. 

He said that measures taken so far, including improvement in the industrial medicine examinations, attention to the issue of nutrition of the staff, and providing medical advice were among the advantages of the formation of the health committee.

Payman Faridnia, head of occupational health and HSE at PIHO, underlined the need for bilateral cooperation between companies and PIHO for the realization of health plans of the staff and the necessity of giving awareness to the staff regarding the advantages of periodical examinations. 

He provided an analysis of industrial medicine examinations and the occupation health indicators at KEPCO. He said that the age conditions of the staff, coverage of examinations last year, occupational diseases, chronic and non-contagious diseases (cardiovascular diseases), diabetes, blood pressure, obesity and metabolic syndrome were among the most important factors highlighted in the report. 

He said that KEPCO had been regularly attending the Health Committee meetings about the ranking of healthy restaurants. 

"The restaurant located in the operational zone of KEPCO was chosen as pilot to promote healthy nutrition and it is expected to serve as an example for behavioral changes which would result in the modification of indicators," said Faridnia. 

Other issues discussed in the meeting included an assessment of occupational health indicators in 2017 and the results of risk analysis of cardiac arrest and stroke, which would serve as a useful tool to measure the likelihood of cardiac arrest or stroke over the coming decade.

Given the significance of the issue, PIHO has used available scientific resources in order to draw up a bylaw titled "Health-Friendly Restaurants" with a view to upgrading the nutrition conditions of the staff for the purpose of prevention and controlling risk factors of non-contagious diseases at the level of subsidiaries of the Ministry of Petroleum. The directive explains how to regulate a food program for the staff based on their job in compliance with the principle of diversity, balance and consistency.

This plan is expected to be implemented in six industrial companies to be finally established through participation of senior managers, human resources and HSE divisions of companies.