Elements Newsletter

Personal Health Record

Your Personal Health Record (PHR), provided through Aetna, is a secure, private, online resource that enables you to view, access and manage your health information — and share that data with your medical providers, as needed.

With your PHR:

• Your health information is kept securely in one place, and is easily accessible in an emergency.
• You can print out an online Health Summary, which contains your detailed health information, to share with your doctors.
• You may receive a "Care Consideration" — a personalized electronic health alert to the email you have on record to help ensure you are receiving appropriate care (for details, see "Care Considerations: Improving Health Outcomes").

When it comes to health care services, once size doesn’t fit all. Thanks to PHR, you and your medical providers have a customized information resource to help ensure you get the care and treatment that’s right for you.

Care Considerations: Improving Health Outcomes

Quality assurance is an important part of any process, and that includes your health care. To maintain a high standard of care for its members, and help improve patient outcomes, Aetna offers "Care Consideration," a personalized health alert offered through Personal Health Record. There are two types of Care Considerations:

• Preventive Care Consideration: You will receive a Preventive Care Consideration, a preventive care electronic alert based on your claims history. For example, if you are due for an immunization or mammogram, you will receive a Preventive Care Consideration in your PHR, prompting you to schedule that service. If your PHR has your email information, you will also get an email alert.
• Critical Care Consideration: When needed, you and your attending physician may also receive a Critical Care Consideration through Aetna’s MedQuery® program — sophisticated health care technology that analyzes patient data against up-to-date clinical standards. This customized health care alert will be sent to you by mail, and to your physician via phone, fax or letter, depending on the severity of your health situation, as shown on the following page:

* While all medical issues might be considered serious, MedQuery takes care to issue Care Considerations for the most critical cases with the greatest level of urgency.

To illustrate, here are two examples of Level 1 situations that would prompt a Critical Care Consideration:

EXAMPLE 1

Issue: 49-year-old male with history of seizures — taking Ultram (central analgesic, used for management of moderate to severe pain), as well as a serotonin inhibitor (SSRI) and an opiate (analgesic). This combination of drugs can increase risk of seizures in patients taking Ultram.

Outcome: Physician was unaware of the numerous medications taken by patient, due to patient being treated by multiple physicians. Physician states that he/she will contact patient immediately.

EXAMPLE 2

Issue: 75-year-old female with history of cardiac disease and elevated cholesterol — taking 20mg of Zocor (to decrease cholesterol) and verapamil (calcium channel blocker, cardiac medication). Studies have shown increased risk of myopathy (abnormal condition or disease of muscle) in patients receiving 20mg or more of Zocor, along with verapamil or amiodarone.

Outcome: Physician changes Zocor to Pravachol.

Should you receive a Care Consideration, be sure to take the opportunity to review it with your physician. When used appropriately, this valuable information may help improve the quality of your health care — and, in certain cases, may even save your life.

Who Can Register for Aetna’s Online Tools?

Aetna Navigator is available to all Aetna members, including:

• Aetna subscribers
• Aetna subscriber’s dependents (access limited to the following):
  • Simple Steps To A Healthier Life (18 years and older)
  • Personal Health Record (18 years and older)

Note: At this time, dependents do not have access to other features on Aetna Navigator, including claim and benefit information.

HOW TO REGISTER

Registration is an easy process.

• Go to www.aetna.com and click on “Register Now” under “Members: secure information”
• Complete the requested information

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO ACTIVATE YOUR ACCOUNT

If you’re an Aetna member or dependent, you’ll need one of the following:

1. Your member ID number (conveniently located on your Aetna member ID card)
2. Your Social Security number (SSN) — if you are a dependent, you will need the Aetna member’s SSN

Save Money With Mail-Order Prescriptions

Prescription medication can make up a large part of your annual health care spending, especially when you have a chronic or long-term condition, such as diabetes, arthritis, a heart condition or high blood pressure. If you require a maintenance medication that you will be taking for more than two months, the Express Scripts mail-order prescription service can offer real savings.

With the Express Scripts mail-order service, you can purchase up to a 90-day supply of prescription medication for just a copayment (shown below), with no deductible:

• Generic drug: $25
• Preferred brand-name drug: $68
• Non-preferred brand-name drug: $120

Mail-order prescriptions also offer convenience and save you time. After your initial prescription has been filled through the Express Scripts mail-order service, refills can be ordered over the phone or online. Your prescription is shipped directly to your home, which means you won’t have to drive to the pharmacy and wait in line. And given today’s gas prices, that’s additional savings for you.

Announcing the Bill Me Later^® Program

Effective July 1, 2009, Express Scripts is pleased to introduce Bill Me Later^® as an alternative payment option for qualifying members who choose the convenience and savings of Home Delivery. With the new Bill Me Later^® payment option, the transition to Home Delivery convenience and savings is even easier!

Home Delivery from the Express Scripts Pharmacy has always been a safe, convenient, confidential and money saving prescription drug channel. Now, it’s even easier for more members to take advantage of those great benefits with both traditional and expanded payment options:

• Debit card from a bank.
• Personal check or money order.
• VISA^®, MasterCard^®, American Express^®, or Discover^®.
• Bill Me Later^® — offering payment flexibility with pay-now or pay-later options.

The new Bill Me Later^® option offers:

• Special financing offers such as “No Payments for 90 Days.”
• Sign up and approval in just seconds.
• No wallet. No wait. No worries.
• A name members trust (more than four million consumers have used Bill Me Later^® on popular consumer websites).

For more information, visit www.express-scripts.com.

The Value of Preventive Care

Getting regular and timely preventive care is one of the best ways you can be “Smarter. Healthier. Better.” about your health. Because preventive care services help detect health issues before they become serious and costly to treat, they offer real value, not only to your well-being, but also to your health care budget.

To keep you up-to-date on your preventive care needs, Chevron Phillips Chemical offers a Preventive Care Guide, which includes:

• An overview of the Company’s preventive care coverage,
• Information on maximizing your health care benefits, and
• Tips on how to take better care of yourself and make healthier lifestyle choices.

Keep in mind that when it comes to preventive care services, one size doesn’t fit all. The services you need are based on a number of factors, such as age, gender and heredity, as well as lifestyle. Be sure to consult your doctor to discuss specific tests and immunizations appropriate for you.

To access the 2009 Preventive Care Guide, go to www.benefitium.com.

A Primer on Poisonous Plants

Hiking and camping are great summer family activities; however, these outdoor pursuits can also bring you into contact with poisonous plants. Here are three of the most common:

Should you come in physical contact with one of these plants, wash the exposed areas and change your clothing immediately. If you wait longer than 10 minutes to remove the plant oil from your skin, you’ll likely develop a rash over the next 12 hours.

In most cases, the rash caused by these poisonous plants can be treated with a topical hydrocortisone cream and an oral antihistamine. However, if you develop a rash around the eyes or have a severe case of itching and swelling, be sure to consult your doctor. He or she may will be able to prescribe stronger medication (such as oral steroids) to help manage your discomfort.

Taking the Sting Out of Summer Insect Bites

Picnics, hikes, softball games and other outdoor ventures are part of summer’s appeal. Not so appealing are the “uninvited guests” — bees, wasps, mosquitoes and ants — that can come in and spoil the fun.

For most people, getting stung or bit by an insect can be irritating, but for others, it can be a serious health issue that requires immediate medical attention. Here are some easy “first-aid” steps to follow should you get stung or bit by an insect:

1. Take out the stinger: If you get stung by a bee or a wasp, look for the stinger and remove it. When you find it, use something firm and level (a piece of cardboard, a credit card) to scrape the stinger off. While you may be tempted to pinch the area around the stinger to remove it, don’t do it. Squeezing the affected site may cause more toxins from the stinger to enter your body.
2. Wash the site: Next, clean the affected site with soap and water.
3. Ice it: To help minimize redness and swelling at the affected site, apply ice, gel packs or cold compresses to the area.
4. Apply hydrocortisone cream: Dabbing hydrocortisone to the affected area will help relieve swelling and redness.
5. Take an antihistamine: An oral antihistamine will help reduce itchiness, redness and swelling, and reduce your physical discomfort as well.

Summer Food Safety

Picnics, potlucks and outdoor barbecues are perfect for family get-togethers. Unfortunately, they can also be occasions for food poisoning, if you don’t use proper precautions when preparing, storing and cooking your food. Here are some tips for keeping food-borne bacteria from putting a damper on your festivities:

• Keep cold food cold: Maintain your cold food at a temperature of 40 degrees or lower. Use plenty of ice or gel packs in your cooler. When serving, keep cold dishes, such as potato salad or deviled eggs, in a container or on a platter over ice.
• Keep drinks and food items separate: Have separate coolers for drinks and food.
• Don’t store cooked and raw foods together: Keep cooked foods and fruits/vegetables separate from raw meat, poultry and seafood, and make sure your raw foods are wrapped securely, to keep juices from leaking out.
• Use different platters for raw and cooked foods: When grilling, don’t the same platters or containers for raw and cooked foods.
• No “double dipping” with your marinade: Don’t use the sauce you used for marinating your raw meat/seafood on your cooked food.
• Don’t leave food exposed for an extended period of time: Don’t leave food sitting out for more than two hours (or more than one hour, when the weather is in the mid-80s or higher).

By following some simple rules for smart food storage and preparation, you can enjoy your outdoor dining, and avoid any unscheduled trips to the emergency room.

Keeping Your Personal Health Information Private

Since the Hippocratic Oath was created around 400 BC, honoring patients’ privacy has been an important part of the physicians’ code of conduct. At Chevron Phillips Chemical, we too believe that your personal medical information is highly sensitive and should be protected.

To help ensure the confidentiality of your medical records, Chevron Phillips Chemical has established a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy compliance program. As part of the HIPAA compliance process, the Company has:

• Conducted a privacy audit on how personal information is handled within the business and by individuals managing confidential data,
• Appointed a Privacy Officer, Danielle Santori, and a Security Officer, Rory James, to help oversee and enforce the HIPAA compliance program,
• Developed privacy policies,
• Established a complaints procedure, and
• Initiated compliance training for managers, staff (including IT and HR) and the Privacy and Security Officers.

Only authorized personnel may access employee medical records, whether that information is stored on the Internet, in a filing cabinet or in protected servers at the office. Individuals with access to employee health or personal information are expected to safeguard the confidentiality of this data.

To help educate all employees on HIPAA compliance, Chevron Phillips Chemical has launched a HIPAA website on the HR section of nSight. Here you will find the Company’s privacy notice, training schedules, privacy policies, and contact information for each facility’s privacy representative. If you have questions about HIPAA or how the privacy policy affects you, contact Danielle Santori, Privacy Officer, or Rory James, Security Officer.

Ready, Set, Rotate!

Chevron Phillips Chemical’s Graduate Rotational and Development (GRAD) Program is a two-year development opportunity for recent college graduates. Through rotational assignments, training and mentorship, the GRAD Program ensures that participants quickly obtain valuable company knowledge, get hands-on experience and find the right career fit within the company.

To learn more about how the program is working, Elements sat down with two recent GRAD graduates from Cedar Bayou, Micah Sperling and Brooks Perry, to discuss their experiences, what they learned and how the program has shaped their career choices.

MICAH SPERLING
Ethylene Production Engineer — NCP Project

ELEMENTS: While in the GRAD program, what assignments did you complete?

MICAH: I spent the first year as a Field Support Engineer. Next I spent five months as an Operations Engineer for NAO/PAO; and I finished my GRAD program as an Operations Engineer for the Ethylene Unit (EU-1592).

ELEMENTS: What did you learn while in the GRAD program?

MICAH: What I found to be most valuable was the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with multiple process units (Ethylene, NAO, and PAO) as a result of my rotations into different groups.

While working as a Process Engineer in the Field Support group, I learned how to efficiently lead and execute small projects and how to successfully troubleshoot process issues. I also learned how to effectively assemble a cross-functional team and facilitate effective communication and work efforts to accomplish a task.

Through my role as an Operations Engineer, I was exposed to the day-to-day process unit operation, which allowed for more in-depth knowledge of how to troubleshoot issues. I also learned how to effectively communicate with Operators and Operations Personnel. This experience afforded me many opportunities to lead meetings and team efforts, which increased my leadership and facilitation skills.

Overall, the GRAD program helped to expand on things I learned in college, taught me how to better troubleshoot problems in the plant, and reinforced the importance of clear communication.

ELEMENTS: What was your most memorable experience?

MICAH: My most significant experience was working the NAOU-1798 Turnaround in April-May 2008 as the primary contact for the Towers and Vessels contractor. The associated start-up of the unit and troubleshooting thereafter provided priceless learning opportunities.

I also gained a lot of experience and knowledge by working the last six months of my GRAD program at the Ethylene Unit (EU-1592). During this time I was able to watch a full unit shutdown and startup. I also gained real-world experience and knowledge of the Ethylene Process, and in particular, the Cracking Furnaces.

ELEMENTS: Were there opportunities made available to you in the GRAD program that would not have been available otherwise?

MICAH: Without the GRAD program, it would have been more difficult for me to move into an Operations Engineer role with only one year of experience. I was also able to gain hands-on experience in three different jobs and to gain experience on three different process units -— all within two years. This exposure would not have been available without the GRAD program.

ELEMENTS: Now that you have “graduated” from the program, what do you have planned?

MICAH: I joined the NCP Project as the Ethylene Unit Production Engineer and will continue in this role by relocating to Saudi Arabia for the commissioning and startup of the NCP Project.

BROOKS PERRY
Plastics Production Engineer — NCP

ELEMENTS: While in the GRAD program, what assignments did you complete?

BROOKS: My initial experience started in the Field Support group. I supported the Normal Alpha Olefins facilities, helping with troubleshooting the day-to-day projects. After completing one year in the project group, I rotated to the Maintenance Group where I supported the Olefins units with daily maintenance items and streamlining maintenance work flow.

ELEMENTS: What did you learn while in the GRAD program?

BROOKS: A key phrase that I learned when I first began was, “What do I need to do to get…” and fill in the blank. Basically, taking initiative and responsibility to get stuff done. This has aided me all areas of work.

The GRAD program has given me so much invaluable technical knowledge — from unit operation and business initiatives, to equipment design, reliability, and optimization — that I would be hard pressed to narrow it down to one or two things. I feel I’m definitely more rounded as a professional thanks to this program.

I completed various training courses in order to rapidly advance my engineering skills. Presentation skills, CPDEP, machine failure analysis, excel power, and industry codes and standards are a few of the many training tools that aided me in my daily routine. In fact, I use most of them with everything that I do.

ELEMENTS: What was your most memorable experience?

BROOKS: The opportunity to follow all the mechanical work completed during the Normal Alpha Olefins Turnaround was a great learning experience. It’s not every day you get to see inside of large equipment, like exchangers, reactors, compressors, and distillation towers.

ELEMENTS: Were there opportunities made available to you in the GRAD program that would not have been available otherwise?

BROOKS: It is hard to find a job where you are given the opportunity to see different departments or facilities as quickly as the GRAD program encourages. The GRAD program peaked my interest in certain career opportunities. When I first started with Chevron Phillips Chemical, I hadn’t established a career path. After seeing the interaction between departments, I have grown keen to manufacturing, and even have interests in the business. I might not have realized this until much later in my career without the GRAD program’s opportunities.

ELEMENTS: Now that you have “graduated” from the program, what do you have planned?

BROOKS: After completing my rotation in maintenance, I took the thrilling opportunity to work overseas on the NCP project. I spent the last six months working in operations, learning the HDPE PF loop technology at Cedar Bayou’s 1799. In Saudi, I will be working for operations in the polymer units as a Production Engineer.

Building a Respectful Workplace is Everyone’s Responsibility

Everyone at Chevron Phillips Chemical — employees, supervisors, and managers — plays a role in creating a working environment where all team members are treated with respect and dignity regardless of their background or role. To take the company from good to great, each person’s every day actions must reflect Chevron Phillips Chemical’s guiding diversity and inclusion principles.

These principles include the belief that:

• Each member of the organization has an equal opportunity to carry out their responsibilities, contribute in a positive manner and achieve individual goals and organizational objectives.
• Each member of the organization deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
• Behaviors supporting company values must occur at all levels of the organization and at all times. We are all accountable for reinforcing a positive and engaging workplace for all.
• All organizational processes should be administered consistently and equitably.
• Synergy can be achieved only when every member of the team is working together with a common purpose in mind.

It is the responsibility of everyone at Chevron Phillips Chemical to sustain a culture that values diversity and inclusivity. When diversity is valued, it creates an environment where each of us feels empowered to achieve our best — individually and as a team — in a mutually supportive atmosphere with a focus on the company as a whole. To achieve and maintain a positive working climate where all employees are positively engaged, every member of our organization must carry out consistently, and on an ongoing basis, our company values.

How to Check in During an Emergency

Hurricanes, tropical storms, environmental/security emergencies or plant incidents can impact your ability to report to work. In an emergency situation, your family and personal safety takes priority over work duties. Yet it is still vital that you keep the company informed about your situation and availability. If you are unable to report to work due to an emergency and/or crisis situation, there are four steps you need to take.

STEP 1: CHECK IN BY PHONE

Call the “All Employee Check-In” Hotline at 800-801-4253. Operators will gather information such as reliable contact numbers and your current location. Once you have checked in, you do not need to call the Hotline again unless your status changes and you need to update your contact information.

STEP 2: CHECK IN BY EMAIL

If you cannot reach the “All Employee Check-In” Hotline by phone, you can send an email to cpchem@us.crawco.com. At a minimum, you should provide the following in your email:

• First/last name (and nickname if commonly used).
• Work location.
• Contact phone number in your current location.
• Home status (sheltering in place, staying with family elsewhere, etc.).

Both the Hotline and email address can be used by employees, their families, contractors and friends to report the whereabouts of another employee or contractor.

STEP 3: CALL YOUR FACILITY’S EMERGENCY INFORMATION HOTLINE

At least once a day, call your facility’s “Emergency Information” Hotline for status updates on plant conditions, restarts, report back to work dates, etc.

STEP 4: MONITOR WWW.CPCHEM.US

In the event of an emergency, a crisis information web page will be activated. It will include emergency phone numbers, plant status updates and emergency/disaster relief policies. If you do not have Internet access, continue to call your facility’s “Emergency Information” Hotline at least once a day for updates.

WHEN TO RETURN TO WORK

You should return to an evacuated area when permitted by the governing authority or Company management. Local management may grant additional time off with pay for those employees whose primary residence suffered severe damage. Employees who do not return to work or are not granted additional time off with pay will either be charged with vacation hours or placed on leave of absence without pay. Non-exempt and hourly employees who check in with management may be able to make up such time within the same work week provided work is available.

FAILURE TO REPORT YOUR WHEREABOUTS

It is your responsibility to advise management of your inability to report to work. If you do not report to your supervisor or do not return to work in a timely fashion without management approval, you will be placed on leave of absence without pay and will be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, discharge at the discretion of local management.

HOW TO PITCH IN

We strongly encourage you to do everything within your power to contact your supervisor or others to determine how you can help in the clean-up process. Depending on the severity of the situation, the Company may also ask you to relocate, work at alternate locations or do work not related to your primary job. The goal is to safely resume operations as quickly as possible. To do so will require flexibility from all involved.

HELP WITH PERSONAL ISSUES RELATED TO A CRISIS

Emergency situations are highly stressful for all involved. Should you feel the need for assistance from a licensed professional, you and your dependents have access to free and confidential counseling services through Chevron Phillips Chemical’s Employee Assistance Program. For lost insurance cards, doctor referrals, and other benefits related questions, contact the Chevron Phillips Chemical Benefits Service Center at 1-800-446-1422.

KNOW YOUR STATUS

Each facility/location has an emergency evacuation plan in place that outlines critical and non-critical personnel. Review your facility’s plan and know what your assignments are. Ask questions now. Additionally, Chevron Phillips Chemical’s corporate Emergency Disaster Evacuation Plan* outlines emergency procedures that must be followed by all employees.

* The Emergency Disaster Evacuation Plan can be found on nSight > Departments > Human Resources > HR Guidelines > 3400 Emergency Disaster Evacuation Policy.