For Immediate Release:		Contact: Doris Konicki 847/818-1800, x 383 Marianne Dreger 847/818-1800, x 368

BAE SYSTEMS’ New Hampshire business unit
wins prestigious health award

ATLANTA, May 7, 2003—The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has selected BAE SYSTEMS’ Information & Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) business unit to receive its 2003 Corporate Health Achievement Award (CHAA).

Headquartered in Nashua, N.H., IEWS provides electronic warfare systems and leads the industry in space systems, mission electronics, information dominance, and infrared systems for both military and commercial applications. IEWS was selected for its state-of-the-art ergonomic practices, ambulatory health clinics, and toxicology assessments. In addition, the Award cited IEWS’ commitment to the psychological and emotional health of its employees which has resulted in a significant decline in employee turnover.

The award was presented today during ACOEM’s annual American Occupational Health Conference in Atlanta, Ga. The award was accepted by IEWS’ Corporate Medical Director, Robert Godefroi, MD, and Medical Services Manager, Catherine M. Pepler, RN, MBA, who is also president of the New Hampshire Association of Occupational Health Nurses.

The award cited BAE SYSTEMS’ portfolio of programs that helps maintain and enhance the health of its employees, including its proactive interventions for patients with cumulative trauma disorder injuries. These interventions not only help employees, but also gave IEWS an estimated 9-year cost savings of $7.7 million. On-site health clinics made medical care more convenient for employees and saved the business unit over $200,000 annually – based on an average of three hours of lost work time per outside doctor visit.

“BAE SYSTEMS is the largest manufacturing employer in New Hampshire and is vigilant about eliminating workplace hazards,” said Dr. Godefroi. As an indication of its commitment to environmental protection and workplace safety, BAE SYSTEMS discontinued use of two hazardous materials at its Merrimack, N.H., facility. The action was a result of its award-winning chemical/material review process, he said.

ACOEM, an international medical specialty society of more than 6,000 occupational and environmental medicine physicians and other allied health professionals, recognizes the best corporate health programs in America through its sponsorship of the CHAA competition. The Award honors and provides national recognition to North American corporations and institutions exhibiting excellence in employee health, safety, and environmental management, and recognizes the finest health programs in America. Competing organizations are judged on their commitment to, and excellence in, creating comprehensive and innovative health and safety programs. Examiners look for measurable results in 23 quality categories covering four areas – healthy people, a healthy environment, a healthy company, and management and leadership. Founded in 1916, ACOEM provides leadership to promote optimal health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments. The College is headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill.

GlaxoSmithKline is the co-sponsor of the Corporate Health Achievement Award. GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and health care companies, and is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better, and live longer. The company is headquartered in the United Kingdom with operations based in the U.S.

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