ExxonMobil's fire drills and flu drills

Oil companies routinely test employees at various operating sites to measure their emergency preparedness for a wide range of possible scenarios.

ExxonMobil Corp. periodically conducts emergency response drills on simulated spills, fires, explosions, natural disasters, and security incidents. In 2007, it ran drills in Bermuda, California, Cyprus, the Gulf of Mexico, Malaysia, and Sakhalin Island.

In addition to these scenarios, ExxonMobil also conducts drills and workshops worldwide to evaluate its readiness in case of a global influenza pandemic.

“Flu pandemics are very different than the seasonal flu that we all experience each year,” the company said on its web site. “While as much as 20% of the population of any country develops influenza during seasonal flu epidemics, less than one in 100 individuals will be hospitalized and less than one in 1,000 will die.”

But a global flu pandemic would involve a new virus, and it is estimated that up to 35% of the population could become ill, ExxonMobil said. A highly virulent pandemic flu could kill millions, and it could last for 12-18 months.

This gives new meaning to flu season and emergency preparedness.