Conoco Tops Safety Rankings in API, National Safety Council Surveys.

Business/Energy Editors

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2000

Conoco Inc. (NYSE:COCA) (NYSE:COCB) is the safest global energy company in the U.S., according to the American Petroleum Institute (API) annual survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in the Petroleum Industry. This is the third consecutive year Conoco has topped the safety list among its industry peers, and the 15th time in the past 21 years. Conoco also ranked number one in the API's first survey of the industry's safety performance outside the U.S.

Conoco's rate of 0.51 injuries or illnesses per 100 employees in the U.S. is more than three times safer than the average of all companies reporting safety statistics to API for 1999. In the API's first-ever survey of non-U.S. employee safety performance, Conoco's 1999 rate of 0.18 is also three times safer than average and ranks the company as the safest outside the U.S.

In addition to the API rankings, Conoco's double-hulled tanker fleet was rated the safest in 1999, for the third consecutive year, by the U.S. National Safety Council.

"These accomplishments represent the hard work and diligent efforts of all Conoco employees, not only to protect themselves but also to watch out for the well-being of their fellow workers," said Archie Dunham, Conoco chairman, president and CEO. "Even in the most demanding situations and harsh environments, our employees know that our work is never so urgent or important that we cannot take the time to do it safely," he said. Conoco, with 16,700 employees worldwide, celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.

In the API survey, Conoco's 4,300 upstream employees enjoyed the safest year in their history in 1999. In Europe, the company's employees have worked more than two years without a single recordable injury.

In downstream operations, the company also ranks as the safest petroleum company for 1998 and 1997 in data published by CONCAWE, a European downstream industry organization.

Recently, the 700 employees at the company's Humber Refinery in England surpassed 10 million hours -- more than 5 years -- without a lost time injury or illness.

Conoco is a major, integrated energy company active in more than 40 countries.