BP PLC will base staff bonuses solely on safety performance in the last three months of 2010 as part of a plan CEO Bob Dudley initially announced in late July to review the company's reward policies. The policy was explained in an internal memo Dudley sent to employees that was first reported in The Financial Times Oct. 18. During the fourth quarter, each of BP's operating businesses will be measured on safety, compliance, operational risk management and whether they're exhibiting and reinforcing behaviors consistent with these goals, says BP press officer Robert Wine. The operational units also will be measured on "silent running," which is a term often used to indicate a quiet, trouble-free operation with high productivity, according to BP. The company's actions come after the April 20 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion that left 11 people dead and resulted in the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.