Product stewardship and product safety

ExxonMobil is dedicated to minimizing adverse risks and impacts associated with the manufacture, use, and disposal of our products. We actively identify and evaluate potential risks to ensure minimal adverse effects on both people and the environment while improving product performance.

During the development of and prior to marketing our upstream, chemical, lubricant, specialty, and fuels products, we assess safety, health, and environmental (SHE) aspects as well as compliance with product safety legislation, both where the products are made and in their intended markets. Rigorous assessments required by government authorities are conducted and updated as new information becomes available to assure the safety of a new or modified product. Products used in particular markets, such as those that come in contact with food, undergo additional SHE assessments as appropriate.

In addition, we provide information to those who transport, use, and dispose of our products, including appropriate uses, potential health and environmental effects, personal protection and exposure controls, first aid measures, and disposal considerations. We monitor and assess changing and emerging science to ensure our products continue to be safe for use. We tailor our product safety warning to comply with local regulations. In those countries that currently do not have product safety regulations, we apply responsible standards. We provide Safety Data Sheets for our products via an automatic system, the Internet, or work procedures to our customers. In 2009, more than 350,000 Safety Data Sheets were distributed to customers in more than 80 languages.

ExxonMobil is an active member of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), which developed a Global Product Strategy (GPS) in 2006 to improve product stewardship within the chemical industry. A component of GPS is to make relevant product stewardship and safety information (known as Product Safety Summaries) publicly available. The ultimate goal of GPS is to increase public and stakeholder awareness and confidence that chemicals in commerce are safely managed throughout their life cycle. We are committed to completing our work on these summaries.