Product stewardship and product safety

We apply a rigorous and consistent approach to identify and evaluate risks associated with new and modified products and their manufacture, use and disposal in order to prevent impacts on people and the environment. New technologies are continually adapted to improve product performance. In addition, product safety and health hazard information are also monitored, and any risks requiring specific management processes are communicated to customers, third parties and the public.

Our product safety policy reflects a commitment to high operational standards. To help meet this commitment, a Product Stewardship Information Management System (PSIMS) is in place, which applies common processes and a single computer system to capture and communicate information on the safe handling, transport, use and disposal of our products. PSIMS incorporates a set of common product safety assessment rules and conventions that support the preparation of product material safety data sheets (MSDS) and labels for communicating information about our products such as health hazards, first aid, safe handling, transport, use and disposal and compliance with product safety regulations. In 2010, more than 8,500 product MSDS covering more than 1,300 products were distributed to customers in both official languages.