Product stewardship and product safety

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

During the development of — and prior to marketing — our chemical, lubricant and specialties, and fuels products, we assess safety, health, and environmental (SHE) aspects as well as compliance with product safety legislation in intended markets. Rigorous assessments required by government authorities are conducted to assure a new product’s safety. We update these assessments as new information becomes available. These same considerations are also addressed during product modification. Products used in sensitive markets, such as food contact, undergo additional SHE assessments.

We conduct SHE and regulatory assessments of marketed products to assure compliance and to provide appropriate information to those that transport, use, and dispose of our products. Examples of these assessments and corresponding communications include appropriate uses, potential health and environmental effects, appropriate personal protection and exposure controls, first aid measures, and disposal considerations. Our disciplined process ensures that our products comply with the safety requirements of the more than 180 countries where we have a presence. We monitor and assess changing and emerging safety requirements to ensure that our products continue to be safe for use by the public. In those countries that currently do not have product safety regulations, we apply responsible standards. We tailor our product safety warning to local regulations and do so in more than 80 languages. In 2008, more than 425,000 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) were distributed to customers to communicate this information.

ExxonMobil continues to conduct and support research to improve our understanding of the SHE effects of the products and substances that we manufacture. We use computer-based tools to help us predict potential risks to human health, safety, and the environment, and to improve the design of our products.