Product Stewardship

These Product Stewardship guidelines set high goals for addressing the complicated challenges of research, development, manufacture, quality assurance, distribution and marketing of Linde products and services.

Guidelines for Product Development

• Obtain information on all our products which enables us to identify and alleviate potential problems before they become human or environmental hazards.
• Conduct needed tests at each stage of product development so that all potential hazards and environmental effects can be considered when making decisions about the product.
• Develop applications that permit the handling, use and ultimate disposal of our products without creating an unacceptable level of risk to our employees, customers, the public or the environment.
• Provide information to production, distribution and marketing personnel so that employees, distributors and customers may be instructed in the proper handling, use, storage and disposal of our products.
• Re-evaluate the need for additional health, environmental and safety information as technology, use patterns and governmental requirements change.

• Carefully review product specifications or process changes which may alter product properties, utility or quality, including product impurities.
• Design plants, operating practices, processes and employee training programs that will improve the work environment.
• Assess existing product processes periodically to continuously improve the safety for Linde employees and surrounding communities based upon process enhancements and multiple layers of engineering protection.
• Inform employees of chemical, biological, and physical stresses in their work environment, methods of protection and control, and consequences of overexposure.
• Obtain the known, pertinent health and environmental information from a supplier of a chemical. Furnish this information to employees and contractors on Linde sites, as well as to outside contractors, who may make, package, formulate or dispose of materials for us.
• Adhere to pollution control and industrial hygiene standards and guidelines. Respond promptly to local health and environmental concerns.
• Ship quality products in secure, accurately labeled containers and employ transportation equipment that is properly maintained and cleaned.

• Assure the quality of products and services we deliver to our customers through a system of specifications and standardized controls.
• Ensure that product documentation complies with all applicable governmental requirements for product safety, labeling, registration and certification.
• Audit performance of systems and processes; monitor conformance to procedures and policies.
• Provide technical and practical assistance in quality improvement programs and resolve quality problems.

• Determine that appropriate steps are taken to protect persons, property and the environment while our products are being transported and stored.
• Select the proper containers for product distribution.
• Select carriers to perform distribution functions consistent with Linde policies and Product Stewardship guidelines.

• Furnish customers with appropriate information to promote the proper handling, use and disposal of our products.
• Inform customers about known use limitations and encourage them to use our products in accordance with label recommendations and safety data sheet guidelines.
• Alert Linde personnel immediately to problems of use that may involve human or environmental hazards, and offer assistance in modifications of either products or use patterns, as required, to correct these problems.

• Support programs to ensure the safe manufacture, distribution, use and disposal of all products within the business unit.
• Perform periodic health, safety and environmental review on all products.
• Provide the purchaser of a technology package or a business with all pertinent health and environmental information known to Linde at the time of purchase.
• Obtain from the seller of a technology package or a business all the known pertinent safety, health and environmental information.