The Solvay Chemicals, Inc., together with its subsidiary Solvay Fluorides, LLC, is committed to the health, safety and security of our employees, contractors, communities and the environment.  To follow through on this commitment, we have developed processes to help us identify and manage the hazards and risks inherent to the manufacture, distribution and use of our products throughout their life cycle.  These processes are integrated into all our day-to-day activities, and every Solvay Chemicals employee and contractor is responsible for ensuring they are followed.

Some examples of HSE processes taken from various points in the supply chain include:

Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOPS) – A HAZOP is a systematic examination of a production process (through the use of detailed process diagrams) that evaluates potential problems that present risk to personnel, equipment or an efficient operation.  It usually employs a multi-disciplined team of production and maintenance personnel, process engineers and other experts.  Results of a HAZOP are most often used to identify and prioritize process safety improvement measures.

Management of Change Processes (MOC Process) – An MOC process is another tool  used in industry to carefully analyze and prepare for production process changes before they are made.  Among other things, it enables production facilities to identify and complete the necessary changes to operating procedures, maintenance practices, training programs, job descriptions and even emergency response procedures before the process change is made. 
      
Logistics Vendor Management Program – The Solvay Chemicals logistics vendor management program uses a series of survey and audit tools to help ensure the contractors that transport and store our products have health and safety, security, environmental and quality programs in place to effectively manage the hazards and risks associated with their activities. 

Customer and Emergency Responder Training Programs – Solvay Chemicals has developed product specific safety training tools (videos, safety and handling brochures, etc.) for many of our hazardous products.  These are available to customers and the emergency response communities that serve them free of charge.  In some instances, Solvay Chemicals also offers on-site customer training programs provided by a product expert.

Solvay Chemicals is an active participant in several of the health and safety and product stewardship committees and initiatives sponsored by the American Chemistry Council (ACC). Solvay Chemicals is also certified to the ACC Responsible Care Management System® standard which follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of continual improvement. 

Solvay Chemicals Responsible Care® Policy

Solvay Chemicals pledges to protect the health and safety of our employees, contractors, customers, communities and the environment. We are committed to meeting all applicable laws, regulations, permits and standards.

Through continual improvement activities involving stakeholder participation, we will work toward our ultimate goal of zero accidents and incidents, and zero harm to the environment.

Global Product Strategies

As a member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), and through ACC participation with the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), Solvay Chemicals is actively engaged in the Global Product Strategy (GPS) initiative.

GPS, which is designed to meet United Nation's Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management, is an innovative program to improve product stewardship throughout the supply chain. Its ultimate goal is to increase public and stakeholder awareness and confidence that chemicals in commerce are safely managed throughout their lifecycle.  This is evident in the management system approach to product stewardship adopted by ACC member companies (RCMS®) and in the processes Solvay Chemicals has adopted to manage the hazards and risks associated with the chemicals we place in commerce (see above).

Companies engaged in GPS are also committed to making relevant product stewardship information on chemicals they place in commerce publicly available. By 2012, Solvay Chemicals will post summaries for all our high priority* products.

Product Safety Summaries

Product Safety Summaries are available here.

• Ammonium bifluoride**
• Ammonium fluoride**
• Fluorosilicic acid**
• Hydrofluoric acid**
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Potassium bifluoride**   (available soon)
• Potassium fluoride solution**  (available soon)
• Sodium bicarbonate   (available soon)      
• Sodium bifluoride**  (available soon)      
• Sodium carbonate (Soda ash)   (available soon)      
• Sodium fluoride**
• Sodium perborate   (available soon)      
• Sodium percarbonate   (available soon)
• Sodium sesquicarbonate (Trona)   (available soon)

* High priority chemicals have been identified based on factors such as the likelihood of consumer exposure in normal uses, relative hazards and production volumes. For more information on the identification of high priority chemicals, please see the  Solvay North America’s Global Product Strategy web pages.

** A product of Solvay Fluorides, LLC

Solvay Chemicals Advocacy Activities

Besides membership in the  American Chemistry Council, Solvay Chemicals is a member of industry groups such as the  Industrial Minerals Association – North America (IMA-NA), the  Society of Chemicals Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA), and the  Hydrogen Fluoride Industry Practices Institute (HFIPI).