Social and Environmental Responsibility

Here are just some of the ways we are working now to preserve the world for the future by making positive contributions to the community and minimizing our impact on the environment:

Safety comes first.

  • We believe that accidents are preventable and are committed to a safe work environment.
  Personal Safety Statistics Fleet Safety Statistics
  Total Recordable Injury
Incidence Rate1		 Lost Workday
Incident Rate1 		Fleet Vehicle Accident Frequency Rate2 Preventable Vehicle
Accident Frequency Rate2
  2005
3.0
0.7
3.6
2.3
  2006
3.0
0.6
3.2
1.9
  2007
3.0
0.6
3.1
1.7
  2008
2.7
0.4
3.0
1.6
 
 1per 200,000 hours worked 2accidents per million miles driven; includes cylinder and fleet vehicle categories
  • With over 5,000 vehicles in our distribution fleet, Airgas has the lowest fleet accident rate of any large fleet in the compressed gas industry.

With more than 1 million customers, we are making a positive impact through our products.

  • Our bulk oxygen is used for cleaner, more efficient combustion, as well as for wastewater treatment.
  • We’re training utilities on ways to reduce their sulfur hexafluoride emissions, growing our refrigerants reclamation business and expanding our use of returnable laboratory and refrigerant cylinders to reduce potentially harmful waste and conserve natural resources.
  • Our liquid carbon dioxide is a green alternative for dry cleaners, factories and wastewater treatment plants that formerly used environmentally hazardous chemicals.
  • Our EPA Protocols and other gases help customers analyze their emissions faster and more completely to stay in environmental compliance.

With more than 1,100 locations, we are making a positive impact through our processes.

  • Our Air Separation plants are focused on actively monitoring and increasing our energy efficiency.
  • Our distribution centers use efficient lighting, recyclable pallets and rechargeable forklifts and power equipment.
  • Our 10 million-plus cylinders are returnable and refillable and painted with environmentally friendly water-based paint.

With more than 5,000 trucks, we are making a positive impact through our driving practices.

  • Our trucks fitted with engine idle shutdown devices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions save 600,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year.
  • We’re reducing fuel consumption with microprocessor-controlled engines and automated shift transmissions, lighter-weight wheels and fuel tanks, aerodynamic designs, and reduced top speeds.
  • We’re using new software to streamline our delivery routes and wireless telemetry systems that reduce road trips by automatically monitoring customer bulk tank levels.

With more than 14,000 associates, we are making a positive impact on our communities.

  • We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits to our associates, and provide extensive training commensurate with job responsibilities.
  • We are partnering with Operation Homefront to support America’s soldiers by providing emergency assistance to their families when they are deployed and to the service members when they return home. Airgas pledged $300,000 to the cause, and our associates are taking part in hundreds of volunteer activities at the local level.
  • We are committed to hiring veterans, and we offer free welding training to any veteran interested in exploring a career in welding.
  • Our associates coordinate and participate in a wide variety of volunteer and fund-raising efforts to benefit people in need.