Occupational Safety and Health
Occupational Safety and Health Policy
Labor safety
The NOF Group works to promote occupational safety and health by sharing activity targets as activities related to “occupational safety” among RC activities classified into “five components of safety,” and is developing Group-wide activities, including those of affiliated companies at each works, based on the RC management system.
Occupational Safety and Health Policy
With the aim of eliminating occupational accidents, the NOF Group has clearly expressed its determination to make its workplaces secure and safe for all the workers involved in Group activities, and to realize this ideal, set forth its Occupational Safety and Health Policy in April 2006. Under this policy, each of our offices, plants, and Group companies
are developing activities, including the establishment of an occupational safety and health management system.
【Fundamental idea】
We, as a group of chemical companies, shall endeavor to secure the safety and health of our employees and local communities in the belief that “no business can be viable without safety.” All the officers and employees shall be committed to the buildup of “workplaces where we can work safely and securely” in close teamwork consistent with responsible care activities, and positively promote activities for occupational safety and health.
【Fundamental principles】
（1）We shall organize an appropriate self-management system regarding occupational
safety and health, and continue necessary management and improvement.
（2）Our target shall be the eradication of labor accidents by improving the working
environment, making the equipment intrinsically safe, and carrying out risk-reducing
activities in anticipation of future changes in the working environment.
（3）We shall faithfully observe relevant laws and regulations and our own rules and
standards.
（4）We shall endeavor for the creation of a pleasant working environment and support
efforts for keeping and promoting health.
（5）We shall make the Occupational Safety and Health Policy thoroughly known to all the
employees, and review it every year or as necessary.
The principles will be made widely available to the general public.
（Amended April 2015）
Occupational safety activities (RC activities)
The status of occupational safety activities at NOF’s offices, plants, and Group companies is confirmed through regular RC audits. Along with audits, we are working to revitalize RC activities throughout the Group, with members of labor unions and Group companies also participating in RC audits as auditors. The results are reported to the RC Committee, as well as being shared with labor unions to develop joint labor–management activities.
Moreover, recognizing the importance of safety education, the NOF Group strives to further enhance its occupational safety and health management system and reinforce its safety activities, including promoting safety education, in an effort to ensure the safety and health of its employees.
RC Activity Targets
FY2023 safety activity results and FY2024 RC activity targets
We have been striving for “completely zero accidents” *1 since fiscal 2015. While there were zero fatal accidents in fiscal 2023, there were eight occupational accidents; thus, we did not achieve our target.
In FY2023, we continued with “thorough enforcement of basic safety actions” as an implementation item in RC activity targets alongside focusing on “fall accidents,” which have been occurring continuously across the Group, in working to prevent their occurrence. In addition, with the aim of strengthening measures against potential accident risks in the workplace, we continued to promote on-site management based on Sangen Shugi (the “three actuals” principle) in which managers actually observe the work sites, recognize problem areas, and make efforts to make the work safer. However, compared to fiscal 2022, the number of lost workday-involving accidents increased to three (up two from the previous fiscal year) and the number of all accidents increased to eight (up two from the previous fiscal year).
Since all eight occupational accidents occurred during “peripheral tasks (including daily activities)” of “main work,” and “chemical burns” were increasing, we decided to focus on “chemical burns” alongside “fall accidents” and work on their prevention alongside continuing with “thorough enforcement of basic safety actions.”
【The NOF Group’s targets in RC activities and labor safety initiatives in fiscal 2024】
①Enhancement of sensitivity toward danger and thorough enforcement of basic safety
actions (focusing on prevention of accidents involving falls and chemical burns)
●Provision of occupational safety education and training
●Strengthening of hazard prediction skills
②Reduction of accident risks
［Labor safety］
● Strengthening of responses based on Sangen Shugi
● Ensuring compliance with amendments to the Ordinance on Industrial Safety
and Health*2
［Traffic safety］
● In-depth investigation of the causes of injury and self-caused damage
● Strengthening of education to promote awareness
*1 The NOF Group’s own target to achieve zero lost workday-involving accidents and
zero accidents not involving lost workdays
*2 Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health
Elimination of traffic accidents
In order to reduce the number of accidents during commutes and work-related traffic accidents, which occurred requently during fiscal 2023, we enhanced our traffic safety measures. Each works, plant, and affiliate implements its own traffic safety activities according to its own circumstances. The activities implemented included distribution of pamphlets during a traffic safety week, a safety lecture by the police, raising a road safety slogan banner, and creation and dissemination of a map showing near-miss traffic accident cases.
Operation simulator training
（Oita Plant）
Bicycle simulator training
（Amagasaki Plant）
Risks and Opportunities
| Category | Risk items | Overview | Responses (implementation items) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risks | Occupational accidents | ● A serious accident occurred during a manufacturing process in which employees were affected by inhalation of toxic substances and injury from chemical substances, leading to filing of claims for compensation for death or after-effects of injuries by the affected employees or their family members | ①Enhancement of sensitivity toward danger and thorough enforcement of basic safety actions ● Provision of occupational safety education and training (17,092 total hours in FY2023) ● Development of the key issue “Prevention of falls, tumbles, and crash accidents” ②Reduction of accident risks ● Strengthening of responses based on Sangen Shugi (the “three actuals” principle) (FY2023): 21 RC audits ● Implementation of general inspections on Safety Inspection Day (August 1) (FY2023: 32 business divisions of NOF, 32 locations of affiliate companies) |
| Mishandling of chemical substances | ● An employee mishandled hazardous chemical substances, which caused the substances to mix and enerate toxic fumes, which were inhaled by several employees and caused poisoning symptoms | ①Enhancement of sensitivity toward danger and thorough enforcement of basic safety actions ● Provision of product safety education and training (2,941 total hours in FY2023） ● Implementation of chemical substance RA (FY2023: 824 for NOF, 443 for affiliate companies) ②Reduction of accident risks ● Strengthening of responses based on Sangen Shugi (the “three actuals” principle) (FY2023: 21 RC audits） |
|
| Traffic accidents (Accidents resulting in injury/death while on the job) |
● A truck driven by a NOF Group employee caused an accident while in transit, resulting in the death of numerous other people, which led to a significant loss of reputation in society and a high amount of compensation for damages to be paid | ①Enhancement of sensitivity toward danger and thorough enforcement of basic safety actions ● Provision of occupational safety education and training (17,092 total hours in FY2023) ②Reduction of accident risks ● In-depth investigation of the causes of accidents involving injury and self-inflicted injury (FY2023: 13 Naze-naze Bunseki (five whys analysis) |
|
| Traffic accidents | ● An employee caused a traffic accident while commuting to work, resulting in the death/injuries of the employee and third parties in transit | ||
| Distribution-related accidents | ● An accident during truck-based transportation left a load of hazardous materials scattered on the road, which caused the surrounding roads to be temporarily closed to traffic as well as a claim for damages due to delayed delivery | ①Safety instructions to distribution companies ● Provision of distribution safety education and training (430 total hours in FY2023) |
|
| Damage accidents during storage | ● Products in storage as well as materials and equipment in a warehouse were destroyed or damaged due to damage to containers in the warehouse, etc., and employees were injured | ||
| Fires/ explosions |
● An accident involving a major fire and explosion occurred at a works. In addition to extensive damage to equipment and machinery, several employees were killed or injured, and homes in the surrounding area were damaged by the blast. Large amounts of damage compensation and penalties were incurred, resulting in a prolonged shutdown of operations | ①Strengthening of disaster prevention and security measures ● Provision of equipment safety education and training (862 total hours in FY2023) ● Alerts during abnormal weather and long holiday periods (FY2023: 4 weather-related cases, 3 cases during long holiday periods) ● Investment in safety and disaster prevention equipment (FY2023: disaster prevention, safe operations, wind and flood measures, etc.) ②Conducting safety assessments at the time of new construction or modifications ● Safety assessments (99 in FY2023) |
|
| Damage or breakdown of equipment and machinery due to poor maintenance and inspection | ● Damage to critical equipment at a plant, including high-pressure gas equipment, clean rooms, and vacuum emulsifiers, caused a long-term shutdown of operations, resulting in decreased sales | ||
| Equipment and machine stoppage due to operational errors | ● An operator’s incorrect operation caused manufacturing equipment to stop, and the products in progress had to be discarded | ||
| Opportu-nities | Growing needs for products that contribute to occupational safety and health solutions | [Prevention of heat stroke] Thermal indicators Prevention of chemical injuries] Products free of hazardous substances (nonylphenol substitute products) |
● Development and provision of occupational safety and health products |
Prevention and Reduction
Safety and disaster prevention facility investment
In connection with measures for safety and accident prevention, the NOF Group is carrying out a program of physical projects for prevention of accidents including explosions, fires and leaks, labor safety, and working environment amelioration. Further, to provide against anticipated heavy earthquakes, projects are under way to strengthen buildings.
| Works/Plants | Purpose | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Amagasaki Plant | Safety work for typhoons and heavy rain | Warehouse exterior wall renovations Installation of new fall prevention equipment |
| Chidori Plant | Disaster prevention | Fire pump replacement |
| Oita Plant | Safety work | Work platform renovation |
| Taketoyo Plant | Disaster prevention | Sprinkler equipment replacement |
| Kinuura Plant | Safety work Working environment amelioration |
Floor and stairway renovations Spot cooler replacement |
| Daishi Plant | Typhoon and heavy rain disaster prevention measures | Waterproofing improvement for roofs Increased emergency lighting |
Occurrence of occupational accidents in fiscal 2023
｜Record of occupational accidents in fiscal 2023| Indicators | Targets | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accidents involving death and loss of functions*1（people） | NOF main group（Japan） | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Affiliates | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| (Breakdown) | Japan | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Asia | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Americas | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Europe | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Cooperating companies | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Frequency rate of accidents involving death and loss of functions*4 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Lost workday-involving accidents*2 (people) | NOF main group（Japan） | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Affiliates | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| (Breakdown) | Japan | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Asia | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Americas | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Europe | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Cooperating companies | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Frequency rate of lost workday-involving accidents*4 | 0.85 | 0.17 | 0.50 | ||
| Total damage*3（people） | NOF main group（Japan） | 8 | 1 | 3 | |
| Affiliates | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
| (Breakdown) | Japan | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Asia | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Americas | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Europe | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Cooperating companies | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Frequency rate of all accidents*4 | 2.03 | 1.01 | 1.35 | ||
a disability (disability level 5 or higher) following recovery
※２ Lost workday-involving accidents: Accidents involving loss of more than 1 workday
※３ Includes accidents without lost workdays
※４ Frequency rate = Total labor lost/total actual hours worked x 1000
Implementation of alerts
As part of occupational safety activities, the Responsible Care & Plant Investment Department, which oversees RC activities, sends out periodic and non-periodic alerts on occupational safety, notifications of instructions regarding safety activities, surveys, and other documents, and disseminates them to all Group companies. We periodically implement safety and security measures for long holiday periods, ensure thorough heat stroke prevention during the summer, and other such measures. On a non-periodic basis, we issue additional alerts and instructions for measures when necessary, such as when a disaster occurs or a typhoon approaches. The Responsible Care & Plant Investment Department collects information on the status of these alerts and other items, and provides feedback at RC audits and other opportunities to strengthen safety measures and raise awareness.
Investigation of disaster causes, implementation of measures to prevent recurrence, and horizontal roll-out of information
At locations where occupational accidents occur, we thoroughly investigate the causes, and plan and implement emergency and permanent measures. This information is promptly disseminated to each Group company for information sharing and horizontal deployment in an effort to prevent similar accidents/disasters.
In addition, we categorize occupational accidents that have occurred in the past. For those categories with a high number of occurrences, we particularly focus on incorporating and developing safety activities into our activity targets, with the aim of preventing recurrences and achieving “completely zero accidents.” In fiscal 2023, we focused our activities on “falls and tumbles,” but unfortunately, the three accidents with lost workdays that occurred were all falls and tumbles. Based on our reflection on this fact, we will continue to strengthen our efforts to prevent fall and tumble accidents in fiscal 2024.
Among fall and tumble accidents, falls in particular are the most common occupational accident in Japan, and the risk is known to be higher among older workers. Therefore, NOF has also begun initiatives to ensure the safety and health of older workers.
Red Cross first aid training
（Oita Plant）
Life-saving first-aid training
（Kawasaki Works）