Our Group has established the “Sustainability Promotion Committee” chaired by the President. This committee determines health and safety policies along with important measures for preventing accidents and disasters, and based on these, rolls out health and safety activities across the entire Group.

In addition, we enacted our uniform, company-wide Safety Philosophy “Safety is the First Priority of All” and our three Safety Action Guidelines in October 2019 and Machine Safety Guidelines in December 2023 to promote the complete elimination of fatal accidents and serious disasters.

Each of our business sites makes efforts closely in tune with the needs of individual workplaces within a company-wide framework and under an accountability structure involving the managers of business sites. At its monthly meetings, the Health and Safety Committee reviews health and safety management activities, ensures thorough compliance with relevant laws and ordinances, and considers capital investments to realize risk reduction, among other actions.

Our Group’s plants and main subsidiaries in Japan have been pursuing ISO 45001 accreditation since 2009, followed by our Group’s overseas subsidiaries from 2010. Today, a total of 25 business sites have received accreditation, which include six business sites and three subsidiaries in Japan and 16 subsidiaries overseas.

We carry out measures to reduce the risks posed by machinery and chemical substances in order to ensure safety at sites where these are used. At the same time, we conduct hazard prediction training as well as initiatives, such as “pointing and calling” and making proposals for reducing near-miss accidents. We have introduced “Anzen Dojo (Safety Gyms)” at each production plant to allow employees to learn about the fundamentals of safety. We are able to improve our safety consciousness and learn hazard prediction skills and risk identification skills.

Health and safety activities in which plant managers take the lead and act as role models form the basis for specialized safety education for managers, education on laws and regulations for mid-level employees, and hands-on education for new employees regarding safety. In addition, we make efforts to disclose disaster and accident information, and share them in a timely manner through the use of our Safety Portal Site, which was set up online to be accessible by every employee. In addition, health and safety education has been implemented at all business sites by using video materials such as a video that outlines our approach to Safety Philosophy and Safety Action Guidelines and a VR device.

The graph below shows the overall frequency rate and severity rate*¹ of occupational accidents including those occurring at subsidiaries worldwide.

In Japan, the frequency rate was improved by the reduction of occupational accidents resulting in lost workdays but the severity rate worsened due to serious accidents occurring. Meanwhile, the frequency rate worsened overseas due to increase in the number of occupational accidents resulting in lost workdays but the severity rate remained the same.

The graph below shows the number of employees injured due to occupational accidents at our company as well as subsidiaries in Japan.

In 2023, there was only one occupational accident resulting in lost workdays that occurred at a subcontractor. And also, there was one case of severe injury requiring six months or more to recover and resulting in permanent disabilities.

Occupational accidents in Japan categorized by type are shown in the graph below.

As the majority of the pinching and entanglement accidents in 2023 were caused by insufficient safety measures for machinery, we have formulated the Machine Safety Guidelines and have been promoting safety measures following ISO 12100.

In the event of an accident, a risk assessment is conducted and corrective measures are implemented based on the results of investigations into the cause, and efforts are made to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents.

The graph below shows the number of employees injured due to occupational accidents at our overseas subsidiaries.

In 2023, there was only one occupational accident resulting in lost workdays that occurred at a subcontractor. In 2023, there were no cases of deaths or severe injuries resulting in permanent disabilities but there was one case of severe injury requiring six months or more to recover.

Occupational accidents overseas categorized by type are shown in the graph below.

As the majority of the accidents were caused by human factor such as 'overexertion' in 2023, we have prepared safety educational materials in multiple languages (English, Chinese) and have been promoting SB Safety Action Guidelines among all employees by using the explanatory video, aiming to raising awareness of safety to the same level as in Japan.

In the event of an accident, risk assessment and corrective measures are conducted based on the results of investigations into the cause, and efforts are made to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents.