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Occupational Health and Safety
"Disaster Prevention" and "Occupational Health and Safety" Philosophy and Policies
The Ajinomoto Group Health and Safety Slogan
"Be brave enough to 'Stop.' 'Check' first whenever you are not sure."
The Ajinomoto Group "Disaster Prevention" and "Occupational Health and Safety" Philosophy
We, the Ajinomoto Group, respect each person and act on our recognition that "disaster prevention and occupational health and safety" are one of the most important components of corporate activities.
The Ajinomoto Group "Disaster Prevention" and "Occupational Health and Safety" Policies
The Ajinomoto Group:
- persistently identifies and evaluates potential risks, and acts to diminish and/or eliminates risks in order to prevent disasters and accidents.
- takes initiatives continually to improve occupational health and safety activities by thoroughly complying with public regulations and in-house rules encouraging mutual efforts to do so.
- strengthens the corporate system and facilitates quick response to minimize damage in the event of an emergency and/or disaster.
- proactively provides support for each employee so that they can work in good health, and pay careful attention for the safety of work environment.
April 1, 2011
Progress in Fiscal 2010 and Targets in Fiscal 2011
- Safety management system in fiscal 2011
The Ajinomoto Group worked steadily toward achieving targets in 2010, the final year of its Medium-Term plan that commenced in fiscal 2008. As a result, group companies outside of Japan succeeded in meeting their targets. Regrettably, however, group companies in Japan fell short of reaching set targets.
Group companies outside of Japan are striving to attain targets by building on results from initiatives on preventing caught-in accidents, which commonly occur in food production processes. In fiscal 2011, the Ajinomoto Group will implement a package of basic safety activities comprising education on common safety measures for equipment, and hands-on training. The Group intends to regularly conduct these activities at each of its workplaces in cooperation with relevant organizations.
Group companies in Japan have finished introducing a risk assessment system at production sites generally according to plans. As risk assessment procedures still have room for improvement, a new Zero Accident Committee has been established to lead efforts aimed at addressing issues related to food packaging operations.
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Hands-on safety training at Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad
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Using a model hand to teach safe operations at Ajinomoto Vietnam Co., Ltd.
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Hands-on safety training at Ajinomoto Poland Sp. z o.o.
A safety training session at Ajinomoto Poland Sp. z o.o.
Hazard prediction training provided to the Ajinomoto Group employees
Results related to workplace safety
The following data on work-related accidents covers all employees of the Ajinomoto Group working in Japan and outside Japan.
Frequency of accidents resulting in time off work in Japan
Frequency = Number of deaths and injuries / Total actual working hours x 1,000,000
Frequency of accidents resulting in time off work outside Japan
Severity rate of accidents resulting in time off work in Japan
Severity rate = Number of lost work days / Total actual working hours x 1,000
Severity rate of accidents resulting in time off work outside Japan
Safety slogan
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The winning slogan creator, Jun Kosaka
Third Disaster Prevention Lecture held
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Employees pay close attention during the Disaster Prevention Lecture
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has adopted a flexible approach to the disaster training it conducts every year, and has held an accident prevention lecture annually since fiscal 2008 to raise disaster prevention awareness among employees before training sessions commence.
Divided into two parts, the event opened with a talk on the probability of a major earthquake by a manager from the Environment & Safety Department. It was followed with a guest lecture by Masao Tokura, a manager from Asahi Breweries, Ltd., who was in charge of reconstruction and business resumption of the company's Nishinomiya Factory following the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. He discussed the damage status and reconstruction projects at the time, as well as effective measures for continuing business operations.
A questionnaire was distributed after the lecture. Eighty-four attendees responded; many expressed their desire for the event to be held every year and to hear personal stories from victims of disasters. The company plans to continue holding the lecture event from fiscal 2011 onward.
Follow-up information reporting after administrative penalty at the Tokai Plant
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The information meeting with local community association leaders
A tour of the plant was given during the information meeting
As previously announced by the company, the Tokai Plant of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. breached reporting and notification duties to local authorities in 2010. Since then, the plant has been receiving instructions from authorities, including the Yokkaichi City Fire Department, while steadily implementing corrective measures aimed at preventing similar cases from occurring.
In relation to these activities, the Tokai Plant held an information meeting for community leaders to present an overview of the administrative penalty it has received, along with explanations of the incident's causes and the company's countermeasures. Representatives from the plant openly disclosed facts of the incident and made an apology. In an effort to reassure the community, the plant provided information on initiatives related to safety and environmental preservation, which it is carrying out in earnest.
In the future, the Tokai Plant intends to manage the plant in a manner that enables it to develop together with the local community. It will work toward regaining the trust of local residents and society by opening the plant to the public every year and continuing to pursue opportunities to interact directly with local residents.
Safety Training
Safety confirmation drills
In the past, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. practiced safety drills that involved sending e-mails to confirm employee safety. At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, however, e-mail messages from the company to employees were not delivered quickly due to a temporary disruption in telecommunication services. As a result, considerable time was required to confirm the safety of employees.
In response, the company introduced the Safety Confirmation System1 in April to provide an improved method for contacting employees during times of emergency. Through the new system, safety confirmation e-mail messages are sent to all employees at the same time an earthquake occurs to speed up the verification process. With the aim to ensure reliable safety confirmation of employees, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. plans to conduct drills for managers designed to verify the status of personnel. Meticulous checks will also be conducted to ensure that all of the company's workers are properly registered in the system. 1. The Safety Confirmation System contacts registered employees at the time of an emergency via e-mail received by cellular phones and home computers. Employees can then select responses to the messages to verify their safety with the company and whether they are able or unable to arrive at their worksites.
Evacuation drills
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Employees practice using a fire hose outside the building
On September 2, 2010, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. carried out an evacuation drill at its Head Office in Tokyo's Kyobashi district. Based on the scenario of a major earthquake followed by the breakout of fires, the drills comprised procedures for escaping from company buildings and verifying the number of personnel outside. Employees were able to leave the buildings without any problems under the guidance of designated safety leaders on each floor.
Employees also practiced using outdoor fire hydrants and hoses during the drill, having previously mastered the use of fire extinguishers in several evacuation drills. This was a new experience for most of the participants, and some were surprised at the force of the water pressure. Since this training had not been conducted in previous evacuation drills, the company intends to provide opportunities for more employees to gain the experience of operating hydrants and hoses in the future. Furthermore, the company plans to place more emphasis on confirming the safety of employees in the next evacuation drill.