Training organized by the Environmental & Safety Affairs Department is conducted annually for newly appointed production managers, equipment control managers and environmental safety managers with front-line responsibility for managing safety measures at each plant. The training encompasses safety management mandates, preventing human error, 5S activities for safety, case studies and key management actions related to workplace accidents, environmental and safety laws, and relevant in-house rules that should be well understood by every safety manager. This training was held twice (for two new managers) during 2010.

 

A training program centered on accident case studies has been conducted since 2003. Former plant managers with extensive knowledge and experience serve as lecturers to provide safety training for employees. This training includes group sessions for all plant employees that provide detailed examples of accidents that have occurred inside and outside the company to renew employee awareness of the dangers of accidents and educate them on how to analyze potential causes of accidents as well as on preventive measures. In fiscal 2010, training was focused on an accidental explosion that impacted ZEON and other companies. The training re-emphasized the following points: (1) accidents are often caused by a series of problems, (2) both direct and indirect causes need to be investigated, (3) efforts to reduce equipment malfunctions and unsafe working conditions must be steadfastly pursued. At the end of the training, the instructor’s closing remarks included the inscription on a monument that was erected after the accidental explosion at ZEON: “Safety cannot be achieved without first solving the small problems around you.”

 

For employees newly recruited by the head office, we present examples of workplace accidents during their workshop practice at a plant. We also teach them the importance of adhering to workplace rules. Employees recently hired by any of our plants receive a basic education program on environmental and safety concerns at each plant.

Under our annual plan, we continually hold training programs for comprehensive disaster prevention, emergency response, and reporting.
Alongside these efforts, we established the Monozukuri Training Center at the Mizushima Plant as a company-wide training facility for manufacturing workers. Educational and training programs have been conducted here since 2009. For manufacturing workers who have been recently hired or have worked with the company for only two to three years, we conduct training sessions that include classroom lectures and training plant activities. These provide basic education in plant rules and basic knowledge of plant operations, which improve employees’ skills and maintain a high level of motivation. We also set up a safety workshop at the Mizushima Plant to give trainees hands-on experience with various safety rules, helping employees of our cooperating companies and the Mizushima Plant to deepen their understanding of these rules.