Dialogue between Management and Plants
ZEON’s management will continue visiting plants and engaging in robust dialogue with plant workers. We have had direct discussions with front line plant workers and are guided by the key principles that have been simply expressed as, “Do things by the rules and change the rules that cannot realistically be followed.” The President spent 40 days visiting plants in fiscal 2010.
The President Takes the Lead in Promoting Safety Management
We will continue to address the following priorities.
1. Improvement of equipment and systems to prevent mistakes (“Never rely on ‘maybe’ or ‘should’”)
2. Plant deterioration countermeasures and foolproofing measures (“Good judgment saves money”)
3. Review of past accidents and recurrence prevention (“Never rely on ‘maybe’ or ‘should’”)
4. Review of standards (“Always follow the rules. Change any rules that cannot be followed.”)
Accreditation of Certified Safety Inspectors at all Sites
Certification under the new law has been obtained for the safety inspectors at our Takaoka, Kawasaki, Tokuyama, and Mizushima plants and at all other workplaces. Employees at our Kawasaki and Mizushima plants have also been certified to perform completion inspections.
In fiscal 2010, the Takaoka Plant renewed its certification and the Mizushima and Tokuyama plants are scheduled for certification renewal in fiscal 2011. Employees at the Tokuyama Plant also plan to obtain certification for performing completion inspections.
We are striving for a higher level of safety assurance and have established safety management systems at all our sites to ensure potential hazards in our plants are identified and that systematic measures, from both the human or personnel side and the nonhuman or physical object side, are taken to reduce the associated safety risks.
In fiscal 2010, the Takaoka Plant renewed its certification and the Mizushima and Tokuyama plants are scheduled for certification renewal in fiscal 2011. Employees at the Tokuyama Plant also plan to obtain certification for performing completion inspections.
We are striving for a higher level of safety assurance and have established safety management systems at all our sites to ensure potential hazards in our plants are identified and that systematic measures, from both the human or personnel side and the nonhuman or physical object side, are taken to reduce the associated safety risks.
Plant Safety Diagnosis
We conduct evaluations to confirm plant safety at the design stage when commissioning a new plant or upgrading an existing one. For existing plants, we initiate safety diagnosis programs with experienced technical staff members who review risk sources. They also provide technical support for use of production technology that optimizes operations for further improving the safety level of our plants and preventing serious accidents or injuries.
ZEON Safety Month
April of each year is ZEON Safety Month, during which we increase our emphasis on safety activities. This year, we focused on changing rules that cannot be followed. The All-ZEON Safety Conference is usually held during Safety Month every year. The conference in fiscal 2011, however, was cancelled due to a variety of circumstances. In its place, a corporate newsletter was distributed daily to boost awareness about Safety Month during this period. It included messages from the President and the Executive Director, a summary of fiscal 2010 activities by the head of the Safety Environmental Affairs Department, safety message relays conducted by individuals working at each site, and information about safety activities implemented at our plants and cooperating firms. In addition, we acknowledged personnel who had demonstrated steady progress in safety activities to foster a safety mindset.
