Occupational Safety and Health

• Basic Philosophy on Safety
• Examples of Activities to Raise Awareness of Occupational Safety and Health

Basic Philosophy on Safety

Like compliance, safety is one of the core issues of operations at Techno Associe.

All those in a management position in the company follow the creed of 'safety above all else.' They strive to implement occupational safety and health activities with the understanding that safety is critical to all work processes, upholding slogans and adhering to the Occupational Safety and Health Policy and Occupational Safety and Health Regulations.

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Examples of Activities to Raise Awareness of Occupational Safety and Health

(1)Safety patrols by top management

Every year during the National Safety Week in July, the company director in charge of safety and health gives a talk on safety in order to raise employees' safety awareness. Directors also conduct annual work site inspections, with improvements made on items pointed out during the inspections in an effort to prevent accidents and create a more comfortable work environment.

(2)Enhancing education

All new employees and mid-career employees receive safety and health training at the time of joining the company to enhance their awareness of safety. While a common type of accidents in our company was those involving property damage during work (company cars and forklifts), with regard to company cars, the number of such accidents has substantially declined recently as a result of providing annual e-learning training on safe driving to all drivers among our employees and organizing safe driving practical training at driving schools for young employees who are inexperienced drivers to help them improve their driving skills.
We have also taken continuous initiatives related to forklifts, such as regular lectures given by instructors from forklift manufacturers and improvement activities in warehouses, and the number of relevant accidents has significantly decreased as well.
All of our bases and affiliates in Japan take health-related initiatives including the activities of the Safety and Health Committee and health education by industrial physicians in an effort to raise awareness of health across the Techno Associe Group.

(3)Preventing accidents while walking

Even in offices and other workplaces where there is nothing in their surroundings that causes serious occupational accidents, trips and falls on steps or other objects may result in unexpected injuries and accidents. In light of that, since 2018 we have been running a walking accident prevention campaign in an endeavor to raise employee awareness by reminding them of dos and don'ts while walking—namely, do not put hands in pockets, do not use a phone, hold handrails on stairs, do not jaywalk, and look both ways before crossing.

(4)Safety and health initiatives at warehouses

Warehouses are workplaces that demand special attention to safety and health. To ensure the safety and health of employees working at warehouses and help create a better working environment, we have established Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines pursuant to our Occupational Safety and Health Regulations.
These guidelines primarily cover management structures, roles, education, guidance, and measures to be taken when injuries and other accidents occur, placing particular emphasis on the prevention of (i) heatstroke, (ii) backache, (iii) wounds from knives and other sharp objects, and (vi) trips and falls. Specific measures taken to prevent heatstroke include the installation of a clock with a wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) monitor at each warehouse to alert workers of heat levels, taking breaks at appropriate intervals, replacing regular work clothes with those with excellent breathability and quick-drying properties, and providing neck cooling devices, air-conditioned clothing with fans, oral rehydration solutions, salt candy, etc. We are also working to prevent workers from suffering backache by supplying back belts, power-assisted suits and other tools. Thus, we are committed to reducing risks and preventing accidents.
For workers using machinery and other equipment, we have developed a safety management manual for each machinery and operation, which workers are required to comply with to work safely.
To familiarize workers with these initiatives, we continue endeavoring to raise safety awareness and improve working methods and environments by pursuing activities to enhance warehouse safety levels.

(5)Health management initiatives

To enhance and support employee health, we undertake the initiatives outlined below.

①Regular checkups

All employees must undergo regular health checkups in Japan. In particular, employees aged 40 or older are required to undergo comprehensive health checkups to examine more items in detail. Tumor marker tests, gynecological exams (cervical and breast cancer screening), etc. are also added to the test items to help detect lifestyle and other diseases at an early stage. If regular checkups detected potential problems in employees, we urge them to undergo a thorough checkup in collaboration with industrial physicians. In that way, we seek to make a regular checkup the opportunity for employees to look after their own physical health and start treatment early, rather than a once and done event. At our bases engaged in organic solvents and other operations that statutorily obligate the employer to conduct special checkups, we provide such checkups as required by the law.

②Health management education

Educational sessions by industrial physicians are provided during monthly Health and Safety Committee meetings. In conjunction with this event, we are taking measures to maintain and promote the health of our employees by giving them opportunities to learn about health management, covering topics such as preventing heatstroke, influenza, and other infectious diseases, pollen allergies, and more.

(6)Commitment to mental healthcare

Thinking that it is important for each one of our employees to recognize his or her stress levels (i.e., self-care) and for workplace supervisors to take appropriate action for mental health (i.e., line care), we are committed to the following:

①About self-care

Mental health checks are conducted every year and all employees can use the services including those of domestic affiliates, and an "external counseling contact for mental health" that all employees and their families can use at any time has been established to promote self-care.

②About line care

Emphasis is also placed on the line care of each workplace, and training is provided for supervisors. Workplaces with good ventilation so that people do not get sick have been created and action is being taken in conjunction with personnel managers and industrial physicians.

(7)FY2022 Occupational Accident Data (Non-consolidated)

Indicator	FY2021	FY2022
Frequency rate of work-related injuries*1	2.12	2.01
Severity rate of work-related injuries*2	0.00	0.00

*1

Frequency of work-related injuries and fatalities per 1 million total working hours

*2

The number of days lost due to work-related injuries per 1000 total working hours

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