EMPLOYEE SAFETY
EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY Employee safety
Basic Concepts
KOKUYO believes that creation of a safe, secure and pleasant working environment, safety measures in times of disaster and other measures are the foundations for employees to work vigorously and demonstrate their full abilities. Therefore, the KOKUYO Group Central Safety Health Committee—which has the function of overseeing safety and health within the KOKUYO Group—takes the lead to link the health and safety committees of our offices to establish mechanisms and systems while actively exchanging opinions with our employees.
KOKUYO Group Safety and Health Basic Policy
【Basic Policy】
We take a safety-first approach on the belief that the cornerstone of all our business is the mental and physical wellness of every employee.
【Code of Conduct】
- Comply with all relevant laws and regulations (such as the Industrial Safety and Health Law) as well as internal guidelines and standards.
- Encourage continuous and autonomous workplace improvement, and strive to prevent occupational accidents and health problems.
- To ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in the Group’s business, we promote the creation of a transparent culture in which everyone participates.
Systems
KOKUYO Group construction industry health-and-safety conferences
During Japan’s National Safety Week* (first week of July), we organize health-and-safety conferences to enhance safety-consciousness across the corporate group. The conference in fiscal 2022 was well attended. The conference used a hybrid format: It was primarily an offline event, with anti-infection measures taken, but the event was also livestreamed.
Run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Japan Industrial Safety & Health Association, National Safety Week is a campaign that calls upon employers to take voluntary actions to prevent workplace injuries. It also aims to raise awareness about health and safety and entrench workplace safety.
- Construction industry: KOKUYO Group construction industry health-and-safety conferences
The KOKUYO Construction Industry Health and Safety Promotion Committee organizes health-and-safety conferences at seven venues for our construction partners in KOKUYO Group. It does so on the belief that employee health and safety is foundational to business growth. The conferences in fiscal 2022 used a hybrid format: They were held offline for the first time in three years and also webcasted. During the conferences, the committee reported its activities and presented awards to our construction partners.
- Plants: Safety conventions and safety patrols in plants in the KOKUYO Group in Japan
We hold safety conferences and conduct safety patrols at seven bases in five plants in Japan. There were again explanations about occupational accident data and safety initiatives and themed training at the safety conferences in FY2022 as there are every year. We were able to hold these conferences by taking measures such as devising ways to avoid the Three Cs (crowded places, close contact settings and closed spaces) in each plant. We will also continue to provide opportunities to take a pause and think about safety once a year at each site over our entire group in the future. We will do that to connect a culture that protects safety with the future.
- Development: Manufacturing safety conference and safety patrol
With participation by workshops which develop KOKUYO products and inspect quality, we hold a safety conference and conduct a safety patrol at the KOKUYO Head Office. However, we held these in a hybrid format both in-person and online to avoid the Three Cs (crowded places, close contact settings and closed spaces) in fiscal 2022. This safety conference is a forum to once again inform employees about occupational accident prevention and to confirm with them what needs to be done prevent such accidents. We do that because machinery and equipment and many chemical substances are also often handled at development sites. The hybrid format resulted in a higher number of attendees, as it was possible for remote workers and staff at the Shinagawa office to attend online. The conference therefore succeeded in raising safety awareness in many employees.
Initiatives in 2022
Meetings for Plants in the KOKUYO Group to Exchange Opinions in 2022
We held meetings for plants to exchange opinions organized by the KOKUYO Group Central Safety Health Committee from October to November. These meetings featured exchanges of opinions about daily safety and health activities and future issues in each company with plant managers and safety personnel from each plant in our group in Japan and overseas. We proactively exchanged opinions aiming to widen the circle of safety and health in our group that transcends industrial sectors. The KOKUYO Group believes the health and safety of our employees are the foundations that support the growth of our company. Based on that idea, we are aiming to maintain the health and safety of employees through such activities to build an environment and culture where they can work with enthusiasm.
Foreperson leadership training
To help develop the talent pool for plants over the medium and long term, the KOKUYO Group Central Safety Health Committee works and KOKUYO MVP (one of our manufacturing subsidiaries) jointly run leadership workshops with an emphasis on communication skills. We plan to roll this leadership program out to other plants. In this program, attendees will practice getting their message across and engaging in dialogue effectively so that they can foster a positive workplace culture that keeps employees feeling secure and confident.
