Creation of a“ safe workplace” culture

To create a safe workplace culture, we are carrying out activities to help employees increase their knowledge of Health and Safety so they can perform their work with such knowledge in mind.
We analyzed the results of the 2nd Safety Awareness Survey conducted on the employees of domestic group sites in FY2019, held discussions on what efforts need to be taken in order to improve safety, and then decided on a specific policy such as identifying potential risks and implementing countermeasures to propel efforts. In the 3rd Safety Awareness Survey conducted in FY2020, the results showed that almost all the items were improved, enabling us to confirm the results of the activities we carried out.
We will continue to administer the Safety Awareness Survey and improve safety awareness of each employee to promote a safe workplace culture.

Analysis results of Safety Awareness Survey

Machine safety meeting the ISO and IEC standards

With the objective of ensuring our machine safety activities conform to global standards (ISO and IEC), we are reviewing the Safety Standards for Group Machine, which define measures against risks common to production machine to enhance the safety measures for machine.
In FY2020, we not only further increased the number of qualified machine safety experts [safety assessors (SAs) and safety sub assessors (SSAs)], but also promoted also getting certified as machine safety leaders [safety basic assessors (SBAs)] and reinforced the machine safety system.
In addition, we revised the group machine safety standards such as reviewing the safety design procedures, and provided training to 426 employees in total at ten domestic sites including skill-up training for machine design/modification personnel.
We will continue our efforts to reduce occupational injuries associated with machine.

Training on group machine safety standards

Standardization of procedures for safe work

We are upgrading and reviewing procedures to standardize them and make them safe and consistent so that employees can work more safely. In FY2020, in order to safely operate material handling machines that are used for transporting heavy loads in production lines, we verified the operation method of these machines again and reviewed the procedures so that they can be operated more safely. In addition, for some machines, we implemented hardware measures by installing a safety device that controls the machine to move to the safe side if an operational error should occur.
We will continue to work towards promoting a safe working environment from a common perspective.

Minimization of the hazards and danger of chemical substances

To minimize the hazards and dangers of chemical substances, we are continuously taking measures against risks associated with tasks that require workers to handle chemical substances. In FY2020, we reassessed the risk of the hazards and dangers of organic solvents, verified them including use
purposes, and then implemented measures such as switching to less hazardous substances. In addition, we promoted sharing SDS in foreign languages companywide to enhance strict management.
We will continue to work towards minimizing the hazards and dangers of chemical substances.

SDS in local language

Enhancement of check levels

To provide safe and hygienic workplaces, we are working to raise check levels by upgrading and improving the methods for identifying invisible hazards (or those that have gone unnoticed). In FY2020, we studied advanced efforts of industries and customers regarding safety and health, analyzed accident and incident cases of other companies, and then created checklists, which were used for checkups and audits at each site. Using check sheets helped recognize again the hazards that need measures, and appropriate measures were implemented to improve the safety standards of our workplaces.
We will continue to raise the check levels to provide safe and hygienic workplaces.

1 Reducing incidences of mental health problems

Mental Healthcare System

G1 : Incidence rate

*2 Work engagement is the condition in which employees gain energy from their work and are proud of the work they do, and so are able to work energetically.

2 Establishing a healthy lifestyle

Based on the management philosophy “Employee well-being,” Taiyo Yuden thinks of employee health management as an issue directly related to business, and we conduct health management activities to promote employee health and improvement of work engagement. In order to encourage these activities forward strategically and systematically, we set health indicators and targets to implement specific measures for health.
The anomaly observation rate in regular health checkups is increasing in recent years as the average age of employees increases. For this reason, we are making efforts emphasizing prevention of lifestyle diseases, which increase with age.
For example, we promoted exercises such as the radio gymnastic exercise and bicycle commuting after placing bicycle parking spaces on factory premises. Thus, we made efforts to induce employees to exercise daily. In addition, as health promotion programs, we made various efforts such as holding walking events in cooperation with the Society-Managed Health Insurance, providing exercise seminars by industrial physicians, conducting physical ability measurement events, and promoting club activities hosted by employees.
As a result, we were certified as the Sports Yell Company 2021^*3 by the Japan Sports Agency and as the Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization 2021 (White 500)^*4 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. We will continue to pursue environment to work healthy both mentally and physically for our employees.

*3: A program which certifies companies actively promoting measures to improve employees’ health through sports.

*4: A program that certifies only the most significant 500 companies in the results of the Survey on Health and Productivity Management

Sports Yell Company 2021

Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization 2021 (White 500)