Performance

We report how we worked on the 5Ms set in our Medium-Term Occupational Health and Safety Targets, during the fiscal year 2022.
The report covers TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.: six sites, and its domestic and overseas consolidated subsidiaries.

Organizations Covered by this Report

TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. (Japan)
Takasaki Global Center / Haruna Plant / Nakanojo Plant / Tamamura Plant / Yawatabara Plant / R&D Center
Consolidated Subsidiary (Japan)
TAIYO YUDEN CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. / TAIYO YUDEN TECHNO SOLUTIONS CO., LTD. / FUKUSHIMA TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. / NIIGATA TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. / TAIYO YUDEN ENERGY DEVICE CO., LTD. / WAKAYAMA TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. / TAIYO YUDEN Mobile Technology Co., Ltd. (Head Office & Tokorozawa Plant) / Kankyo Assist Co., Ltd. / ELNA CO.,LTD. / ELNA TOHOKU CO.,LTD.
Consolidated Subsidiary (Other Countries)
South Korea: KOREA KYONG NAM TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
China: TAIYO YUDEN (GUANGDONG) CO., LTD.
Philippines: TAIYO YUDEN (PHILIPPINES), INC.
Malaysia: TAIYO YUDEN (SARAWAK) SDN. BHD. / ELNA-SONIC SDN. BHD.
Thailand: TANIN ELNA CO., LTD.

Efforts and Status

Man

Intensive basic training and fostering “Awareness of safe behavior”

To create a safe workplace culture, we are conducting activities to help employees increase their knowledge of health and safety so that they can perform their work with such knowledge in mind.
In FY2022, based on the results of analysis of the 4th Safety Awareness Survey in FY2021, which is carried out continuously to visualize employees' awareness of health and safety, we continued to promote efforts to make work safer by verifying and reviewing risk measures in non-routine work. We have also strengthened education based on basic education materials that have systematically organized items to be followed when performing relatively high-risk work. In the 5th Safety Awareness Survey conducted in FY2022, we confirmed that most of items were improved as the result.
We will continue to conduct the Safety Awareness Survey and improve safety awareness of each employee to promote a culture of workplace safety.
Basic Education

Machine

Enhancing the level of facility safety design for designers

With the objective of ensuring our machine safety activities conform to global standards (ISO and IEC), we are reviewing the Safety Standards for Group Machines, which define measures against risks common to production machines to enhance safety measures for them.
In FY2022, we carried out appropriate equipment safety assessments and measures for next generation industrial robots that are advancing in sophistication and complexity. In addition, in order to build a safe work environment in which people and robots can cooperate, we promoted the training of equipment safety experts (R-SA: Robot Safety Assessors) with safety knowledge about industrial robots, and promoted the standardization of equipment safety measures for the introduction of industrial robots. We also regularly held workshops aimed at upgrading the skills of equipment safety experts (SA: Safety Accessors and SSA: Safety Sub-Assessors).
We will continue our efforts to reduce occupational injuries associated with machines.
Equipment safety expert skill improvement workshop

Method

Safe work without inconsistencies

We are upgrading and reviewing procedures to standardize them and make them safe and consistent so that employees can work more safely.
In FY2022, we verified and reviewed the risks of all heavy object handling work and the measures for these works, and took measures to strengthen measures. Regarding heavy object handling work, we promoted conversion from management measures to mechanization, and took measures to reduce heavy manual work and reduce human intervention as much as possible. For heavy lifting that is difficult to mechanize, we verified various types of back pain prevention equipment, selected the most effective protective equipment, and trained employees on correct wearing methods and work methods.
We will continue to strive toward promoting a safe working environment from a common perspective.
Strengthening measures for heavy object handling work

Material

Minimization of toxicity 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 FY2022, as a measure for the risk of cleaning jigs using organic solvents, we promoted switching to less harmful substances and mechanization of the work to minimize the risk of handling chemical substances.
We will continue to work toward minimizing the hazards and dangers of chemical substances.

Measurement

Strengthening of checking system

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 FY2022, we standardized workplace patrol procedures (checklists) to reduce and minimize the variation in checks during workplace patrols. In addition, on-site staff had performed the role of checkers to conduct regular workplace patrols until then, but we started a system whereby health and safety specialists from other sites conduct workplace patrols of each other's sites. This has led to the identification of new issues and improvement measures referring to best-practices.
Going forward, we will continue our efforts to deepen the level of checks to create safe and hygienic workplaces.

Health

1 Reducing incidences of mental health problems

The Taiyo Yuden Group has developed a system*1 for reducing incidences of mental health problems and is conducting preventive activities.
In addition to conducting statutory stress checks using the Occupational Stress Simple Questionnaire, we also conduct surveys on work engagement*2 and the harassment rate in the organization.
In the approach to individuals, the industrial nursing staff conducted individual interviews with employees who were concerned about the risk of mental disorders, and made efforts to prevent mental disorders. We conducted self-care training to teach stress relief methods and avoidance methods for individuals identified as suffering from high stress by the stress checks.
In the approach to the organization, we shared the results of the group analysis with the management of the organization, and each department judged the necessity of training leaders to care about the mental health of their employees and anti-harassment training to enhance psychological safety*3.
These activities reduced the incidence to 0.73% (see G1). We will continue to enhance training, work closely with industrial doctors, psychiatrists, and industrial counselors, and work on mental health care so that all employees can work with peace of mind and motivation.

Harassment prevention training

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 with vigor.

*3: Refers to the state where you can speak your thoughts and feelings to anyone in the organization with confidence.

2 Establishing a healthy lifestyle

Under the management philosophy, “Employee Well-being,” Taiyo Yuden sees employee health management as a management issue, and is committed to health management in order to create a foundation for safe and secure work, create an organization where employees are motivated, and contribute to productivity and creativity. Within this, to advance these activities both strategically and systematically, we have set health indicators (Focus5: Food, non-smoking, exercise, sleep, and stress) and established targets, and have been endeavoring to implement specific health measures to achieve these targets.
In FY2022, we prioritized Exercise and Sleep in the Focus5 indicators as key items and promoted efforts.
As, for Exercise measures, we carried out efforts to foster employees' motivation for daily exercise, such as distributing stretch videos produced in-house, holding stretching and yoga classes by external instructors, and visualizing the physical condition of employees using a wearable device app.
For Sleep measures, we conducted e-learning for desk workers to correctly understand sleep, and held seminars for shift workers and new employees on the topic of sleep disorders. For other measures, we implemented initiatives to quit smoking, enhanced employee canteens, and implemented health promotion measures health insurance union and labor union by (walking events, RIZAP seminars).
As a result, in terms of external recognition, we were selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's system Health and Productivity Management Organization 2023 -White 500*4 for the three consecutive years. In addition, as a company that actively works to promote sports activities to promote the health of employees, we were certified by the Japan Sports Agency as a Sports Encouragement Company 2023*5 for the three consecutive years.
We will continue to pursue both mentally and physically healthier work environments that enable our employees to work with vigor.

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

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

Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization 2023 (White 500)
Sports Yell Company 2023