| Stance and policy | Safety and sanitation are the basis of all our activities. We aim to prevent any occupational injuries, create a pleasant workplace and overall health for our workers under the strong leadership of our managers and supervisors, along with our entire group’s employees’ cooperation of this matter. |
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Working to acquire Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) certification
OSHMS certification ceremony for the Shinshiro Plant and Shinshiro-Minami Plant
The Group promotes the acquisition of Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) certification as we strive for the strong commitment of management, the establishment of organizational frameworks and management systems to ensure this commitment is fully instilled at the work site, and the elimination of risks. During FY2011, OSHMS certification was acquired for the Shinshiro production site (for the 2plants).
In addition, in order to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each business location and promote improvements, we have established common inspection items, and implemented internal safety audits both in Japan and overseas.
Equipment safety
 On-site inspections |
 Holding a review |
Using risk assessment methods to serve as a form of preemptive control in response to disasters, we identify and evaluate potential risks associated with existing equipment in order to prioritize the required countermeasures. In addition, in an aim to develop safe and secure equipment, we also use ideas from workers for the production of tools and automation of equipment that will allow problems to be handled without requiring physical interference.
Nurturing people with overall safety
Improvement of local ventilation systems
The entire work unit is covered so that the smoke emitted is ventilated
We aim to develop sensitive human resources that recognize risky situations as being dangerous. For this reason all employees conduct KYT (kiken yochi training, or hazard prediction activities) on a daily basis, improvement activities on a voluntary basis in response to potentially dangerous incidents that have been pointed out, and hands-on safety drills. In addition, plant supervisors implement communication-focused safety training on a one-on-one basis with workers to enable workers to understand the meaning of individual work process so that they can perform safer operations independently. Through these initiatives, we aim to share and stimulate disaster prevention activities for all workers at our business locations.
Creating a pleasant workplace
We improved equipment and promoted the improvement, maintenance, and management of working methods aimed at using working environment measurements in order to maintain a pleasant workplace. In addition, based on the 5S (seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke, or sorting, straightening, systematic cleaning, standardizing, and sustaining) methodology, we promote manufacturing so that the things you need are available when you need them.
Prioritizing both physical and mental health
Motorcycle operations workshop
To prevent health problems from arising due to overwork and excessive stress, we strive to remain aware of employee working hours and provide guidance and work improvement suggestions in response to workers that work for long hours. Moreover, we provide care in response to mental health issues through preventive management at work sites and the provision of contact points for consultations. We have also started conducting specific medical examinations and providing health guidance for employees in need of specific health guidance.
Preventing traffic accidents
We will expand the systems, function, and activities of traffic accident prevention organizations at each business location. In particular, we will employ traffic guards holding placards during commuting hours as we continue to conduct accident prevention activities. In addition, we will conduct educational activities in cooperation with local police stations and other traffic safety-related organizations.
FY2012 issues and targets
An issue that remains is raising the awareness of our employees towards safety and lowering the risk levels associated with equipment.
Accordingly, we aim to increase the sensitivity of employees towards risk through activities aimed at preventing physical interference with operating equipment and KYT (kiken yochi training, or hazard prediction activities). At the same time, we will strengthen our follow-up system in response to equipment risk assessments in order to reduce risk levels. We will conduct open work observation for the purpose of preparing manuals so that everybody can safely conduct the same work. Moreover, at plants overseas, we will establish and deploy management systems based on OSHMS.
Because the number of accidents are comparatively high for new employees with less than three years of experience and we believe that allowing for the safe conduct of work regardless of experience to be an appropriate means of measuring the completeness of work manuals, we will work towards the goal of not allowing new employees with less than three years of experience to be injured.
Activities at Yokohama Rubber Group companies : SAS Rubber Company’s initiatives
SAS Rubber Company employees and their families
SAS Rubber Company, which manufactures train and bus window seal materials, various rubber cover materials, and automotive hoses, is actively involved in safety activities, including internal safety audits, hands-on safety drills, countermeasures in response to major disasters at other plants, and the adoption of risk assessment programs. SAS Rubber Company also actively conducts 2S actives (seiri and seiton, or sorting and straightening) in the same manner as in Japan to promote the efficient and safe use of space within plants. On site, these activities are implemented under the name of 3S (safety-first, seiri, seiton) + 3P (promise, profit, persistent).