Occupational health and safety

Safety and Health Policy

We at the Shimadzu Corporation recognize that ensuring the safety and health of all individuals working within the Shimadzu Group and at its business sites (hereinafter referred to as "workers") is essential to the advancement of its business activities. Accordingly, we are committed to creating a safe and comfortable working environment.

1. We comply with all laws and regulations related to occupational health and safety, as well as internal rules and voluntary standards.
2. We conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards in our business activities and implement measures to reduce those risks to acceptable levels, thereby preventing occupational accidents.
3. In order to prevent and avoid recurrence of work-related accidents, vehicle incidents, and commuting accidents, we provide planned safety and health education and training to workers, aiming to enhance their awareness, knowledge, skills, and sensitivity.
4. We actively promote health management to maintain and improve both mental and physical well-being.
5. We strive to improve occupational health and safety standards through good communication and collaboration with workers.
6. In implementing this policy, we establish safety and health objectives and action plans, and allocate appropriate management resources to ensure continuous and effective improvement.

Efforts to Prevent Occupational Accidents

In recent years, accidents involving unskilled workers employed for less than five consecutive years have accounted for about 40 % of all accidents. To prevent workplace accidents caused by lack of skill or experience, we have been conducting safety training and danger anticipation training for new employees and those without experience on a given task. Part of that training involves using a safety simulator to experience simulated workplace accidents. By experiencing danger participants improve their ability to anticipate danger. Actually, experiencing danger increases worker ability to sense and anticipate danger, which is expected to help decrease workplace accidents. In addition, since there are many occurrences in the engineering department, efforts are being made to focus on this department. No serious workplace accidents occurred in FY 2019.

Simulator for Experiencing Pointing/
Calling Safety Measures

Chemical Substance Risk Management

We are steadily continuing the chemical substance risk assessment required by the Industrial Safety and Health Law, making employees aware of the danger posed by chemical substances, and studying measures to reduce the risk of health hazards. Since fiscal 2017, we have been working to reduce the use of hazardous substances such as toluene and to replace them as a company-wide effort across the organization.
In order to improve the efficiency and level of management of chemical substances, which had been handled by several departments responsible for laws and regulations, we established the "Chemical Substances Management Promotion Team" (a cross-sectional organization). This team plays a central role in closely exchanging information with departments and Group companies that use chemical substances and establishing a system to respond quickly in the event of an emergency.

Workshops on Managing Chemical Substances

The Chemical Substance Management Promotion Team provides education to those who handle chemical substances subject to laws and regulations to give them the necessary skills. We also conduct emergency trainings for substances identified as having a significant impact on the human body and the environment in the event of a leak.

Workshop on Managing Chemical Substances

Data on Occupational Accidents

For data on the occurrence of occupational accidents and time away from work, please refer to the Sustainability Databook.