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Concept
The AGC Group has been implementing measures to minimize the damage caused by accidents. Specifically, we are trying to prevent contingencies (accidents and natural disasters) and to promptly and appropriately take action in the event of their actual occurrence.
AGC Group Industrial Safety & Security Basic Policy
The AGC Group, in the pursuit of “Look Beyond”, carries out the following activities for industrial safety & security under the principle that industrial safety and site safety are part of its responsibility towards the local community as a corporate citizen.
1. |
The AGC Group shall comply with all laws, ordinances, treaties and standards etc. concerning industrial safety and securities, both nationally and locally. |
2. |
The AGC group shall carry out activities for industrial safety & security to prevent accidents or disaster from occurring, and shall strive for continual improvement. |
3. |
The AGC Group shall make efforts to communicate with stakeholders such as the local community. |
- To increase the effectiveness of emergency drills through their evaluation by a third party
- To revise the manuals on earthquake countermeasures
- To make examinations to formulate a business continuity plan (BCP)
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Self-evaluation |
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1. |
Emergency drills were evaluated by a third party at two plants. |
B*1 |
2. |
The manual on earthquake countermeasures was revised. |
A |
3. |
A plan was made to formulate a BCP. |
B*2 |
*1 |
Reason for “B” evaluation: Emergency drills have not yet been evaluated by a third party at all Asahi Glass plants. |
*2 |
Reason for “B” evaluation: Although a general plan was made, a detailed plan has yet to be formulated. |
*Criteria for self-evaluation of results in fiscal 2007
A: Satisfactory level, in which the intended target has been achieved
B: Almost satisfactory level, in which a part of the intended target has not yet been achieved
C: Unsatisfactory level, in which the intended target has not been achieved
Targets for fiscal 2008
- To identify and figure out risks through audits, etc.
- To incorporate the concept of business continuity in earthquake countermeasures
- To continue to have a third party evaluate the emergency drills to further increase their effectiveness
Revision of the Risk Control Manual
Asahi Glass classified the risks (contingencies) that it might face in its corporate activities into the following four types: (1) terrorism and riots; (2) serious damage caused by earthquakes; (3) serious damage caused by fires, explosions, etc.; and (4) risks associated with other contingencies. Based on this classification, Asahi Glass formulated the Risk Control Manual, and it has been using this manual since 2001.
Fire Prevention
The AGC Group has been conducting environment, safety and
security audits to continuously improve the relevant activities of
Group companies both within and outside Japan. In particular, we
conducted a questionnaire survey on overseas Group companies
to analyze the strong and weak points of their industrial safety and
security measures. We give feedback on the analysis results to
each In-House Company/SBU, in order to further strengthen our
preventive and responsive measures.
In fiscal 2007, we had eight small fires and notified them to
the local fire stations, since Asahi Glass makes it a rule to notify
the local public fire station of any fires, including even small fires
that can be extinguished with one single fire extinguisher. The fires
were promptly extinguished and caused no serious damage. We,
however would like to apologize to all those concerned for any
inconvenience caused by the fires. To prevent reoccurrence of
fires, we analyzed the fires that had taken place during the past
four years and shared some important tips on fire prevention.
Important tips on fire prevention at the AGC Group
Main origin of fire |
High-temperature equipment or sparks from welding |
Main cause of fire |
Insufficient hazard prediction, defects in equipment, insufficient cleaning |
Specific measures |
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Earthquake Countermeasures
Manual on earthquake countermeasures
Asahi Glass formulated a manual on earthquake countermeasures in 1995. The manual outlines responses to be made in the event of a large earthquake and preparations to be made in normal times. In December 2007, we revised the manual by adding explanations about the emergency messaging service and making the manual consistent with the in-house rules.
Disaster Prevention Measures
The plants of the AGC Group regularly implement emergency drills. In fiscal 2007, the plants had their comprehensive emergency drills evaluated by a third party and made mutual visits to observe how relevant drills were being conducted, thereby strengthening and improving their disaster prevention measures, including the creation of disaster scenarios.
Topic
Strengthening Risk Management through
Third-party Evaluation of Emergency Drills (Japan)
Comprehensive emergency drill (at Asahi Glass Kashima Plant)
The plants and the Research Center of Asahi Glass conduct emergency
drills every year. In fiscal 2007, the Kansai and Kashima Plants had
their emergency drills evaluated by a third-party consulting company
to enhance their effectiveness. The consulting company evaluated the
preparations against disasters in normal times, their plans for emergency
drills, and employees’ behavior on the very day of the drills, and identified
issues needing to be tackled. Specifically, employees were evaluated as
acting promptly, and reporting and communicating loudly and clearly, but
it was also revealed that some improvements had to be made regarding
the use of fire extinguishers and fire hydrants.
In the future, further improvement measures will be implemented and
third-party evaluations will be made at other plants to strengthen their risk
management measures.
Prevention of Environmental Accidents
AGC Group implements measures to prevent leakage of chemicals during transportation by ship or storage at depots, in addition to preventing environmental accidents at its own factories. In order to minimize damage in case of leakage, we ask those engaged in the transportation and warehousing of chemical products to conduct disaster prevention training on a regular basis and we make it a rule to check the results of such training. |
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Disaster prevention training at a depot |
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Training conducted aboard a transport ship |
Topic
Establishing CATEMAG to Ensure Local Safety and Environmental Protection (Thailand)
As part of its measures to fulfill its social responsibility, AGC Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is leading other local companies in activities to improve the safety of the transporting of chemical agents by tanker truck.
AGC Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is a major chlor-alkali production base of the AGC Group,
and leads other companies in the country's industry.
Committed to fulfilling its social responsibility, the company established the Chlor-Alkali
Products Transportation Mutual Aid Group (CATEMAG) in 2001, inviting other companies
in the industry to participate in the Group. The company was concerned about the serious
potential damage to local communities and the environment in the event of accidents or leakages
of chemical agents during transportation.
Since the foundation of the Group, AGC Chemicals (Thailand) has been leading other participants of the Group to improve the
safety of transporting their products. The Thai government highly appreciated CATEMAG's
activities, and established the Hazardous Substances Logistics Association (HASLA),
modeled on the Group. As a company that is prominent not only in its market share but also
in terms of safety and environmental measures, AGC Chemicals (Thailand) has been leading the
activities of the Association in cooperation with the Thai government.
CATEMAG went into action eight times in 2005 and six times in 2006.
 CATEMAG in action |
Activities conducted by CATEMAG Establishment of a communication system for emergency mutual aid, the unification of transportation-related specifications and standards, the education of transportation staff, cooperation with relevant governmental authorities, emergency exercises, and others |
Industrial Safety & Security Seminar
Asahi Glass holds an industrial safety & security seminar once a year for its own industrial safety & security staff as well as for their counterparts in its affiliates. The seminars generally use actual accidents as examples to teach participants how to identify causes, what to do immediately after the accident, and what preventive actions to take, thereby providing them with an opportunity to share relevant information and measures.
