Asahi Glass | Industrial Safety & Security

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 case of actual occurrence.

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

Results in fiscal 2008

		Self-evaluation
1.	Conducted 30 audits based on the audit plan	B*1
2.	Began formulating a business continuity plan (BCP)	A
3.	Shared the results of the third-party evaluation made in the previous year across all the plants of Asahi Glass	B*2

Criteria for self-evaluation
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 2009

To create a checklist for quantitative evaluation and identify possible risks through auditing
To formulate BCPs against earthquakes at domestic bases
To make responses to the risks specific to each region and business, including natural disasters, fires, and explosions.

*1 Reason for B evaluation: The checklist has not yet been completed for quantitative evaluation.
*2 Reason for B evaluation: No third-party evaluation was newly made.

The AGC Group Basic Industrial Safety & Security 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.

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 continuously improving its fire prevention activities through environment, safety and security audits on a global scale. In March 2008, Asahi Glass Kashima Plant successfully passed an examination to update its certification under the High Pressure Gas Safety Act based on new certification standards. In other words, the plant obtained a qualification to conduct completion and safety inspections for its high-pressure gas equipment. To update the certification based on the new standards, the Plant formulated and disseminated new industrial safety and security manuals, rules and criteria, identified relevant risk factors, and managed all relevant changes to improve its industrial safety level.

In fiscal 2008, Asahi Glass suffered eight small fires. Asahi Glass and other Group companies are sharing the analyzed data of past fires to prevent the reoccurrence of fires.

As for the leakage of molten glass that took place at Asahi Glass Takasago Plant in July 2008, we deeply regret the inconvenience caused by the incident to local inhabitants and companies and to local governmental officials, including the fire department. We are thoroughly implementing improvement measures based on our investigation of the causes to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Important Tips on Fire Prevention at the AGC Group

Earthquake Countermeasures

Manual on earthquake countermeasures

Asahi Glass formulated a manual on earthquake countermeasures in 1995 and revised it in 2007. In fiscal 2008, we began formulating BCPs against earthquakes at Asahi Glass and other domestic Group companies.

Disaster Prevention Measures

Comprehensive emergency drill (at Asahi Glass Kashima Plant)

The plants of the AGC Group regularly implement emergency drills. In fiscal 2007, the Kansai and Kashima Plants of Asahi Glass had their comprehensive emergency drills evaluated by a third-party consulting company. In fiscal 2008, the information obtained through the third-party evaluation was shared across all the plants of Asahi Glass for stronger risk management.

Topic
Contributing to the Extinction of a Neighborhood Wood Fire (Japan)

Firefighting activity by the plant's team

AGC Electronics (AGEL), based in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, which manufactures and sells electronic components and products, contributed greatly to the extinction of a local fire. On February 19, 2008, AGEL detected a fire in its neighborhood and informed the local fire department. It then dispatched its own firefighting team comprising about 20 members to the site, and the team extinguished the fire in cooperation with the local fire department. Although about 600 square meters of land covered with dried grass was scorched, no one was injured by the fire. In recognition of the speedy activity, AGEL was given a letter of thanks from the fire headquarters of Koriyama City. AGEL plans to prepare the firefighting team to respond to emergencies even at night and on holidays by encouraging the members to be more committed to disaster prevention.

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.

Disaster prevention training at a depot

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) which manufactures and sells caustic soda 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 none in 2007 and one in 2008.

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.

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