Occupational Safety and Health
At the Nippon Soda Group, we believe that people are the most important management resource, as they enhance our competitive advantage and bring about sustainable growth.
To create workplaces where each and every employee feels safe and healthy, motivated and full of energy, we strive to prevent occupational accidents and health issues, promoting health and productivity management so that both employees and their families can maintain and improve their physical and mental health.
- Occupational safety and health
Placing the safety and health of our employees above all else, we comply with occupational safety and health laws and regulations. At our Nippon Soda plants, we have put in place and operate an occupational safety and health management system (OSHMS) compliant with the international standard ISO 45001, which we strive to continuously improve. We are committed to proactively preventing occupational accidents through thorough workplace risk management based on risk assessments and the reliable implementation of the PDCA cycle for safety and health activities. What is more, we endeavor to foster a culture of safety in which all employees actively participate and take initiative in making continuous improvements, with the goal of achieving zero occupational accidents and building a safe workplace environment. - Health and Productivity Management
We are actively committed to maintaining and improving the health of employees and their families, fostering a culture of health in which everyone participates and that encourages all employees, from management to regular staff. In addition to undertaking initiatives aimed at promoting both physical health and mental wellbeing, we facilitate flexible working arrangements and raise the level of health literacy (the ability to obtain, understand, and apply health-related knowledge and information) among employees. Through these efforts, we aim to improve health awareness for each individual employee and establish good health management practices throughout the entire organization.
FY 2025/3 targets and achievements levels (KPIs)
(Achievement levels ◎：≥ 90% ○：80-90% △：60-80% ×： ≤ 60%) Red text: KPIs
Efforts to Prevent Occupational Accidents
Establishment of Safety and Health Committees
In line with Article 19 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, at Nippon Soda we have established a Safety and Health Committee at each of our worksites. The committees meet once a month, aiming to prevent occupational accidents and health hazards, and maintain and promote employee health. In addition, we have also established a Central Safety and Health Committee, chaired by the Responsible Care Management Department’s general manager. It comprises safety and health supervisors from each department and worksite, and meets in principle twice a year. In addition to the views of management, the central committee incorporates wide-ranging opinions from labor unions and health insurance associations in order to improve working environments.
Risk assessments utilizing an occupational health and safety management system (OSHMS)
We are continuously improving the achievement of our safety and health targets and overall performance by rigorously implementing the PDCA cycle set out in our occupational health and safety management system (OSHMS). As part of these efforts, we have obtained ISO 45001 certification, an international standard, and have put in place and operate an OSHMS that meets global standards.
In order to effectively integrate our OSHMS and Responsible Care (RC) activities, we are focusing on improving the quality of risk assessments. At each worksite, we identify and evaluate occupational accident risks regularly and systematically, and determine our response priorities based on the results of these evaluations.
For risks that we deem to be unacceptable, we develop and execute specific measures to minimize them, and then thoroughly evaluate their effectiveness and conduct follow-up activities. Through these efforts, we are working to improve workplace safety and health standards and reduce the risk of occupational accidents.
Reduction of occupational accident risks
Based on the activity plans set forth in OSHMS, we are reducing risks by actively identifying and analyzing examples of near-miss incidents. Furthermore, we share examples of disasters that occurred at other worksites and other companies across our organization to prevent similar risks before they occur. When new plants are constructed or when existing facilities are expanded, we require safety reviews and audit processes, rigorously implementing measures to reduce accident risk to an acceptable level before starting test operations.
Prevention of human error
The 5Ss—seiri (sorting), seiton (setting-in-order), seiso (shining), seiketsu (standardizing) and shitsuke (sustaining the discipline)—and the four Safety Cycles (KY* before starting operation → Pointing and vocalizing during operation → Mutually directing attention during operation → Identifying hiyari-hatto (near miss) accidents after operation) are the concepts that form the basis of safety activities for the Nippon Soda Group. In addition, with senior management at each worksite taking the lead, we promote activities to raise safety awareness and aim to achieve higher safety standards by implementing continuous improvements in safety activities through the PDCA cycle.
- * A combination of the first letters of two Japanese words, K for kiken (danger) and Y for yochi (prediction). The KY system is designed to identify latent risks associated with work and take preventive measures before they occur.
Third-party occupational health and safety survey
At Nippon Soda, we undergo occupational health and safety surveys by Sompo Risk Management Inc.
(The Nihongi Plant was inspected on December 6, 2024.)
Number of consecutive days (years) without an accident resulting in absence from work, and number of accidents resulting in absence from work of employees
- 1. As of April 1 2025
- 2. Data collected from FY 2025/3 (April 2024–March 2025)
Number of accidents resulting in absence from work among employees of Nippon Soda and partner companies
| FY 2020/3 | FY 2021/3 | FY 2022/3 | FY 2023/3 | FY 2024/3 | FY 2025/3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon Soda | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Nippon Soda’s partner companies | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Group companies | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Group companies’ partner companies | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
- Note: Data collected from April 1 to March 31 of each year.
Occupational accident frequency rate
- * JCIA stands for Japan Chemical Industry Association.
Occupational accident frequency rate: Casualties caused by occupational accidents ÷ Total actual working hours × 1,000,000
Data collected from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
Severity rate of occupational accidents
Severity rate of occupational accidents: Total working days lost ÷ Total actual working hours × 1,000
Data collected from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
Severity rate of occupational accidents: Total working days lost ÷ Total actual working hours × 1,000
Data collected from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
Number of occupational accidents within the above period that led to an employee’s death (number of deceased): 0 (0)
Number of occupational accidents at partner companies within the above period that led to an employee’s death (number of deceased): 0 (0)
Promotion of Health and Productivity Management
Health and Productivity Management
In March 2025, Nippon Soda was recognized in the 2025 KENKO Investment for Health (Large Enterprise Category) for the eighth year in a row under the recognition program jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi. This program recognizes large enterprises that promote outstanding health and productivity management. Recognition is based on their initiatives to address health-related issues in local communities and health promotion activities as promoted by the Nippon Kenko Kaigi.
Recognizing the importance of health maintenance and improvement in business management, Nippon Soda, in cooperation with the Nisso Health Insurance Association and the labor union, promotes efforts geared toward supporting physical and mental health. We support employees and their families in their health management and proactively promote health and productivity management so that we can provide better value to the public through business activities conducted by healthy and lively employees.
From FY 2021/3, the promotion of health and productivity management has been set forth in the Nippon Soda Group’s CSR Activity Policy, as a management resource that increases corporate competitiveness and brings about the capacity for sustainable growth. We will continue to support the health maintenance of employees, which is essential to the safety of manufacturing sites and stable operations, through constant monitoring. We will also work to improve the rate of employees undergoing complete physical examinations, follow-up on those undergoing periodic medical examinations with a target of a 5% annual improvement, conduct stress checks and follow ups, and provide mental and physical health education.
- Health & Productivity Management Organization Recognition Program Certification System (Japanese only) https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/healthcare/kenkoukeiei_yuryouhouzin.html
Number of employees eligible for thorough medical exams and uptake ratio
About Health and Productivity Management
Nisso Group Health and Productivity Management Promotion Declaration
The Group considers people to be the most important corporate resource for enhancing corporate competitiveness and achieving sustainable growth.
It is fundamentally important to maintain health, both physically and mentally, to create a workplace where individual employees can work willingly and actively. In this context, we implement and promote health and productivity management as an important issue in business management.
To maintain and promote the good health of employees and their families, the Company, the Nisso Health Insurance Association, labor unions, and the employees’ association will make concerted efforts to take various proactive measures.
In order to actualize our Health and Productivity Management Promotion Declaration, under the supervision of the human resource director and safety and health director, we will promote cooperation between the Head Office and each worksite, and implement various measures. In FY 2023/3, we set up the Health and Productivity Management Promotion Section within the Human Resources Department as a dedicated supervisory organization. The section is responsible for company-wide health and productivity management initiatives and for reinforcing collaboration between worksites.
To date, we have sought to prevent the onset of lifestyle-related diseases by actively encouraging employees to undergo complete physical examinations, specific examinations, and specific health guidance. We have also worked to educate employees on the importance of influenza vaccinations and provide them with opportunities to receive them. More recently, among other things, we have offered employees education and guidance aimed at further preventing the onset of lifestyle-related diseases, administered comprehension tests (health literacy surveys) to improve health literacy, and worked to secure opportunities for employees to undergo health examinations by adding our own items to the statutory health checkup items. Furthermore, we are taking steps to ensure thorough supervision and reduction of overtime work to help employees maintain a proper work-life balance and good health.
Message from the President
Since our establishment in 1920, we have continued to use chemistry to provide new value to society, continuing our business activities so that we can contribute to the development of society. To ensure business continuity and development, to date we have considered our employees’ health mainly through occupational safety and health measures.
Meanwhile, there is currently growing concern that declining birthrates and aging populations, soaring social security costs, and other issues will have a major impact on social systems. Therefore, in addition to occupational safety and health, more than ever before corporations are being called upon to maintain and promote their employees’ health.
Moreover, maintaining and improving health is incredibly important to enhancing the quality of life for our employees. Healthy employees can also boost motivation and bring energy to their respective organizations, and in turn lead to improved company achievements. As such, health is vitally important to the Company.
And so, to enhance our corporate value over the medium to long term by maintaining and improving our employees’ health, on top of our existing initiatives, we will proactively drive health and productivity management through efforts to prevent absenteeism and presenteeism, and the implementation of measures that can improve job satisfaction and fulfillment.
Eiji Aga
Representative Director, President
Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.
Mental Health Care
Our mental healthcare program consists of ❶ self-care, ❷ care by administrators in the workplace, ❸ care by occupational healthcare staff and other specialists at each workplace, and ❹ care by external parties.
A stress check is conducted once a year to support ❶ self-care by employees and, ❸ care by occupational healthcare staff and other specialists at each workplace. To improve ❷ care by administrators in the workplace, lectures on mental health given by external specialists are organized.
Consultations with qualified mental health specialists by phone or face-to-face are also available as part of efforts to provide ❹ care by external parties. In addition, lectures on mental health are provided by an external organization to help employees manage their own mental health.
Education and Lectures on Occupational Safety
Heatstroke prevention education
(Takaoka Plant, June 5, 2024)
Traffic safety lecture
(Takaoka Plant, June 19 and 25, 2024)
Mental and physical health education
(Takaoka Plant, July 29 and August 21, 2024)
Health festival
(Nihongi Plant, October 30, 2024)
Lecture on preventing stiff shoulders and back pain
(Nihongi Plant, November 5, 2024)
Health lecture
(Chiba Plant, November 6, 2024)
Foam roller workshop
(Nihongi Plant, November 21, 2024)
Experiential education relating to the odor of phosgene gas
(Takaoka Plant, November 26, 2024)
General lifesaving class
(Chiba Plant, January 30 and February 6, 2025)
Number of incidents of personal injury or illness (per 100 persons) and total number of absentee days (per incident)
Number of incidents of personal injury or illness = (Incidents ÷ number of people) × 100
Total number of absentee days = Days ÷ Incidents
Data collected from April 1 to March 31 of each year.
- 1.Occupational accidents resulting in an absence from work or no absence
- No accidents
- Initiatives to ensure no accidents
1）Conduct risk assessments to reduce risk
2）Strengthen measures to prevent human error
3）Implement activities to ensure safety
4）Implement disaster prevention activities for young employees and less-experienced employees
Strengthen hands-on training facilities and training system
- 2.Promotion of health and productivity management: Improvement of health literacy
- Gauge current level of health literacy
- Follow-up of those undergoing periodic medical examinations
- Mental health checkups and follow-ups
- Formulate and implement various health measures and educational programs
