Safety and Prevention
Accidents and Occupational Injuries
The Mitsui Chemicals Group positions as KPIs and monitors major accidents, the number of abnormal conditions/accidents as well as the occupational injury frequency.
Major Accidents and Abnormal Conditions/Accidents
In fiscal 2021, the Mitsui Chemicals Group reported zero major accidents*1, meeting its target of zero. However, the number of abnormal conditions/accidents*2 is on the rise, totaling 16 against the target of 7 or less. Since 11 of these events were leakage and 8 of these were equipment-related, implementing recurrence prevention measures has become a major issue. To prevent recurrence, we are working on (1) developing appropriate maintenance plans, (2) reinforcing change management (risk assessment), and (3) improving the quality of construction.
Out of 16 abnormal conditions/accidents, 1 concerned fire and 4 were small fire, all of which were extinguished at an early stage and put out without spreading to the surrounding equipment. We will thoroughly investigate the causes of the fire and small fire and work to prevent such accidents by taking appropriate measures.
*1Major Accidents:
Accidents and abnormal conditions with a severity level of 18 points or more, as specified by the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA) under the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) evaluation procedures, or events that involve death.
*2Abnormal conditions/accidents:
Events that were legally handled as an abnormal condition or accident among the reported explosions, fires, leakages, bursts, breakages, or abnormal reactions. However, such abnormal conditions or accidents exclude leakage of CFCs and small amount leakages.
Number of Major Accidents and Abnormal Conditions/Accidents
*Including subsidiaries and affiliates within our Works, and the Works general manager bears the responsibility for Responsible Care implementation.
Occupational Injuries
In fiscal 2021, the Mitsui Chemicals Group reported zero serious occupational injuries*1 that must not be occurred, meeting its target of zero. Compared with the Japanese overall industry average and the Japanese chemical industry average, we maintain a high level in terms of Days Away from Work Cases (DAFWCs) and, in aiming to achieve the world’s highest standards for safety, targets a frequency of 0.15 or below with regard to Work-related Significant Occupational Injuries*2. The Work-related Significant Occupational Injuries frequency for Mitsui Chemicals and overseas subsidiaries and affiliates achieved the permitted target value of 0.15 or less. We believe that this comes as a result of our painstaking efforts to maximize safety procedures, which we have continued over the years. However, the target was not met by our domestic subsidiaries and affiliates and construction subcontractors. We will continue to work to ensure that our safety culture is shared by the entire group and to cultivate human resources who have excellent sensitivity to danger, with a particular focus on incidents that could easily result in severe occupational injuries, such as “being caught or entangled in machinery.” For construction subcontractors, in fiscal 2022, we will add contents to the VR safety training programs at our Plant Operation Technology Training Center that are intended for them, such as allowing them to experience hazard when using a forklift and performing grinding, for the purpose of cultivating human resources who have excellent sensitivity to danger. Through these efforts, we will also enhance education for the reduction of occupational injuries among construction subcontractors.
*1Serious Occupational Injuries:
Occupational injuries that fall under disability grades 1 to 7, causing death, injury or illness.
*2 Work-related Significant Occupational Injuries:
“Work-related Significant Occupational Injuries (WSOIs)” refer to occupational injuries that resulted in absence from work or death. WSOIs also include lighter occupational injuries that may lead to absence from work or death due to the potential danger in the cause of the injury. WSOIs do not include injuries that are not directly related to operations. In its definition of WSOIs, the Group not only includes occupational injuries that result in absence from work, but also lighter occupational injuries that may not result in absence from work but have serious causes of injuries. The Group monitors the WSOIs frequency as a KPI as well.
Please refer here for Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR).
Comparison of Occupational Injury Frequency between Mitsui Chemicals, the All Industries in Japan and the Japanese Chemical Industry
*Occupational injury frequency = Number of individuals killed or injured by occupational accidents x 1 million hours / Total working hours for all employees.
The figures for the all industries in Japan and for the Japanese chemical industry indicate the Days Away From Work Case (DAFWC) frequency.
Sources:
*1Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare White Paper Survey on Industrial Accidents Occupational Injuries
*2Japan Industrial Safety & Health Association “General Guidebook on Industrial Safety” Significant Occupational Injury Frequency
Work-related Significant Occupational Injuries Frequency
*Includes contractors operating on site.
Number of Occupational Injuries Resulting in Zero or More Lost Work Days by Type (Mitsui Chemicals Group)
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