Occupational Health and Safety Risk Assessments and Countermeasures
Risk Assessments
The SMM Group proactively uses risk assessments (investigation of hazard or harmfulness) to evaluate hazards and take appropriate countermeasures against sources of risk that may cause accidents or health hazards due to chemical substances, operations, or a combination of both. We strive to improve the level of health and safety by reporting the status of risk assessments and work environment improvements to the Occupational Health and Safety Committees and taking steady action.
Hazard Source Identification, Risk Assessment, and Accident Investigation (2023)
■ SMM Group
| Domestic business sites | Overseas business sites | |
|---|---|---|
| Ensuring the quality of risk assessment processes and continuously improving management systems | Risk assessment has been introduced and risks at business sites are continuously improved. Its effectiveness of whether they contribute to preventing serious accidents is also reviewed on lines as appropriate. | Risk assessment has been introduced and risks at business sites are continuously improved Its effectiveness is also reviewed as appropriate. |
| Processes for employees to report hazards and employee protection methods | Employees report by writing on minor incident cards or through morning meetings and informal discussions, etc., and necessary countermeasures are taken. | Employees report by writing minor incident cards or orally, and necessary countermeasure are taken. |
| Methods for protecting employees from work that might lead to illness or injury | In addition to risk assessment, various patrols, work observation, hazard prediction training, and mutual attention are taken to reduce risk. In addition to risk assessment and hazard prediction activities, SMM is working to reduce risk | In addition to risk assessment and hazard prediction activities, SMM is working to reduce risk through patrols. |
| Accident investigation, countermeasures and system improvement processes | When accidents occur, we consider and deal with each case through the accident reporting database to follow a certain process which includes identifying, addressing, remedying hazard sources. Measures tackling the hazard source are handled according to the hierarchy of controls (same for risk assessment, etc.), which prioritizes measures for equipment. | Investigations and countermeasures are implemented in accordance with systems at each business site including case studies and horizontal development. Measures tackling the hazard source are handled according to the hierarchy of controls, which prioritizes measures for equipment. |
■ Regular Contractors
| Business sites in Japan | Overseas business sites | |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing improvements to risk assessment process quality assurance and management systems | Implement through the same internal process as the ordering party (In some cases, using the ordering party's process). | At Coral Bay Nickel Corporation has introduced some of the risk assessment initiatives such as 10-second KY, and some of our partners have introduced risk assessment at Taganito HPAL. |
| Processes for employees to report hazards and employee protection methods | A framework in place to report minor incidents and findings to the ordering company, either orally or in prescribed forms, and to take necessary countermeasures. | A framework is in place so that if either the ordering company, or contractor finds information such as minor incident, will each other share. |
| Methods for protecting employees carrying out work that might lead to illness or injury | In addition to risk assessment, various patrols and work observation by ordering company are taken as necessary. | Focused on hazard prediction activities. Patrols by the ordering party are also conducted. |
| Accident investigation, countermeasures and system improvement processes | Implement through the same internal process as the ordering party (also, handled in the ordering party’s disaster reporting database) | Either checks are made by the ordering company following reviewing disaster case by the contractor, or the ordering company works with the contractor to implement an investigation, countermeasures, and improvements. Measures tackling the hazard source are handled according to the hierarchy of controls, which prioritizes measures for equipment. |
Inspections, Patrols
The head of the business division with jurisdiction conducts annual patrols of the business site,
including affiliated companies under his/her jurisdiction, to confirm that health and safety management
is being properly implemented (in 2023, 84 inspections were conducted at 46 business
sites in Japan and overseas). In principle, once a year, the General Manager of the Safety & Environment
Control Department or his/her designate conducts a security, safety, and occupational health
management inspection of each business site, and reports the results to the president, the head of
the business division with jurisdiction over the business site, and the head of the business site (in
2023, 30 inspections were conducted at 29 of the 47 business sites in Japan covered by the safety
statistics). Furthermore, in the event of a serious accident or disaster, an on-site investigation is
conducted immediately (in 2023, 20 inspections were conducted at 17 business sites).
Each business site conducts safety patrols by business site supervisors, work observation
patrols at each workplace, and safety activities in small groups. Some workplaces receive guidance
from outside instructors to check and improve dangerous locations at the site.
