Responsible Care Policy | Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.

Responsible care at Asahi Kasei

Responsible Care (RC) represents the commitment and initiative to secure and improve safety and environmental protection at every step of the product life cycle through the individual determination and responsibility of each firm producing and handling chemical products, together with measures to gain greater public trust through disclosure and communication. RC was conceived in Canada in 1985, and was strengthened on a global scale with the establishment of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) in 1990.

In 1995, the chemical industry in Japan began implementing RC with the establishment of the Japan Responsible Care Council (JRCC*). Asahi Kasei was among the founding members of the JRCC, and played a leading role in the expansion and development of RC in Japan.

RC at the Asahi Kasei Group is not limited to chemicals-related operations but encompasses operations in all fields,including materials, homes, and health care.

*JRCC: Operated as the Japan Chemical Industry Association’s RC Committee since April 2011.

Responsible Care at the Asahi Kasei Group

We give the utmost consideration to environmental protection, quality assurance, operational safety, workplace safety and hygiene, and health maintenance, throughout the product life cycle from R&D to disposal, as preeminent management tasks in all operations.

- We give full consideration to the global environment, and make efforts to reduce the environmental burden of all operations.
- We continuously provide safe products and services with the quality that gives customers a sense of security and satisfaction.
- We strive for stable and safe operation while preventing workplace accidents and securing the safety of personnel and members of the community.
- We strive for a comfortable workplace environment, and support the maintenance and promotion of employee health.

In addition to maintaining legal compliance, we set self-imposed targets for continuous improvement, while performing proactive information disclosure and communication to gain public understanding and trust.

RC activities

Developing our healthcare business
with consideration for life and living

The program of Responsible Care (RC) is a key element in management of the Asahi Kasei Group, not only for the chemical business, but for all areas of business including medical enterprises. RC represents the commitment and initiative to secure and improve safety and environmental protection at every step of the product life cycle through the individual determination and responsibility of each firm producing and handling chemical products.

Our Responsible Care Policy

Employees' health and comfortable workplace

Physical and mental health

We promote physical exercise and the revision of operational procedures to prevent falling and backache. Oita Works provides employees with exercise activity by outside experts.
We implement an intranet-based electronic diagnosis annually for employees to promote their mental health well. In addition to in the factories, we have started to improve the working environment in the headquarter area based on the results of diagnosis.

Inspection tours and 5S activity

We have regular inspection tours for workplace and 5S activity such as tidiness/orderliness/cleaning/cleanliness/discipline to promote comfortable workplace.
We have improved the workplace circumstance of the headquarters with 5S, and we have started improving workplace in domestic sales offices with implementing inspection tours.

Safety of personnel and community

Workplace safety

With the goal of zero occupational accidents, we apply occupational health and safety management and pursue activities to adhere to safety standards. In the offices, we promote activities which are focused on preventing accidents in everyday life.
For example, in the offices and plant facilities, we promote safety awareness through proactive measures such as the installation of handrails and speakers for the broadcast of audio safety messages to remind people to hold handrails and take care when walking on stairs.

Traffic safety

We provide risk awareness trainings for domestic sales to enhance their ability for safe driving.

RC follow-up training

RC follow-up training is given to newer employees in charge of development and manufacturing operations at Asahi Kasei Medical. This one or two-day intensive course provides them a training for prediction of risks.

Responsible Care audits
for safety management

In our medical enterprises, we perform Responsible Care (RC) audits and apply RC policies and targets uniformly regardless of region or nation.

At each factory of the Oita Works, we have confirmed that PDCA is being carried out reliably and safety levels are improved for each RC subject.
At Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, we have confirmed that RC activities are improving every year under the RC system. We recognized that the prevention for recurrence of workplace accidents would be a future issue.
At Med-Tech, Japan, they keep focusing on preventing accidents in everyday life. They have enhanced more on activity for keeping safety standards, and improved work environments with using HHK methods.

Promoting safety awareness
and understanding

Every autumn we hold RC Symposiums that bring everyone together to renew our commitment to safety.

In 2019, about 200 employees participated in the RC Symposium at Oita Works. Talks were given by the president of Asahi Kasei Medical, the head of the employee union, the holding company executives of Responsible Care. RC and QA activities of Asahi Kasei Medical were reported, and group activities were presented by three departments. After commitments were expressed by the six plant managers, this Symposium was completed with safety slogans.

Reduction of the environmental burden

Establishing a recycling-oriented society: achieving our zero emission target

We have been working toward a zero emission target for final disposal of industrial waste since 1990, although our healthcare business grew rapidly along with manufacturing volume.

PRTR measures

We are striving to reduce release of highly hazardous substances and reduce large-volume hazardous substance emission.

VOC (volatile organic compound) measures

We are striving to reduce emission of VOCs.

Environmental protection activity at Oita, Asahi Kasei Medical MT

The Oita Works, Asahi Kasei Medical MT Corp. promotes continual improvement of environmental management system, which is conformable to ISO14001：2015. The environmental policy in Japanese is the following:

Stringent management of chemical substances

We manage chemical substances based on our own strict standards

In our medical enterprises we strive to enforce comprehensive management of chemical substances and prevent pollution-causing accidents based on our own strict standards enacted in accordance with the Asahi Kasei Group’s policies on chemical substance management.

Symbiosis with the community

On June 1, 2019, 244 employees participated in town beautification activities around Oita works with Asahi Kasei Corporation.
We donated five kits of AED trainer to the fire department of Oita city, and received a letter of appreciation from Oita city on August 29, 2019.

Safe, reliable and consistent products and services

Prevention of product safety incidents
in healthcare products

The Asahi Kasei Group aims for zero product safety incidents or other product accidents, and each operating company including medical enterprises has achieved this target. We are committed to maintaining this record going forward.

Responsible Care Activities

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