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
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.
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 system annually for employees to promote their mental health well.
We have regular inspection tours for workplace and 5S activity such as tidiness/orderliness/cleaning/cleanliness/discipline to promote comfortable workplace. We have had better circumstances of the headquarters with 5S since the office relocation in 2018.
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.
We provide risk awareness trainings for domestic sales to enhance their ability for safe driving.
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.
In our medical enterprises, we perform Responsible Care (RC) audits and apply RC policies and targets uniformly regardless of region or nation.
At Asahi Kasei Medical (Hangzhou), China, we have enhanced the safety level by implementing the same RC activities as in Japan, such as safety training for employees and risk management and training regarding plant facilities and processes.
At Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, RC system has got the right track and they have improved the level of RC activities including work environment.
At Med-Tech, Japan, they have focused on preventing accidents in everyday life. They have enhanced the education of safety standards and work environment.
Every autumn we hold RC Symposiums that bring everyone together to renew our commitment to safety.
In 2018, 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, and the industrial doctor. RC and QA activities of Asahi Kasei Medical were reported, and group activities were presented by three departments. After commitments were expressed by the seven plant managers, this Symposium was completed with safety slogans.
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.
We are striving to reduce release of highly hazardous substances and reduce large-volume hazardous substance emission.
We are striving to reduce emission of VOCs.
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:
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.
On June 10, 2018, 202 employees participated in town beautification activities around Oita works with Asahi Kasei Corporation.
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.