Social Process Safety and Disaster Prevention

Policy and Basic Mindset

Basic Approach to Process Safety and Disaster Prevention Initiatives

The issue of “Safety and Security” is addressed by the UBE Management Principles, and the Company has announced that it will work to conserve the global environment and practice safe and secure manufacturing. To achieve Goal 2 as set out in the UBE Group Basic Policy on the Environment and Safety, “We will ensure the safety and security of facilities and maintain stable operations,” we strive to continue avoiding process accidents by developing worksite frameworks that prevent accidents and, to this end, ensures the thorough identification of risks and systematic implementation of far-reaching measures to counter those identified risks.

Management System

We promote process safety and disaster prevention activities under the Environment and Safety Promotion System as part of our responsible care activities.

Targets and Performance

Fiscal 2025 Target: Zero serious accidents

In fiscal 2024, we recorded 11 equipment accidents and one environmental accident. Our after-incident investigations quickly and thoroughly determined the root causes of each accident and measures were implemented to prevent reoccurrence.

• UBE Group Facility-Related Accident

  

• Occupational Safety, Health, and Disaster Prevention Expenditures of the UBE Group

  

Initiatives

We endeavor to eliminate equipment and environmental accidents across the UBE Group through initiatives that ensure our facilities are safe and secure and operations are stable. We also undertake activities to minimize damage in the event of major natural disasters.

In fiscal 2024, we focused on zero equipment accidents, zero environmental accidents, improving safety at high-pressure gas sites, and implementing natural disaster measures.

Zero Equipment Accidents

Through the Accident Information Liaison Committee, information on accidents that occurred both inside and outside the Company was shared and each business site implemented horizontal development to prevent similar accidents from happening again. In addition, we shared case studies on equipment issues and information on introducing technologies from both inside and outside the Company (smart factory transitions); conducted horizontal development to support said smart factory transitions; and strengthened equipment maintenance and management through the Safety Management Liaison Committee. Information on accidents was also shared with overseas locations to prevent their occurrence.

Zero Environmental Accidents

We shared information on environmental accidents that occurred both inside and outside the Company through the Accident Information Liaison Group while conducting horizontal reoccurrence prevention development at each office and facility. In addition, we reviewed first response manuals to be used in the case of anomalous wastewater discharge due to equipment malfunctions or other similar cause and promoted the installation of equipment that would not discharge anomalous wastewater in areas where water is used communally. Through these efforts, we mitigated the risk of environmental accidents.

Enhancing Process Safety Capabilities at Certified High-Pressure Gas Facilities

We set up an improvement agenda in line with assessment findings from the Japan Industrial Safety Competency Center and engage in systematic improvement initiatives. In addition, in response to new certification systems for certified high-pressure gas facilities, we promoted efforts that included the enhancement of cybersecurity to improve our process safety capabilities.

Implementing Natural Disaster Measures

Based on action plans for natural disaster measures, we assigned greater importance to selected items and conducted improvement activities accordingly. In addition, we formulated and tested new evacuation plans to be used in the event of an earthquake occurring at night as well as response drills.

Through such measures as annual environment and safety audits, environmental safety inspections, and high-pressure gas audits, we are able to verify the current status of environmental safety activities as well as process safety and disaster prevention activities at all UBE Group offices and facilities and improve on these efforts. We have published information related to this on the UBE Group intranet.

We have also published information on accidents both inside and outside the Company as well as on industry groups on our intranet and share these within the UBE Group. This information is used for educational purposes at business sites and within departments. Furthermore, we utilize case studies of accidents that occurred both inside and outside the Company in our level-based educational materials.