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Environmental
Management
Sustainability Report 2006 |
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| Disaster Prevention Activities |
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Since the 1995 Hanshin Awaji
Earthquake, Kobe Steel has been involved in recovery and reconstruction
work and has also strengthened measures company-wide on dealing with
earthquakes and other natural disasters. Management guidelines on
disaster prevention have been drawn up for the whole company, and
efforts have been directed toward preventing disasters or limiting
damage in the event of a disaster, although it has not been possible
to eliminate accidents completely. In the future, we will pursue further
Group-wide disaster prevention activities, including a strengthening
of the safety management system.
(Information in this section follows the Kobe Steel
publication Disaster Prevention Guidelines) |
| Company-wide Disaster Prevention Management Policy |
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In Kobe Steel, a
company-wide disaster prevention management policy is drawn up each
year for dealing with natural disasters such as earthquakes and trying
to prevent accidents in our plants. We are constantly working to increase
disaster prevention readiness by following policy guidelines adapted
for the circumstances of each individual workplace.
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FY2005 Company-wide
Disaster Prevention Management Policy
The Kobe Steel Group aims to be adequately prepared for such natural
disasters as typhoons and earthquakes, and to eliminate accidents
such as fires, explosions and leaks.
Basic Policy
Respect for human life
Continuity of corporate activities
Cooperation with the local community |
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Organization Chart for Company-wide Disaster
Prevention Management
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| Group Disaster Prevention Meeting |
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The Kobe Steel Group holds
an annual Group Disaster Prevention Meeting that is attended by representatives
from all of Kobe Steel's works, plants and offices and Group companies.
The purpose of the meeting is for all the companies in the Group to use
this opportunity to share information on disaster prevention and thereby
extend disaster prevention activities.
The 2005 Group Disaster Prevention Meeting, held on 26 October last year,
was attended by 104 representatives from 62 Group companies. Reports were
made on specific activities related to disaster prevention at locations
and Group companies. A special address was given by Professor Hayashi Haruo,
director of Kyoto University's Research Center for Disaster Reduction Systems
and a leading figure in disaster prevention research. |
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Kobe Steel 2005 Group Disaster Prevention Meeting
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| Back-up System for Important Data |
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Computers are now used for all aspects
of business, and computer breakdown occurring as the result of a natural
disaster leads to considerable disruption. For Kobe Steel's computer system,
strengthening disaster countermeasures in order to continue business activity,
which is top priority, and maintain an uninterrupted supply of products
to our customers, has been well researched.
Close to 90% of the computer system is operated from the Nadahama and Kakogawa
computer centers. In September 2005, a security system was put in place
enabling mutual backing-up of important data on production, sales, financial
affairs, personnel, and so on in real time between these two major centers,
which are located about 40 km apart. This sort of real-time back-up system
between physically separate locations is a first in the steel industry,
directing maximum effort into the uninterrupted supply of products to our
customers. |
Back-up System for Important Data
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| Disaster Management at Times of Emergency |
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In all areas of business, contingency
plans for natural disasters such as earthquakes are prepared. A disaster
headquarters will be set up in the event of an emergency to minimize
the effect of the disaster on business.
In addition, a disaster prevention network is set up on the Kobe Steel
Group Intranet, to display and disseminate emergency information and
news on employee safety from a Group company at a time of emergency.
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Organization Chart for Overall Disaster Countermeasures
Center
* The general manager is the president of
Kobe Steel. The deputy general manager is appointed by the president. |
| Regional Disaster Prevention Symposium in Kobe 2006 |
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The Regional Disaster Prevention
Symposium in Kobe 2006, sponsored by Kobe City and Kobe Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, was held for the tenth time on 20 January, 2006, on the subject
of "Coping with Disaster in the Community: The Role of Corporations
What is BCP?" Representatives of Kobe Steel participated in a panel
discussion on "Corporations and the Community: The Challenge to Reduce
Damage" and talked about Kobe Steel's efforts after the Hanshin Earthquake.
The symposium is designed to pass on to following generations the
lessons that were learned from the Hanshin Awaji Earthquake and to
contribute to boosting disaster prevention capabilities in the community
and promoting disaster countermeasures. The Kobe Steel Group will
continue to work in cooperation with others in the community to promote
efforts to reduce damage from disasters. |
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Kobe Steel participating in a panel discussion |
| Disaster Prevention Drills |
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Every year, all offices,
plants, works and Group companies conduct disaster prevention drills
designed to deal with emergencies such as fire, earthquake, or flooding.
At the Kakogawa Works, fire drills were held four times between September
2005 and January 2006. This training had three objectives: to improve
the fire-fighting system to act swiftly to minimize damage and prevent
secondary disasters; to provide information quickly to local communities
and the relevant government authorities; and to make personnel more
conscious of disaster prevention. |
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Comprehensive disaster prevention drill
Disaster prevention drill at oil refining complex
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Working for
Ever Better Disaster Prevention Strategies
The Kobe Steel Group's disaster prevention activities
are based on a recognition that preventing accidents and disasters
is fundamental to corporate activity, and much is expected of corporate
disaster prevention measures.
However in May 2005, precious life was lost in a boiler accident
at the Kakogawa Works. Because there has been a series of power
station accidents, including this one, since 2004, the premises
were inspected by the Chubu Kinki Industrial Safety and Inspection
Department, and in April 2006 the Kakogawa power station received
a severe written reprimand. The company takes this very seriously
and has been making efforts to improve disaster prevention strategies,
implementing measures throughout the Group to prevent the re-occurrence
of such an accident, and raising awareness of disaster prevention. |
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Shinko Engineering
Staff Active in Ogaki City's Fire Brigade |
Shinko Engineering, based in Ogaki City,
Gifu Prefecture, is involved in local disaster prevention activities,
with around 10 staff members, including retired staff, working
with the Ogaki City Fire Brigade. Every year they participate
in the annual contest of fire-fighting skills, and in 1995 one
member won an individual prize at the prefectural level and
went on to compete at the all-Japan level. Members are also
busy working with local neighborhood groups, inspecting fire
extinguishers and fire hoses installed in the community and
organizing annual community fire drills. |
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Firefighting training |
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