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Proper Control of Chemical Substances

Striving to reduce hazardous chemical substances by promoting control and replacement in line with domestic and overseas standards

 

The Kobe Steel Group has imposed tight controls on chemical substances, reducing the quantities of hazardous materials used, and substituting safer alternatives. In line with international trends in the control of hazardous and other chemical substances, we are continuing efforts to reduce hazardous substances, ensuring full compliance with regulations, and sharing information among all members of the Group.


Thorough Control of Chemical Substances

Having set out the Kobe Steel Group Policy on Controlling Hazardous Substances, we make every effort to effectively control chemical substances.

For example, Management Sheets for Designated Chemical Substances are used by all group companies to clearly specify usage and control methods for each substance. Sheets are used to calculate volumes transferred or released for notification in accordance with the PRTR Law1 and also as part of activities aimed at reducing consumption and emissions of chemical substances.

Notifications for fiscal 2009 under the PRTR Law showed that 31 substances were handled at Kobe Steel works and plants, 237 metric tons were released2, and 237 metric tons were transferred3. Although the volume of chemical substances transferred has halved since fiscal 2008, this is down to the fact that we have reduced the volume of steel slag sent to landfill, resulting in a reduction in waste manganese and manganese compounds.

For Group companies, 33 substances were handled, 506 metric tons were released, and 287 metric tons were transferred.

1. PRTR Law: Pollutant Release and Transfer Register: Legislation that requires notification of the releases of designated chemical substances into the environment and promotes improved controls.
2. Combined total for chemical substances released into the air and water
3. Combined total for chemical substances transferred offsite or into the sewers

Chemical substances released and transferred by the Kobe Steel Group
Chemical substances released and transferred by the Kobe Steel Group

Meeting Regulations on Chemical Substances

Regulations on chemical substances are becoming increasingly strict, not only in Japan but all over the world.

In Japan, revised versions of both the Chemical Substance Control Law1 and the PRTR have been brought into effect since fiscal 2009.

In Europe, new REACH regulations2 on the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemical substances came into effect in 2007. This has been followed by the announcement of restricted substances in recent years.

To comply with all relevant legislation, the Kobe Steel Group is encouraging information sharing among relevant departments and exchanges of views.

1. Chemical Substance Control Law: Law Concerning the Examination and Regulation of Manufacture, etc. of Chemical Substances
2. REACH regulations: Registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals

Control of PCBs

In accordance with government regulations on the proper handling of wastes containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), equipment such as transformers and condensers that contain PCBs are placed in special storage facilities when no longer used, with notification made to government authorities.Having outsourced the disposal of PCBs discarded by the Ibaraki Plant to the Japan Environmental Safety Corporation (JESCO) since fiscal 2008, in fiscal 2009 we also started to outsource disposal at the Kakogawa Works (Kakogawa), Kobe Works (Kobe) and Takasago Works (Takasago) in Hyogo prefecture.

Efforts to find replacement substances

We continue to work on finding safe replacement substances for chemical substances currently in use at individual Kobe Steel Group sites.

Plants, works and offices Location of plant Details
Takasago Works Takasago, Hyogo We have found a replacement for the chemical previously used to prevent boiler corrosion and scaling, which contained hydrazine, and have completely stopped using hydrazine.
Daian Plant Inabe, Mie We have found a replacement for and completely stopped using dichloromethane, which was previously used as a degreasing cleaning solution as part of casting and welding operations.
Harima Plant Kako, Hyogo We have replaced cutting fluids used for machining with substances not specified under the PRTR Law.
Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. Hiroshima, Hiroshima We have switched from surface treatment components made from harmful hexavalent chrome to components made from safe trivalent chrome for fastening bolts used to assemble construction machinery.