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Risk Management Activities Worldwide
In accordance with our Basic Environmental Management Policy, the Kobe Steel Group aims for thorough environmental management at Group locations throughout the world.
On-Site Environmental Inspections at Overseas Group Companies
Inspecting a chemical solution
tank (China)
As with business locations and Group companies in Japan, the Kobe Steel Group will implement environmental management systems for overseas Group companies in line with Japanese standards. To this end, since fiscal 2009 Kobe Steel has been carrying out environmental inspections at its manufacturing locations worldwide in order to confirm the on-site status of affairs regarding environmental management.
In fiscal 2014 an inspection were carried out at one Group manufacturing company in China. The purpose of the inspection was to grasp the actual conditions of the environmental management situation and identify related problems. Improvements were implemented based on the results. We will also carry out environmental inspections at overseas locations in fiscal 2015.
Information Sharing and Coordination with Overseas Locations
EHS meeting at KSU
In order to promote environmental management for Group companies worldwide, we also carry out a variety of support measures for overseas locations. The United States is home to many Kobe Steel Group manufacturing companies. In order to support environmental management at these companies we have placed an environmental manager at our U.S. headquarters, Kobe Steel USA Inc. (KSU).
The KSU environmental manager carries out on-site environmental audits and holds EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) meetings to share information with environmental managers at individual manufacturing companies.
The number of our manufacturing sites in China has also increased in recent years. As in the United States, in April 2015 we placed an environmental manager at our China headquarters, Kobelco (China) Holding Co., Ltd. We also strive for good communication in other countries, building frameworks for the regular exchange of information. In order to reduce environmental risk we plan to continue such activities in the future.
In fiscal 2014 we also implemented environmental training for employees being dispatched overseas. The purpose is to nurture environmental sensitivity in candidates for overseas placement, increasing their understanding of regional laws and regulations so as to ensure a smooth transition after transferring to their new posts.
Topics
Employee Training at Overseas Locations
Regular Environmental Training for All Employees (Zhejiang Province, China)
A training session at KSP
Kobe Special Steel Wire Products (Pinghu) Co., Ltd. (or KSP) was established in China’s Zhejiang Province in 2007 to process special steel wire rod into special steel wire. A variety of initiatives are in place at KSP to increase awareness of environmental management, with a particular focus on employee training. In addition to new employee training, additional environmental training for all employees is carried out every three months.
In order to further raise environmental functions at the company, ISO 14001 international environmental management system certification was obtained in February 2015.
Training to Prevent Water Contamination during Emergencies (California, USA)
Emergency response training
at KCA
Kobelco Compressors America, Inc. (or KCA) was established to design, manufacture and sell process gas compressor systems. Regular training is carried out at the company to prevent water pollution during emergencies.
KCA also implemented plant safety patrols in 2014, with participation on the part of all managers. By incorporating environmental checklists into these patrols, KCA is working to improve environmental awareness and feedback between the office and plant.
