To create workplaces where all employees can work healthily and safely, labor and management work as one at Rengo under its Health and Safety Policy. We not only prevent severe accidents such as those that are fatal, but also identify sources of latent risks in workplaces, aiming to eliminate any accidents and promote inherent safety, measures to prevent falls, and work environment improvement. We also conduct health and safety education on an ongoing basis.
Ensuring of occupational health and safety
We established a companywide Health and Safety Subcommittee at our Head Office to comprehensively promote occupational health and safety management. Furthermore, under the subcommittee operating at the Head Office, there are Health and Safety Subcommittees at each division, plant, and mill. The Health and Safety Subcommittee at our Head Office holds meetings twice a year to establish companywide health and safety policies and related measures. The Health and Safety Subcommittees at each division, plant, and mill communicate the specific Health and Safety Plans to employees in line with companywide policies and measures, and work to implement and promote those plans.
Occupational Health and Safety Policy
Health and safety promotion structure
Accident frequency
Annual trend, CY (Rengo on a non-consolidated basis)
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency rate* | 0.69 | 0.90 | 1.58 | 0.90 | 1.34 |
*Frequency rate represents the frequency of industrial accidents, calculated by the number of casualties (fatal accidents and accidents where one or more working days are lost) due to industrial accident for every million cumulative working hours.
Severity rate* (CY)
- Source:Survey on Industrial Accidents, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- *Severity rate represents the severity of an accident, calculated by the number of working days lost for every thousand cumulative working hours.
- Note:The number of employees at Rengo on a non-consolidated basis accounts for 17.5% of the entire Rengo Group.
Initiatives for creation of better workplaces
Measures against heat for equipment
Summer temperatures are rising year by year. This increases the risk of heatstroke at manufacturing sites equipped with heat sources. Since the area around paper machines in paperboard mills is especially hot and humid, we are implementing heat countermeasures in the form of equipment. We have newly introduced a chiller unit, and use chilled water and cooling coils to supply dehumidified cool air. Installing the new equipment has enabled us to supply air that is 5°C to 8°C cooler than before. We will continue efforts to improve the work environment to make it even more comfortable.
Plant renovation
We are renovating our plants to further improve productivity, secure warehouse space, and enhance the workplace environment. Renovations include updates to production equipment and layout changes that encompass office buildings. Expanding the work area and changing the layout of production equipment has facilitated communication among workers and separation of pedestrian and vehicle pathways within the plant. This has made the workplace environment safer and more comfortable. We are also improving cafeterias and rest areas to help employees refresh during breaks.
Health and safety at Group companies
Rengo Logistics Co., Ltd., which mainly conducts transportation and cargo operations of our products, regularly holds practical training sessions for truck drivers, forklift operators, and other operators at each of its divisions throughout Japan. Furthermore, driver contests are held to promote improvements in driving skills and transportation quality.
Automatic corrugated board transportation
At corrugated plants, the floors are equipped with roller conveyors and transfer cars for transporting corrugated board. We have automated the corrugated board transportation by replacing roller conveyors and transfer cars with plastic module conveyors. We are also promoting the motorization of manual traversers and the automation of corrugated board delivery. We are preventing fall-related accidents by promoting labor-saving measures and inherently safe machine designs.
Measures for separating pedestrians and vehicle pathways
When constructing new plants/mills or renovating existing ones, we are newly installing polymer (synthetic resin) protective barriers to prevent contact between workers and powered vehicles such as forklifts. By clearly defining designated areas, both workers on foot and workers operating vehicles can perform their tasks with peace of mind. Compared to traditional steel safety fences, in the event of a collision with a powered vehicle, polymer barriers not only protect workers and machinery but also reduce damage to the fence and floor. This leads to lower repair costs and better vehicle protection.
