In 2018, a serious accident (dust explosion fire accident) occurred at an affiliated company of Idemitsu Kosan, resulting in a fatality in the partner company. This was due to insufficient identification of poten-tial risks. As a member of the accident investigation committee, we worked to identify the cause of the accident and supported to make preventive measures. Urgent investigations were conducted at domestic and overseas business sites to confirm that there were no similar risks. We will continue to strengthen our efforts to prevent serious accidents in all executive departments.
The number of work-related accidents (lost-time injuries and medical treatment cases) in our group in 2018 was lower than in 2017. This is the result of our efforts to thoroughly implement "Strict adherence to livesaving rules" such as the use of fall prevention devices, in order to prevent the recurrence of accidents that might lead to fatalities by falling from a high place occurred in 2016 and 2017. In FY2019, with the aim of achieving "Challenge of zero acci-dents," each department is promoting the PDCA cycle for safety and environmental management on its own initiative, and is working to continue safe and stable operations by identifying potential risks, including processes and equipment, and implementing appropriate risk assessment measures.

In the FY2018 Safety and Safety Assurance Advisory Committee, we consulted on the "Efforts to achieve advanced safety assurance equivalent to Super-certification*" and received the reply that "Upgrading of risk assessment and strengthening of facility manage-ment and operation management by utilizing advanced technologies are important points." Based on this, the Tokuyama Plant obtained Super-certification in FY2019. The Chiba Plant also underwent an on-site inspection and applied.
In FY2019, we consulted the Committee as "Efforts to deal with increasingly severe natural disasters" and received the reply. We will consider and respond to it in the future.

• * Super-certification: A system in which the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry certifies accredited manufactures that are engaged in advanced safety assurance, such as IoT, the use of big data, advanced risk assessment, and third-party evaluation of safety capabilities, as "Super-cetification Manufactures (Specified Accredited Manufactures)" in response to diversifying disasters, aging of plants, and a decrease in the number of skilled employees.

The Group 's refineries and complexes have worked to strengths its measures for natural disasters. As for earthquakes, we have constantly assessed the earthquake resistance of our equipment based on the standards required by laws against the expected earthquake magnitudes, and strengthen them, if necessary. In addition, having learned lessons from the Tokachi-oki Earthquake in 2003 and others, we have assessed and enhanced the earthquake resistance of our facilities against expected earthquake magnitudes that exceed the standards required by laws.
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, laws concerning high-pressure gas equipment were tightened and the standards of earthquake resistance were reviewed. In response to these changes, we have been systematically reinforcing the spherical tanks that store LPG at the Group’s refineries and complexes in order to improve the earthquake resistance of their support structures. In addition, Yokkaichi Refinery of Showa Yokkaichi Oil Co., Ltd. reinforced its marine jetty with a view to strengthening disaster response capabilities. Going forward, we will consider further enhancing the earthquake resistance of the the Group’s refineries and complexes.

At the Group 's refineries and complexes, the Safety & Environmental Protection Section of each site plays a central role in promoting safety assurance of refineries and complexes and environmental conservation. Moreover, in collaboration with business partners of refineries and complexes, we conduct thorough daily safety inspections and take all possible measures to prevent accidents, while forming a self-protection and disaster prevention teams in the event of an accident and carrying out periodic disaster prevention training.
Specifically, in order to promptly implement emergency responses in the event of natural disasters and other disasters as well as disaster prevention activities, we prepare disaster scenarios based on past disasters and carry our periodic disaster prevention training with business partners. We also conduct evacuation drills in consideration of the occurrence of tsunami caused by a large-scale earthquake.

In February, 2020, we deployed a new disaster prevention vehicle to improve the disaster prevention capacity of the Tokyo Oil Terminal. Equipped with a "seawater-based fire-fighting irrigation system", to secure the water supply, this vehicle can use seawater to reach 4000ℓ/min (equivalent to conventional fire pumps) when underground water is unable to be used due to disaster such as an earthquake below the city.
We will continue to work to improve disaster prevention capabilities everywhere we operate.