Ensuring Safety

Policy for Ensuring Safety / Promotion System

Policy for ensuring safety

Idemitsu’s policy for ensuring safety is (1) to ensure the safety of people as our highest priority; and (2) to reduce and eliminate risks through the appropriate allocation of management resources and the maintenance and improvement of facilities, processes and work mechanisms with the aim of eliminating accidents and injuries while also (3) making efforts to cultivate a safety-oriented culture. We have established the specific policies shown at right as we strive to ensure the health and safety of all people connected to the Company.

  1. Ensure the safety of people
  2. Ensure the safety assurance of facilities and processes
  3. Ensure safety in work mechanisms and procedures
  4. Properly allocate and utilize management resources
  5. Cultivate safety culture and promote safety management
HSE initiatives promotion system

We have positioned “Health, Safety and Environment” as the foundation of management and have established the Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters to promote such initiatives. Each department and major affiliated company employs the PDCA cycle as it autonomously engages in HSE activities, in line with annual basic policies and priority issues determined by the headquarters. Each department and major affiliated company appoints a manager in charge of safety and environment to manage and promote the overall HSE activities of the department/affiliated company, including those of the business sites under its management.

The secretariat of the headquarters determines the frequency of audits according to the safety and environmental risks and management conditions, and conducts audits. The secretariat follows up on any audit findings of points to improve from determination of the response plan to completion of the improvements.

The general manager and co-head of the Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters visit to business sites every year to conduct safety and environment-related instructions and safety patrols. To prevent serious accidents across the entire group, we have established the Safety & Safety Assurance Advisory Committee, whose membership includes external experts, with the aim of establishing more effective safety and safety assurance measures.

Positioning of the Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters in the corporate governance system and an outline of the Safety and Environmental Management System
Figure
Results of FY2022 safety and environmental audits
Number of audits conducted 14
Total number of findings 181
  Number of serious deficiencies 3
Number of minor deficiencies 14
Health and safety management system

While leveraging the know-how we have gleaned from our experience to date, we have built and operate a unique management system based on an international standard for occupational health and safety management systems (ISO 45001) and the certification standards of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act. In addition, we continually improve the system through internal audits and management reviews. Furthermore, regarding ISO 45001, some of our overseas business sites have acquired certification. Regarding certification under the High Pressure Gas Safety Act, all of Idemitsu’s refineries, complexes, and Group refining companies have acquired certification.

Natural disaster risk management guidelines

In FY2021, we revised the Earthquake Risk Management Guidelines for reinforcement of facility structures and other earthquake mitigation measures implemented since FY2005 into Natural Disaster Risk Management Guidelines including high tide and typhoon mitigation measures etc. as well as earthquake mitigation measures by reflecting a new approach. Specific issues were examined in FY2022 based on these guidelines.

出光興産, DFF Inc.

Activities and Results Based on the Annual Basic Policies on HSE

Annual basic policies on HSSE in FY2023

Continue to take on the challenge into zero accidents and pursue the following two issues as highest priority.

  • By caring for and encouraging colleagues, establish the culture where everyone keeps the rules and makes others to follow the rules including “Life Saving Rules”.
  • Securely maintain and strengthen the system for implementing PDCA autonomously, and the head office and business sites work it as one.

Commit to achieving the following three things as a result:

“Zero serious accidents”, “Zero serious injuries” and “Zero environmental abnormalities”

  • * Serious injuries: fatalities and injuries resulting in permanent disabilities
Idemitsu Group’s safety, health and environmental performance in 2022 (including partner companies)
  • (Unit: cases)
Serious accidents 0
Fatal accidents 1
Accidents resulting in lost time injuries 27
Environmental abnormalities 2
Occupational accidents frequency rate*
Employees 0.15
Employees of partner companies 0.46
  • * The frequency rate refers to the number of fatalities and injuries due to occupational accidents per 1 million hours of actual work.
Severity rate*
Employees 0.00
Employees of partner companies 0.02
  • * The severity rate refers to the number of lost working days due to absences attributable to occupational accidents per 1,000 hours of actual work.
Occupational accidents frequency rate
(Accident incidence frequency)
Graph
Severity rate
(Degree of accident severity)
Graph
  • * [Scope of Reporting] Hokkaido Refinery, Chiba Complex (Including Prime Polymer Co., Ltd. Anesaki Works), Aichi Complex, Tokuyama Complex, TOA Oil Co., Ltd., Showa Yokkaichi Sekiyu Co., Ltd., Seibu Oil Co., Ltd. Until FY2021, Chiba Complex includes BASF Idemitsu Co., Ltd..
    • Employees: Including employee of group refinery companies listed above.
    • Employee of partner companies: Including employees of Idemitsu Plantec Group.
    [Reporting Period] From January to December
  • * Figures presented as averages for all industries for business sites of 100 or more employees are cited from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s Survey on Industrial Accidents 2022.
Preventing fatal accidents from occurring again

We worked toward the goal of “Zero serious injuries,” including fatal accidents, in FY2022. Unfortunately, one fatal accident occurred.

Electrocution caused the death of one employee of a partner company during construction for complete renovation of a self-service stations of Group companies. Although the construction was being carried out under a contracting agreement, we worked together with the main contractor to determine the cause, shared the case within the Idemitsu Group, and educated everyone on the response to prevent recurrence.

To prevent recurrence of similar accidents in Group business sites, we checked again to make sure that signage was posted in hazardous locations on the premises and reliable measures to restrict access were being implemented.

Zero accident initiatives

In FY2023, we continued to take on the challenge of zero accidents and firmly established a culture of enforcing the rules including “Life Saving Rules”.We also strengthened hazard identification and mitigation measures from the worker’s perspective in non-routine works. To be more specific, we began holding company-wide case studies on cases that could result in serious injuries and are working to eliminate serious injuries.

Each department and major affiliated company is also working to maintain safe, stable operation through comprehensive hazard identification in processes and equipment and performing the appropriate risk assessments, while autonomously operating the PDCA cycle for safety and environmental management.

出光興産, DFF Inc.

Internal Safety Awards

  • Winner Award / Commendation Achievement Record Commendation Date Date of Record Achievement Organizer
    Muswellbrook Coal Mine(Australia) Zero Accident Record – Silver Award 2,400 days April 1, 2022 December 7, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Bulk Terminal K.K. Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,200 days July 2, 2022 March 19, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Takamatsu Asphalt Terminal Safety Excellence Award 2022 September 30, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Lube Techno Indonesia Karawang Plant Zero Accident Record – Silver Award 4.6 million working hours October 24, 2022 April 22, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Plantech Tokuyama CO.,LTD. Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2.8 million working hours December 21, 2022 August 19, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    SDS Biotech K.K. Tsukuba Research & Technology Center Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days December 23, 2022 August 12, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Retail Marketing Co., Ltd. Kansai Company Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days October 1, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    IDEMITSU ENGINEERING VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1.5 million working hours January 20, 2023 June 30, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Hakodate Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days February 3, 2023 December 5, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Tokuyama ComplexZero Accident Record – Gold Award 5.7 million working hours February 9, 2023 November 12, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Fukuoka Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days February 10, 2023 October 2, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Battery Material Development Center, Technology & Engineering Development Center Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days March 1, 2023 November 16, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Unitech Co., Ltd. R&D Center for Plastic Products Zero Accident Record – Silver Award 2,800 days March 1, 2023 November 29, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Plaloc Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Zero Accident Record – Silver Award 2,400 days March 29, 2023 December 16, 2022 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
  • Winner Award / Commendation Achievement Record Commendation Date Date of Record Achievement Organizer
    Takamatsu Asphalt Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days April 8, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Mie Plant Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days April 8, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Shoseki Kako Co.,Ltd. Rekisei Sodegaura Complex Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days April 8, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Hiroshima Koyaura Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days April 26, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Nippon Grease Co., Ltd. Kobe Plant Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,200 days October 1, 2021 November 19, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Nippon Grease Co., Ltd. Research Institute Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days October 1, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Hekinan LPG Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days October 14, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Kushiro Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 25, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Kushiro Nishiko Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 25, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Hachinohe Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 25, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Akita Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 25, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Shoyu Co.,Ltd. Akita Joint Oil Depot Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 25, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Hiroshima Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 29, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Takamatsu Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 29, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Kochi Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 29, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Nagasaki Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 29, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Karatsu Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days November 29, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Japan Oil Network Co.,Ltd. Tomakomai Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 13, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Japan Oil Network Co.,Ltd. Aomori Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 13, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Japan Oil Network Co.,Ltd. Hachinohe Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 13, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Japan Oil Network Co.,Ltd. Matsumoto Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 13, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Japan Oil Network Co.,Ltd. Shimizu Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 13, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Japan Oil Network Co.,Ltd. Kokura Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 13, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Japan Oil Network Co.,Ltd. Fukuoka Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 13, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Japan Oil Network Co.,Ltd. Yatsushiro Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 13, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Shiogama Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 20, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Teizan Shiogama Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 20, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Takasaki Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 20, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Hitachi Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 20, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Tokyo Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 20, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Hachijojima Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 20, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Oigawa Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 20, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Niigata Oil Terminal Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,200 days December 20, 2021 April 8, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Engineering Co., Ltd. Domestic Construction Group Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1.5 million working hours December 23, 2021 August 31, 2021 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
  • Winner Award / Commendation Achievement Record Commendation Date Date of Record Achievement Organizer
    Idemitsu Unitech Co.,Ltd. Hyogo Plant Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,000 days July 30, 2020 February 19, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Petrostar Kansai Co.,Ltd. Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days September 15, 2020 September 15, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Nagase Sekiyu K.K. Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days October 29, 2020 June 29, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Oil Transportation Service Co., Ltd. Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days October 29, 2020 June 29, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Plaloc Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,400 days November 16, 2020 March 21, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Omaezaki Factory Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2,000 days November 20, 2020 September 20, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Tokuyama Complex Zero Accident Record – Silver Award 3.8 million working hours February 25, 2021 December 15, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Electronic Materials Korea Co., Ltd. Plant Zero Accident Record – Silver Award 2,000 days March 8, 2021 September 20, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Unitech Co., Ltd. Mie Plant Zero Accident Record – Silver Award 2,000 days March 25, 2021 September 20, 2020 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
  • Winner Award / Commendation Achievement Record Commendation Date Date of Record Achievement Organizer
    Tokuyama Complex Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1.9 million working hours April 18, 2019 January 11, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    137 crew members of Kounkai Excellent Crew Award Continued operation without any accident or disaster May 24, 2019 Kounkai (alliance of Idemitsu’s trusted transport companies)
    Idemitsu Lube India Patalganga Plant Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 2.3 million working hours July 12, 2019 February 28, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Technology & Engineering Center Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,500 days August 1, 2019 May 9, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Tanker Co.,Ltd. ‘’NISSHO MARU’’ Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days September 21, 2019 August 17, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Tanker Co.,Ltd. ‘’IDEMITSU MARU’’ Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days September 21, 2019 August 17, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Tanker Co.,Ltd. ‘’APOLLO DREAM’’ Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days September 21, 2019 August 17, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Tanker Co.,Ltd. ’’ASTOMOS EARTH’’ Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days September 21, 2019 August 17, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Lube Techno Indonesia(ILTI) Safety Excellence Award 2019 September 26, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu lube techno Co.,Ltd. Moji Complex Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days October 31, 2019 August 17, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Performance Materials Laboratories Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days December 6, 2019 August 17, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
    Idemitsu Plantech Hokkaido CO.,LTD. Zero Accident Record – Bronze Award 1,600 days January 16, 2020 August 17, 2019 Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters
出光興産, DFF Inc.

Health and Safety Initiatives

Reinforcement of earthquake resistance of existing facilities

Our refineries and complexes have worked to strengthen our measures in preparation for natural disasters. As for earthquakes, we have periodically assessed the earthquake resistance of our facilities based on the standards required by law to secure resilience against the expected earthquake magnitudes, and strengthen them, if necessary. In addition, having learned lessons from the Tokachi-oki Earthquake and other disasters, we have assessed and enhanced the earthquake resistance of our facilities against expected earthquake magnitudes to an extent that exceeds the standards required by law.

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 and other relevant facilities that store LPG at the Group’s refineries and complexes in order to improve the earthquake resistance of their support structures. From FY2020, we reinforced our facilities at refineries, complexes and oil terminals by employing subsidy programs offered by the government under the banner of building national resilience. Looking ahead, our group will consider the further enhancement of earthquake resistance.

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LPG tanks with reinforced support structures (Tokuyama Complex)

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Reinforcement of marine jetty with a view to strengthening disaster response capabilities (Yokkaichi Refinery of Showa Yokkaichi Sekiyu Co., Ltd.)

Super certified business sites

At Idemitsu’s refineries and complexes, to enhance safety assurance based on advanced protection technologies, we are working to utilize advanced technologies, conduct sophisticated risk assessments, and provide sophisticated education and training. As a result, the following refinery and complexes were certified as Super Certified Business Sites that conduct sophisticated safety assurance initiatives in accordance with the High Pressure Gas Safety Act.

  • Tokuyama Complex (certified September 5, 2019)
  • Chiba Complex (certified March 17, 2020)
  • Hokkaido Refinery (certified June 29, 2021)
  • Aichi Complex (certified February 5, 2024) 
Logo

As for Group refining companies, Yamaguchi Refinery of Seibu Oil Co., Ltd. (June 4, 2021) and Yokkaichi Refinery of Showa Yokkaichi Sekiyu Co., Ltd. (June 14, 2022) are also certified.

In order to grapple with the increasing age of existing plants and the decrease in veteran employees, the business sites with sophisticated safety assurance measures, including use of IoT and big data, are certified as Super Certified Business Sites. They are expected to enhance the safety assurance of the industry as a whole. The rationalization of regulations for voluntary safety assurance applies to facilities that receive certification and will help strengthen our international competitive advantage.

Categorization of facilities related to security
Item Regular facilities Certified facilities Super certified facilities
Period of continuous operation 1 year
(operations are suspended once a year for inspection)
4 years, etc.
(period recognized by the Minister)
8 years or less
(period freely set by the operator)
Completion and security inspection Inspection by the prefecture Inspection by the operators Inspection by the operators
Inspection method Method set by the proclamation Method set by the Minister Method freely set by the operator
Installation and alteration work Approval from the prefecture, except for minor alterations Expanded scope of minor alterations not needing approval Further expanded scope of minor alterations not needing approval
Certification period - 5 years 7 years
Visualization of security capabilities (mark) - Certification mark Super Certification mark
Use of advanced technology to assure safety

Idemitsu is verifying and introducing advanced technology company- wide. Examples of this include development of AI-based diagnostic technology, a system for continuously measuring the thickness of pipeline walls, cyber security measures, and hands-on training using virtual reality, practical simulators, etc. We are introducing these and various other kinds of technology to business sites according to the circumstances.

National Safety Week initiatives

Idemitsu takes the following measures for National Safety Week, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Japan Industrial Safety & Health Association.

  • An email is sent by the President & Representative Director to Group employees in Japan and overseas to reaffirm respect for human life, which is the underlying principle of National Safety Week, and his commitment to achieving zero accident, an effort the Group continuously undertakes.
  • The secretariat of the Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters requests each department to reaffirm and ensure compliance with “Life Saving Rules”.
  • Each department, business site, and affiliated company, is implementing safety activities designed for each workplace based on the above requests.
出光興産, DFF Inc.

Safety Education

Company-wide education

We use videos of serious accidents that have occurred at Idemitsu in safety training for new employees as part of their orientation, thereby teaching them that putting safety first is the foundation of management.

Education via the Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters

As the secretariat of the Safety & Environmental Protection Headquarters, the Safety, Environment & Quality Assurance Department conducts education and training to develop the leadership abilities that participants need to proactively operate PDCA cycles for safety and environmental management in their own departments and business sites. The secretariat conducts basic training for key personnel to educate them on their roles and the basics of safety and environmental management, and other training to enhance their safety and environmental management capabilities (shown in the table below). (Carried out 13 times in FY2022)

List of training sessions (in the safety area) overseen by the Safety, Environment & Quality Assurance Department in FY2022
  Total number of participants (People) Total hours of training (Hours)
Safety & Environment: Basic training for newly appointed to managers in charge 180 720
Safety & Environment: Training to improve the skills of managers in charge 108 756
Training to improve skills in accident failure analysis 8 88
Training to improve safety and environmental audit techniques 180 720
Training in safety and environmental risk management 131 (Part1), 29 (Part2) 393 (Part1), 116 (Part2)
Total 636 2,793
Education organized by the manufacturing & technology division’s technical training center
Production facility operator education

Based on the medium-term education plan, the Technical Training Center is carrying out education aimed at developing all operators as production engineers (PEs). PEs are operating division engineers who have a logical understanding of processes, facilities, and systems and the ways that these are interrelated. They are able to synthesize this knowledge to make comprehensive decisions and carry out optimized and efficient operations of the Group’s refineries and complexes, thus playing an important role in ensuring the safety of such facilities.

Reinforcing process safety education

The Technical Training Center is working to reinforce process safety education. For example, the center provides training for foremen or their proxies (assistant foremen) with the aim of enhancing their abilities as leaders to make decisions about measures to be taken in emergencies. This training, in which participants form operating teams, utilizes a training plant created by modifying decommissioned desulfurization facilities within the Tokuyama Complex. Developed by Idemitsu, it is the only high-level training of its kind in Japan. The training program is designed to be realistic, thrusting participants into scenarios where irregularities occur at night or on days off, so they must take such steps as reporting and implementing first response, emergency shut-down, and disaster prevention measures as the situation develops. In addition, we provide safety process management training for newly appointed technical managers at refineries and complexes. This training is conducted in two sessions. First, in the basic training, participants go over the key points of safety process management. Follow-up training then fosters an awareness of the urgency of reinforcing process safety and goes over action plans. These training programs are also open to group refining companies. In addition, as part of experiential training for local authorities and organizations and human resource development in coordination with local communities, we hold seminars to raise safety awareness using our danger simulation facilities and virtual reality, in cooperation with outside training centers. These activities have been well received by our external partners.

写真

During process safety training

Practical fire-fighting training
Training for disaster prevention personnel at refineries and complexes

In the event of a fire or explosion, first-response firefighting and containment measures are extremely important to minimize harm within the effected refinery or complex, as well as external damage. As such, we focus efforts on training disaster prevention personnel. We believe that ongoing, repeated practical drilling (based on the fundamentals of firefighting theory) is crucial. For example, participants learn the basics of disaster prevention in lectures and practice handling actual equipment and extending fire hoses according to response plans. In particular, the Hokkaido Refinery, Chiba Complex, and Aichi Complex conduct firefighting training with real fire in training facilities.

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Integrated disaster-risk-reduction drill at Chiba Complex (September 2019)

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Emergency pier undocking drill for a large tanker at Aichi Complex (September 2019)

Training with real fires at the Niigata Disaster Prevention Training Center

The Safety, Environment & Quality Assurance Department maintains the Niigata Disaster Prevention Training Center. This facility provides training on an ongoing basis to many participants each year, not only from within the Company, but also from other companies in the industry. The training comprises scenarios based on fires occurring at different types of complex facilities and includes both theory (lectures) and practice (drills with real fires) to teach participants about first-response firefighting methods suited to the characteristics of oil fires in order to reinforce first-response firefighting systems at complexes. The training center has been widely praised as providing valuable experience and firefighting skills.

Utilizing external training
Training for top management

To prevent serious industrial accidents and disasters, it is vital that the top management of worksites, such as the general managers of refineries and complexes, maintain a strong awareness of process safety and that accident prevention measures are carried out under their strong leadership. In light of this, oil and chemical industry organizations and related companies, including Idemitsu, communicated the importance of fostering process safety awareness among top management to an external training center. In response, the center has held a special seminar about safety and the role of top management going forward on a regular basis since March 2016. The general managers of Idemitsu’s refineries and complexes and the top management of its Head Office manufacturing and technology divisions participate in this seminar every year, working to strengthen production process safety leadership together with the general managers of the refineries and complexes of other companies, mainly those in the region near the training center.

出光興産, DFF Inc.