We have formulated plant safety, environment and quality policies, and we make use of regular morning meetings etc. to ensure that employees have a thorough understanding of these policies. In our day-to-day operations, by carrying out our work according to carefully documented standard operating procedures, we are able to implement a management system that prevents improper working methods, and we also undertake ongoing improvement. Managerial staff undergo compliance-related training on a monthly basis, and we are working to enhance awareness of compliance-related issues among all employees.

Respect for human rights

In order to create a pleasant workplace where employees can work cheerfully, happily and energetically, we conduct workplace education, covering a variety of areas including information management, workplace bullying and harassment prevention, etc., every month. The content of this training involves the management of information and other issues such as workplace bullying, etc. We also maintain close collaboration with the Corporate Compliance Department regarding compliance-related reports and consultations, and if a problem occurs, we will promptly respond to it.

Occupational safety and health measures

The plant obtained Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) certification and has continued its certification activities. 0 lost time injuries, 1 lost time injury, and 1 minor injury occurred in FY2021, but we took steps to prevent recurrence by revising work procedures and horizontally deploying the system with other sections. Moreover, by focused safety education activities, the revision of standard operating procedure (SOP) manuals through open work observations, individual education based on safe employee evaluation, the undertaking of one-on-one training between deputy work supervisors and workers, mutual advice, and daily “KYT” Hazard Prediction Training activities, we are working to heighten the consciousness of our employees with respect to safety.
We promote “safe employee” development as part of these activities, and award model employees with certification as “super safe employees”.
We have also begun implementing “safe employee” evaluation by process, to facilitate implementation of measures aimed at realizing improvements in relation to weaknesses at individual workplaces.

Education and training for employees.

• We conduct open work observations every month in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure and abnormal Operating Procedure to make improvements by sorting out work risks.
• Contests are held to invigorate and improve KYT (hazard prediction training). (Held six times a year).
• At the sensory training hall which enables for the experiencing of actual risk, all employees with less than three years of work experience undergo training once a year that is administered by the staff of the safety and health section.
• Concerning one-to-one education provided by managers to employees, for those with little work experience it is conducted once or more every three months, for veteran employees it is conducted once every six months.
• Basic lifesaving training was scheduled to be taken twice a year at the Fire Department (30-50 participants/year), but due to the response to COVID-19, this has been postponed. Three employees have been certified as instructors so that they can provide training at the plant, and we are planning to conduct the training at the plant in the future.
  * As of the end of December 2021, 30 qualified employees (within the deadline) and 175 (outside the deadline) are scheduled to take the course after the resumption of training.

Responses in case of disaster

• We have organized a disaster-prevention, self-protection force comprised of plant members. This force conducts both map-based drills and evacuation drills for all plant employees (including tsunami scenarios). Each type of drill is conducted once a year.
• We also hold a night evacuation drill once a year for all shifts.
  Emergency contacts and emergency evacuation routes are posted at every process location of the plant, and they are thoroughly made known to all employees.

Promotion of employment of people with disabilities

Four disabled persons work at the plant. The tasks they undertake include both office work and light duties. We are continuing with activities for the purpose of newly-hiring disabled persons again in fiscal 2022.

Work-life balance

In aiming to improve the work-life balance of our employees, we manage overtime and promote the use of at least five paid holidays per year.

Yokohama Rubber operates an environmental management system that is completely integrated throughout the entire company and makes efforts toward reducing risks by risk identification, countermeasures and improvements in areas exposed to environmental risks, through environmental risk management, implements its operations in compliance with relevant laws and ordinances, including the Pollution Control Agreement between the Onomichi Plant, Hiroshima Prefecture and Onomichi City, and looks to reduce risks by spreading awareness of nonconformities and small incidents at other Yokohama Rubber facilities. We are also implementing improvements to achieve ongoing enhancement of environmental performance, including a reduction of industrial waste and reduction of GHG emissions by promotion of energy savings. As a result of a plan to increase our internal audit staff according to corporate policy so as to further strengthen the ISO 14001 management system, we currently have 92 internal audit staff registered. We will further increase the number of staff according to our plan.
As one of our environmental activities, we have participated in the "Green Curtain Contest" sponsored by Onomichi City, and have won consecutive awards and been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Environmental data

Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

The plant’s major energy sources are electricity and the city gas which is used as boiler fuel. Of the energy used in fiscal 2021, electricity accounted for 54.8%, city gas for 44.8% and other fuel sources 0.4%.

Greenhouse gas emissions

In order to reduce environmental loads, we have made efforts toward reducing GHG emissions by reduction targets for GHG emissions (total amount). In fiscal 2021, our energy-saving activities progressed as planned.

Effective use of resources / Reduction of waste

Waste output

The Onomichi Plant has maintained a recycling rate of 100%.

Water usage

The Onomichi Plant collects industrial water from the Numata River water system (river water) that flows in Hiroshima Prefecture.
Water is collected from the city waterworks of Onomichi City. We are working to reduce the amount of water use by circulating plant cooling water. Furthermore, we have implemented improvement measures by setting reduction targets.

Measures for discharge into water, air and soil

Data related to water contamination

Our plant mainly uses water from the Numata River water system in Hiroshima Prefecture.
We discharge rain water into a public body of water and life system water is discharged into the sewage system of Onomichi City. The water quality of discharges is managed by setting voluntary standard values.

• Regulatory values are in compliance with the Onomichi City Sewage System Ordinance. Voluntary standard values were changed in September 2012.

Air pollutants (NOx, SOx, soot and dust)

Sooty smoke is measured twice a year by each individual boiler in order to monitor emissions and the density of pollutants. As a result of switching the fuel of boilers to city gas, emissions of Sulfur oxides into the air are now minimal. Thus, the Pollution Control Agreement was amended in March 2013. As a result of this development, the measurement of SOx is no longer necessary.

• In compliance with the Pollution Control Agreement with Hiroshima Prefecture and the Pollution Control Agreement with Onomichi City.

Soil contamination

In order to monitor the status of contamination of soil by specified hazardous substances, we voluntarily measure and monitor the constituents of groundwater once every few years.

Reporting on chemical substance management status (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Law compliance)

The Onomichi Plant verifies whether secondary materials and auxiliary materials contain chemical substances subject to Safety Data Sheet (SDS) requirements, and in the case of substances where the amounts handled exceed the thresholds specified by the PRTR Law, annual reports are submitted to the national (or prefectural) authorities and safety impact assessment is performed.
Regarding the handling of substances pursuant to the PRTR Law, please refer to the Safety Evaluation Table of Domestic Production Bases.

Biodiversity conservation activities

For the protection of biodiversity, the regional event in June 2021 was cancelled due to the response to COVID-19.
We conducted conservation of the Fujii River near the factory, which flows into the Seto Inland Sea, and monitoring surveys and conservation activities for insects and birds on the factory premises, which were scheduled to be conducted three times a year but were reduced to once a year due to the voluntary restraint.

Communication with business partners

In collaboration with the Materials Procurement Department and Raw Materials Procurement Department, we collect opinions and requests from business partners and then respond to them sincerely. We also respond appropriately to questionnaires received from business partners.
Furthermore, we are constantly hosting plant tours both by manufacturers who purchase our products and sales agents. These tours give the visitors an opportunity to inspect the production frontlines and to confirm the quality of our products.

Responses to complaints

When defect information is received from the market, we analyze the usage conditions and the failed tire to determine the cause. The results of the analysis are reported to the customer via the department in charge. 78 analysis reports were submitted in fiscal year 2021. The majority of the failures were caused by usage conditions, but in cases where the failure was due to manufacturing or design factors, we promptly implement countermeasures to prevent recurrence.

Relationship with local societies

As a place of recreation for people in the region, we open the Dinosaur Park to the public every day, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We have also installed a restroom exclusively for visitors (which can also handle visitors in wheelchairs). This allows visitors to the park to enjoy a more comfortable time.
In fiscal 2021, a total of 1,088 persons visited the Dinosaur Park.
We received one group for a plant tour.

Participation in local activities

We participate and cooperate in local festivals every year.

The festival was cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19.

Cooperation in Onomichi Truck Festival (September)

Volunteer participation in preparing and clearing up after the Onomichi Lantern Festival (October)

Blood donation activities by employees （Cancelled due to COVID-19）
Beautification activities around the plant (once a month) (91 participants)

Fujii River Evening

Plant tour and workshop

We accept requests for plant tours from schools and companies from time to time.

Available days: Days when plant is in operation: from Monday to Friday
(Except for year end and New Year holidays, and consecutive holidays in May and August)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contact: Onomichi Plant, Plant Control Section
Tel: +81-848-46-4580
A 30-minute walk from Higashi-Onomichi Station.