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Product Safety Control
The Shin-Etsu Group strictly manages product safety, from product development to product shipment, based on internal regulations.
The Group appropriately designs and manages chemical substances in accordance with laws and regulations and evaluates their safety based on the latest information collected in cooperation with administrative bodies and affiliated organizations. Additionally, we evaluate the safety of facilities handling chemical substances, their handling methods, the use of protective equipment, and the response to potential accidents, and when necessary, take corrective action. These evaluations are performed on a regular basis and whenever changes are made. We also obtain or prepare Safety Data Sheets (SDSs*1) to provide employees, customers and business partners with the latest information on the effects of chemical substances.
*1Safety Data Sheet (SDS）
SDS lists the physical and chemical properties of chemical substances, together with their harmfulness and emergency response procedures. Designed to promote safer use of chemical substances and prevent accidents and incidents, SDS are supplied by manufacturers, importers, and distributors to customers during sales or shipment.
Minimizing Safety Risks of Chemical Substances
Seeking to prevent health hazards and minimize environmental impacts throughout the processes of development, manufacturing, distribution, usage, consumption, and disposal of chemical substances, the Shin-Etsu Group is reducing usage of these substances through process improvements and other measures. We are also rapidly developing and switching to safer alternatives.
For example, in response to the POPs Convention, PFOS and PFOA were designated as specified chemical substances of Class I (prohibited to manufacture and use) under the Chemical Substances Control Law*2. PFOA, which had been used as a product raw material, has already been replaced with an alternative raw material. In addition, although the use of foam extinguishing agents containing PFOS is permitted, we have completed the switch to foam extinguishing agents that do not use PFOS, with some exceptions. We have also developed alternatives to PFAS products that are being used by our customers, including a silicone oil for refrigerants, silicone resin aqueous dispersion for highly weather-resistant paint, a water-based coating agent for oil-resistant food packing paper, and a coating agent for baked-on cooking ware.
In addition, we are investigating the use of substances that are scheduled to be regulated in Japan and overseas, and are taking steps to change them. We are taking measures to comply with the regulations stipulated in the revised Industrial Safety and Health Act to minimize the impact on workers when manufacturing and handling chemical substances.
To ensure the safety of new chemical substances, we assess environmental and health risks at the development stage in accordance with quality management implementation standards and in compliance with various laws and regulations. For example, we perform risk assessment of chemical substances under Japan’s Industrial Safety and Health Law, and we double-check the elimination of all persistent, highly accumulative, and long-term toxic substances under Japan’s Chemical Substances Control Law. When developing new chemical substances, we focus on products and manufacturing technologies that do not use hazardous substances that have been designated by the Industrial Health and Safety Act and Chemical Substances Control Law, as well as the EU RoHS Directive*3 and other regulations. Furthermore, we make sure that the necessary notifications and reports are submitted according to laws and regulations.
Chemical Substance/Product Management Flow
*2Chemical Substances Control Law
Short for “Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc.,” it is intended to prevent environmental pollution by chemical substances that can be harmful to human health or to ecosystems.
*3Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
An EU directive that restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
Providing Safety Information
We offer customers information such as on product hazards and harms in the form of SDS in order to ensure the proper transmission of information to customers and transportation firms. In addition, we request customers to handle products safely by complying with laws and regulations, installing abatement equipment, wearing protective equipment and so on through SDS. As a product transportation safety measure, we issue yellow cards*4 and container yellow cards*5 that are affixed to containers. In accordance with the Industrial Safety and Health Act, we also attached symbols to indicate hazardous and harmful substances in accordance with GHS*6 on product containers and packaging.
*4Yellow cards
Yellow cards are cards that describe all relevant information on the treatment required in case of an accident during the transportation of chemical substances. The cards are handed to the transport contractor, who carries them when transporting the chemical substances in tanker lorries, etc.
*5Container yellow cards
The standard yellow card system is not suitable for use with mixed cargoes and small-lot deliveries; instead, each container carries a label displaying the safety information such as the UN number of a chemical name and the ERG guide number.
*6Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
An internationally standardized system of classification and labeling of chemicals.
Product Safety Training
The Group actively educates employees on product safety based on quality management implementation standards and environmental safety management regulations. In particular, in line with the phased amendments to Japan’s Industrial Safety and Health Law starting from 2022, we provide a comprehensive educational environment in each workplace, including the handling of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products (covering training on SDSs, chemical substance management, personal protective equipment management, etc.) and the selection of appropriate protective equipment. Additionally, to safely manage the products, we encourage employees to obtain qualifications related to handling high-pressure gas, hazardous materials, and toxic substances, and we conduct training sessions aimed at acquiring these qualifications. We also provide information related to environmental safety, such as SDSs and plant regulations, to contractors, temporary employees, and subcontractors. After providing them with easy-to-understand education on work-related safety information, we follow up to confirm their level of understanding and compliance.
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