Benefits of JISHA OSHMS Certification

1. Advantages of JISHA OSHMS Standards: Internationally accepted assessment standards that are adapted for Japanese companies

JISHA OSHMS Standards conform to the Guidelines for Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. These standards are adapted for the actual situation of safety and health management as well as specific safety and health activities at Japanese companies, and help achieve the effects of introducing an OSHMS.

Most Japanese companies have established systems in which workers also participate in and cooperate with safety and health management through opportunities such as safety and health committees in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Based on such systems, each company uses its own ideas to conduct hazard prediction activities, near accident reporting and investigations and the 4S (refers to Japanese terms meaning arrangement, orderliness, cleanliness and cleaning) activities, whereby successful results are achieved. JISHA OSHMS Standards incorporate such elements in the requirements to further improve the effectiveness of safety and health activities conducted regularly at workplaces through cooperation between labor and management.

2. High reliability of JISHA (Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association) services: Effectively supporting the role of social responsibility assumed by companies

This certification is one of the professional services provided by JISHA whose members include major employer associations and a number of leading companies. Acquisition of JISHA certification will give a sense of security to employees and cooperating companies. At the same time, certified companies can confidently demonstrate compliance to their stakeholders such as customers and shareholders.

JISHA was established pursuant to the Industrial Injury Prevention Organizations Act, and its leadership is held by the chairman of Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation). JISHA plays a foremost role in improving the level of occupational safety and health in Japan. The certificate of compliance issued under the name of the chairman of JISHA is optimal evidence that demonstrates a company's consideration for social responsibility, both internally and externally.

3. Assessment service supported by a high level of expertise: Focus on achieving practical effects through certificate acquisition

Drawing on a wealth of knowledge and experience accumulated over many years through the implementation of numerous safety and health projects, JISHA can provide clear-cut suggestions and advice. The certificate can only be issued for an OSHMS that is built and operated in accordance with the Standards. However, such issuance does not mean that there are no actual problems in safety and health management and related activities. To enhance the effects of preventing industrial accidents, it is important to implement activities specified in the Standards in the most effective way possible, rather than merely implementing specific requirements in the Standards. JISHA's assessment personnel offer suggestions and advice to workplaces with respect to “possible improvements” and “matters for which additional effort should be made in the future” to help improve an OSHMS's effectiveness (these suggestions and advice are separate from certification).

Benefits enjoyed by certified workplaces

According to the questionnaire survey conducted by JISHA for workplaces that acquired JISHA OSHMS certification, a number of workplaces answered with the following points to the question of “benefits of acquiring certification.”

1. Issues that we must resolve were clarified.
2. The safety and health awareness and morale of workers has been elevated.
3. The framework of safety and health has been standardized, and activities to be implemented have been clarified. Risks have been reduced through risk assessment.
4. The risk assessment conducted has helped to reduce risks of workplaces.
5. The third party assessment encouraged the company's ongoing safety and health programs.
6. The roles of line managers in safety and health have been clarified.
7. Advertising effects, recognition, as well as responsible image in the marketplace have been raised.
8. OSH activities appreciated by internal audits improved the following fiscal year's activities.

Note: The survey was conducted for certified workplaces during a period between April 2005 and March 2008.