Based on the idea that work satisfaction depends on physical and mental health, the Nichirei Group continuously works to strengthen its safety management systems at each worksite. All officers and employees work together to create a satisfying workplace. We also ask our suppliers to carry out various measures and regularly carry out initiatives related to occupational health and safety in accordance with this policy.

The Nichirei Group established health and safety committees to fulfill the requirements of Japan’s Industrial Safety and Health Act, and is working to promote health and safety management aimed at preventing occupational accidents and managing the health of employees. At our Head Office, as well as at each branch office, we strive to eliminate long working hours and manage working hours, while at food factories and refrigerated warehouses, the main issue is the prevention of accidents. Other workplace environment improvement efforts are conducted according to the conditions of each workplace.
Health and safety risks are discussed and addressed by the Group Health Promotion Liaison Committee, and their status is regularly reported and monitored by the Board of Directors and the Group Human Resources Committee.
At the Central Council (held once a year), management and labor unions discuss reforms in work styles, job satisfaction among union members, the workplace environment, and other issues.
In addition, as part of our occupational health and safety initiatives, we have achieved a 100% health checkup rate and are thoroughly implementing follow-up measures, including follow-up on the results of the checkups. In addition, we implement "Kenko Juku," a hands-on health support program for all employees, a walking campaign in collaboration with the Nichirei Health Insurance Association, comprehensive mental health measures starting with stress checks, and the implementation, evaluation, and improvement of health and safety plans formulated by the Health and Safety Committee in cooperation with related departments.
In recognition of these efforts, Nichirei Corporation was certified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as an excellent health and safety company.

Promotion of acquisition of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System

The Group aims to enhance its workplace and create a workplace that focuses on employees and offers a high level of satisfaction.

We have acquired OHSAS18001^*, an international standard for occupational safety and health, at overseas one subsidiary.
The certified plant : GFPT Nichirei (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (FY2019)/ the ratio of certified plants is 0.6%.

• * OHSAS18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series)

Safety and Quality Training Centers Aimed at Achieving Zero Accidents

The top priority issues at Nichirei Logistics Group’s Safety and Quality Training Centers are safety, quality and the environment. The centers work to eliminate accidents involving personal injury at worksites and achieve zero accidents involving products. We work to promote safe behavior at worksites through interactive education that involves active trainee participation. To further improve safety and quality at worksites, we completed renovation of the Tokyo training center in 2021 and the Nagoya training center in 2022. We conduct classroom training as well as practical training that utilizes digital technologies such as virtual reality (VR) tailored to the features of each worksite.

Health and Safety Training for Low-temperature Logistics Operations

Logistics Center Safety and Quality-related Training

Placing importance on quality, the environment and safety, the Nichirei Logistics Group has opened safety and quality training centers across Japan. These facilities enable logistics staff to acquire knowledge regarding safety and quality, as well as to develop skills and an appropriate mindset.
The core training content includes “reconfirmation of basic knowledge through classroom learning,” information about “dangerous experiences” and the “reconfirmation of basic forklift operations.” Videos and illustrations are used to enable students to develop an intuitive understanding of the topics.
All training programs and teaching materials are original and veteran employees with a wealth of knowledge and experience give lectures while providing hands-on experience as part of a systematic curriculum.
At logistics centers, heavy loads are carried using forklifts to enable cargo to be sorted in upper floors. We thus strive to improve occupational safety and quality by incorporating into the curriculum practical training to ensure that equipment is correctly used to prevent items from falling.

Nichirei Logistics Group conducts safety training in a new employee training program, and in FY2023, 67 employees participated in the training. We also provide training on occupational safety and health through training for key personnel of quality improvement, and 28 employees participated in the training up until October 2022.

Eco-driving Seminars, Tournaments Boost Driver Awareness

The Nichirei Logistics Group has formed a national network of affiliated transportation and delivery companies, and encourages them to obtain Green Management Certification.
In an effort to improve the quality of shipping by these companies, Logistics Network holds driver tournaments and eco-driving seminars at six locations across the country each year. In the driver tournaments, truck drivers compete against each other for points, which are accumulated from practical exams on general inspections and written tests covering basic safety and quality rules related to shipping services offered to customers.
These tournaments help the participants improve the safety of shipping services, maintain the high quality of those services, gain inspection skills, and increase their awareness of safe driving, while at the same time giving each individual pride in their work and a sense of social responsibility. The seventh national tournament was held in FY2020 with a view to further improve shipping quality.
In addition, Logistics Network began a full-fledged initiative in FY2015 for using pallets in its main shipping operations and establishing services with fixed arrival and departure times. The downtime at bases and time spent loading were vastly reduced, which led to an improvement in the work environment of long-haul drivers. In addition, the fact that vehicles were idle for less time led to their having less of an environmental impact.

Safe Workplaces, Better Service

Nichirei Logistics Group sets themes four times a year designed to prioritize safety and quality at warehouses. Accident prevention activities are conducted under these themes at all domestic facilities (114 locations).

Safety at Food Factories

Nichirei Foods has identified three priority measures for safety-related activities at food factories: safety patrols, near-miss-related activities and the mandatory observation of safety rules. Monthly safety patrols are tailored to each factory, with effective checklist items determined based on worksite feedback. Patrols are conducted mainly in the early morning and late at night, when fewer managers are on staff. We also ask employees to share workrelated issues and opinions. Held as needed, near-miss-related activities are designed to reinforce reporting practices and inform employees about possible dangers through the sharing of information about accident nearmisses. Activities reconfirm evaluation criteria, thus ensuring consistency in methodologies for classifying an incident as a near-miss. Preventive steps are then taken as needed.

Occupational Health and Safety Initiatives for Foreign Technical Interns

The Nichirei Group provides occupational health and safety training and other training for foreign technical interns before they start on-the-job training at the Group’s food factories in Japan. This helps to prevent occupational accidents and facilitates health management for the interns, who are adjusting to life in another country, while at the same time helping them improve their Japanese-language skills. Our goal is to create workplaces where all Nichirei Group employees can work safely and healthily with purpose.

Health Supervisor

Labor–Management Council with the Labor Union

The Nichirei Group has established the Central Council, a labor-management council involving the Company in Japan. It convenes annually based on a collective agreement. Consisting of 13 members from management and 13 members from the labor union, the council engages in frank discussions on issues such as the Group’s business development, improvements to business operations, and the welfare of union members. (In FY2023, the scale of the event was reduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19.)

Dialogue between Employees and Management

Every year since 2011, Nichirei Foods and Nichirei Fresh have held dialogue sessions between management and employees. The aim of these sessions is to promote the Nichirei Group’s Mission and Vision, create an open, communicative workplace and listen to the valuable opinions of employees working on the factory floor. Each session provides an opportunity for management to directly convey their thoughts, and for employees to talk with management about issues that interest them and to share their ideas.

Nichirei Logistics Group “The First Choice of Clients” Awards

In FY2008, Nichirei Logistics Group introduced “The First Choice of Clients” awards based on a desire to always be the first choice of customers in the food logistics industry. These awards recognize regular employees, temporary employees, part-time workers and employees of outsourced service providers for their contributions to improving the value of customer experiences and creating a satisfying workplace. At the 17th (FY2023) awards ceremony in May 2023, a total of 28 individuals and teams from Japan and overseas received awards.