Although the number of workers killed or injured in industrial accidents has, over a long period, been steadily decreasing, it remains unacceptably high, at about 600,000 workers per year. More than 1,800 workers die due to industrial accidents every year. Furthermore, there are as many as 9,000 workers who contract occupational diseases every year.

A.	State of industrial accident occurrence

Recent industrial accidents have involved the following problems:

1.	Both the number of industrial accidents and the rate of occurrence are high for small and medium sized enterprises.
2.	Both the number of industrial accidents and the rate of occurrence are high for the construction industry and other outdoor industries.
3.	The proportion of older workers among the total number of victims of industrial accidents has been rising.
4.	In terms of the incidence of occupational diseases, cases of pneumoconiosis and lumbago remain high, and there have been cases of oxygen deficiency and acute poisoning caused by organic solvents in the past.

Concerning the overall health of workers, medical checkups indicate that about 40% of workers have health problems. In addition to aging, cases of brain or heart-related disease are increasing. Furthermore, there are more and more workers feeling fatigued or stressed in the workplace as a result of the changes in the nature of work that are accompanying technological innovations and changes in the industrial structure.

B.	Promotion of measures based on the Industrial Accident Prevention Program

To cope with these conditions, the Ministry of Labour is actively promoting a variety of measures based on the 9th Industrial Accident Prevention Program (from FY1998 to FY2002), which aims to reduce the total number of industrial accidents by 20%, to maintain and promote worker's health, and to ensure a more comfortable working environment.

Industrial Accident Prevention Program

In order to prevent industrial accidents, the Government employers and other parties concerned need to make systematic, united efforts. The Minister of Labour has thus far formulated nine Industrial Accident Prevention Programs, in line with the provisions of Article 6 of the Industrial Safety and Health Law, in consultation with the Central Labour Standards Investigative Council. The programs stipulate important items with respect to principal measures to prevent industrial accidents and related matters.

Poster for the 72nd National Industrial Safety Week

C.	Ensuring workers' health

The Industrial Safety and Health Law obliges employers not only to prevent disease but also to make efforts to comprehensively and actively maintain and enhance workers' health to ensure that all workers are physically and mentally healthy and can give full play to their abilities.
      The Ministry of Labour is promoting the establishment of Regional Occupational Health Centers to support industrial health activities at small-scale workplaces and Prefectual Occupational Health Promotion Centers with industrial physicians and specialized counseling capabilities.

D.	Promotion of a more comfortable workplace

Reflecting the priority that workers are giving to the development of a comfortable working environment in which all workers feel less fatigue and stress, the Ministry of Labour has formulated guidelines for the development of a comfortable workplace environment and is supporting efforts by employers to realize a comfortable working environment.

E.	Promotion of management of chemical substances at workplaces

The Ministry of Labour may prohibit or approve production of, or oblige employers to ensure proper management of, harmful chemical substances in accordance with the degree of potential danger.
      More than 50,000 types of chemical substances are now handled in workplaces and about 500 new types are introduced every year. We have to fully understand toxicity and other properties of such substances to promote their proper handling.
      We are promoting necessary measures to ensure proper management of chemical substances in the workplace. In this regard, manufacturers and importers of new chemical substances have to undertake a standardized analysis of the toxicity of such substances and report the results to the Minister of Labour. When chemical substances are transferred or supplied, it is required that the recipient also receives an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) on which information including the toxicity of the chemical substance is stated. Moreover, the Japan Bioassay Research Center regularly conducts a range of tests including tests for carcinogens using laboratory animals. If a substance is found to be toxic, the test results are announced and necessary measures are to be taken.
      In recent years, measures have been positively taken against the release of internal secretion disturbing substances, and the release of dioxins from garbage incinerators.

F.	Research activities for prevention of industrial accidents and for ensuring the health of workers

With the aim of developing accident preventative technology, the National Institute of Industrial Safety is conducting researchs to clarify the nature of accidents caused by automation and systematization of machinery, that result from new industrial processes, and from the explosion of unstable substances. While the emphasis of the study is placed on the prevention of serious accidents, various approaches are being employed to promote safe technology including human engineering and system analysis.
      The National Institute of Industrial Health is studying the following in order to contribute to the maintenance of worker health and to prevent occupational diseases: i) the influence of working hours, and the heat, etc. upon worker health; ii) prevention of occupational diseases; iii) assessment of toxicity of chemical substances; iv) methods to measure harmful factors; and v) measures to prevent harmful factors such as local exhaust ventilation systems.