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Health Management, Occupational Health and Safety

Policies and Basic Approach


In aiming to strengthen its competitiveness continuously and sustainably, Mitsui & Co. implements various health promotion and safety improvement measures so that every individual employee can work healthfully and safely and harness their full talent and potential.

Health Management, Occupational Health & Safety Policy

In conducting the business activities of the Mitsui & Co. group in countries and regions around the world, we will promote the development of workplace environments in which employees and officers can work to their full potential, and where each individual can work energetically, in good health, safely, in line with the Sustainability Policy and this Policy.
At the same time we will foster a culture in which every employee and all those involved with our businesses can fulfil their responsibility of creating a safe, secure and healthy working environment for themselves and each other.

Prioritizing Health Management
We will always place the well-being of our group employees and officers and all those involved with our businesses as a top priority. So that we can create a higher level of value together with every employee and all those involved with our businesses, we will promote measures based on the respective laws and regulations, as well as various initiatives to maintain and improve health.
Creating a safe, incident-free workplace
We will always place the safety of our group employees and officers and all those involved with our businesses as a top priority.,
To promote business operations that emphasize the health and safety of people in the countries and regions in which we operate, and to achieve our aim to create safe and incident-free workplaces, we will implement various accident prevention measures as well as promoting the creation of safe working environments for all our employees and all those involved with our businesses.
Our health and safety standards and protocols will aim not only to reflect local laws and regulations, but also to reflect the best practices unique to each industry, and we will provide necessary resources and training to ensure continuous improvement.

Formulated in February 2022

Yoshiaki Takemasu
Representative Director, Executive Vice President,
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Health Declaration

Recognizing that the good health of employees is one of Mitsui & Co.'s greatest assets, we formulated the Health Declaration in September 2017.

Health Declaration

Countermeasures against Infectious Diseases

As a company with numerous overseas offices and branches, Mitsui recognizes the importance of responding to global health issues, such as Tuberculosis, Malaria, and HIV/AIDS. In addition to taking steps to protect employees working in locations where there is a high risk of infection, Mitsui also works actively to contribute to local communities, and provide periodic programs for them. Specifically, we run an in-house program that provides influenza vaccinations, for which approximately 2,000 employees apply every year. We also provide mouthwash and antiseptic solutions in every workplace as part of our efforts to prevent the occurrence and spreading of infections. In addition, we promote awareness-raising activities to make sure that employees can obtain in-depth knowledge of preventive methods for Tuberculosis, Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and dengue fever through providing related training and seminar programs. We also maintain a framework at the company level to ensure timely action through cooperation between workplaces and public health clinics, the Security Management Department, clinics, and industrial health staff, based on risk assessments and monitoring of the occurrence of infectious diseases while obtaining information about infectious diseases from overseas medical assistance firms and public health clinics.

In collaboration with Mitsui Bussan Health Insurance Society, we subsidize the cost of vaccinating children aged 13 and under against influenza, as children in this age group are regarded as having a high infection rate and the potential to develop serious diseases.


Business Continuity Management (BCM/BCP): Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Occupational Health and Safety in the Supply Chain

When dealing with new suppliers, we conduct a preliminary risk assessment covering various social issues such as occupational health and safety based on our Sustainable Supply Chain Policy and Procurement Policies for Specific Commodities and request that they understand these policies and implement them. For existing businesses and relevant suppliers, we conduct regular questionnaire surveys to gain an understanding of how their businesses are run with regard to occupational health and safety and other social issues such as safety in the event of a fire, use of personal protective equipment, and handling dangerous substances including chemical substances and pesticides. In addition to our initiatives to identify suppliers with occupational health and safety concerns, we carry out on-site inspections.


Supply Chain Management

Goals and Targets


Occupational Safety (Targets for FY Mar/2023)

  • Zero Workplace Accidents
  • Zero Fatal Accidents

Personnel Affairs Data: Occupational Health and Safety Data (Non-consolidated)

Health Performance Index and Progress toward Targets

Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.

Health Performance Index FY Mar/2020 FY Mar/2021 FY Mar/2022
Percentage of employees undergoing health checks: 100% 99.3% 99.8% 99.9%
Medical questionnaire response rate: 100% 75.6% 88.4% 94.5%
Percentage of employees undergoing stress checks: 90%
(Number of employees undergoing stress checks)
83.1%
(3,956)
89.1%
(4,203)
86.8%
(4,024)
Smoking rate: Reduction by 0.5% compared to the previous fiscal year
(Year-on-year change)
12.9%
(-0.5)
10.8%
(-2.1)
10.5%
(-0.3)

Sustainability Governance and Oversight


Framework for Promoting Employees' Health Maintenance

Under the leadership of the Representative Director, the Executive Vice President serving as the Chief Health and Safety Supervisor, we have created the following framework for promoting employees' health maintenance, including the establishment of the Health Promotion Committee, and have been promoting health management throughout the company.

Chief Health and Safety Supervisor Yoshiaki Takemasu (Representative Director, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO))
Deliberative body Health Promotion Committee, Hygiene Committee
Department in Charge Human Resources & General Affairs Div.

Framework for Promoting Employees' Health Maintenance

Framework for promoting employees' health maintenance

Health Promotion Committee

In February 2017, Mitsui established the Health Promotion Committee under the basic policy of (1) promoting "Health and Productivity Management," which regards health management as a management priority, and (2) maintaining and enhancing employees' health through the implementation of "Health and Productivity Management" and improving the company's productivity. Committee meetings are held on a quarterly basis, and the minutes of each meeting are uploaded on the company's intranet for the purpose of sharing the information among all employees. As part of our "collaborative health" program, through which we aim to implement effective measures for enhancing employees' health under a partnership between the health insurance union and the company (with company representatives including the Representative Director, the Executive Vice President in charge, the General Manager of the Human Resources & General Affairs Division, the head of the Health Management Center & Medical Clinic Dept. of Human Resources & General Affairs Division, occupational physicians, and other healthcare professionals), Mitsui and Mitsui Bussan Health Insurance Society will work together to plan and decide on policies aimed at maintaining and enhancing employees' health, and to execute these policies.

Hygiene Committee

The Hygiene Committee headed by the Chief Health and Safety Supervisor (a position held concurrently by the Representative Director, the Executive Vice President in charge), consists of occupational physicians, health officers, employees recommended by management, and employees recommended by the labor union. The committee holds monthly meetings and discusses ways to improve working environments, ways to develop an appropriate framework, and other related matters based on the advice provided by qualified occupational physicians and health officers. Topics discussed by the committee include the results of workplace inspections, countermeasures based on those results, regular reports on long overtime hours, as well as implementation of regular health checks and stress checks, and influenza vaccination programs. The committee reflects members' opinions in safety and health measures to ensure employees' health and workplace safety. The committee also communicates with employees by posting the minutes of the committee's monthly meetings on the intranet.

ISO45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification Status

ISO 45001 is an international standard for managing occupational health and safety risks. As of March 31, 2022, two of our subsidiaries in Japan or overseas (accounting for 3% of our subsidiaries that need environmental priority management) had acquired ISO45001 certification or were converting from OHSA18001 to ISO45001 certification.

Occupational Health and Safety Assessment of Business Investment Projects

In our businesses, we have systems in place that give maximum consideration to the environment and society, not only at the starting stage but also during operation and at the end. Regarding environmental and social risks (including occupational safety and health related to the working environment) the Sustainability Committee discusses response policies and measures, reports them to the Corporate Management Committee and the Board of Directors, and then implements them following approval.


ESG Risk Management: ESG Due Diligence Checklists and the Sustainability Advisory Board

Initiatives


Employee Health Management

In-house Medical Clinic

We have established a clinic in our Head Office building and a medical treatment room in the Osaka Office. The clinic in the Head Office building covers a diverse range of specialist areas, including internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, and E.N.T., and is equipped to provide medical consultations for employees. It also provides medical checkups for employees who are about to travel overseas or have returned from overseas assignments, as well as inoculations. Consultant physicians are assigned to each office in Japan to provide health management for employees working in those locations.

Medical Examinations

We provide multiple regular in-house medical examination opportunities per year, and employees are able to view the results of their own examinations on the intranet. Mitsui and Mitsui Bussan Health Insurance Society are also working collaboratively toward the prevention and early detection of lifestyle diseases and other conditions, and the provision of enhanced health advisory services, through the implementation of the following measures:

  • Provision of opportunities for employees aged 35 and over to undergo comprehensive health examinations at external medical institutions, and all payment of the expenses of such examinations.
  • Provision of subsidies for employees aged 35 and over who undergo brain checkups, lung cancer screenings, gastroscopic examinations, and colorectal cancer screenings.
  • Provision of specific health advisory services for employees aged 40 and over.
  • Provision of subsidies for cervical cancer screenings for female employees aged 34 and under.
  • Provision of subsidies for breast cancer (mammography and ultrasonography) and uterine cancer screenings for female employees aged 35 and over.
  • Provision of opportunities for new hires to undergo a pylori infection test and medical interview at the medical checkup before employment.
  • Provision of all payment of the expenses of dental checkup.

Medical Support System (Mutual Aid Association)

This system supports association members and their families in Japan and overseas by covering medical expenses that are not covered by health insurance in the event of illness or injury.

Health Advice/Health Maintenance Promotion Measures

Health Guidance

We implement the following health promotion measures to help employees avoid lifestyle diseases and metabolic syndrome.

Measures Target Group Guidance Provider
Designated health guidance
(active support, motivational support)
People aged over 40
Current or potential metabolic syndrome sufferers
Mitsui Bussan Health Insurance Society
Individual health guidance People aged over 34
Potential metabolic syndrome sufferers
Public health nurses from the Health Management Center & Medical Clinic Dept.
Dietary advice People affected by obesity, lifestyle diseases, or metabolic syndrome Registered dieticians

MITSUI HEALTH REPORT

Since FY Mar/2020, we have visualized the results of a variety of initiatives carried out to promote employee health, such as the ratio of employees receiving health examinations, the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, and data on smoking and alcohol consumption-related measures and stress checks. We aim to raise individual awareness of health and improve behavior. We have posted data in comparison with countrywide data, data by department, and chronological changes on the company intranet to communicate such information to Mitsui employees.

Provision of Healthy Menus in the Employee Cafeteria

At the Head Office staff cafeteria MEETS/EATS we have set up six main-dish corners, including the "SPECIAL" which offers servings in small quantities but with many items. Our concept behind this is the promotion of employee communications and support for their health.

In cooperation with our affiliated company, AIM SERVICES CO., LTD., we have also provided the Healthy Diet Coaching Program, through which employees can individually seek advice from dieticians and other professionals, along with online seminars and workshops for employees' families, to review their lifestyles and improve their health through such approaches as losing weight.

MEETS/EATS MEETS/EATS
Example of SPECIAL Example of SPECIAL

Use of Outside Fitness Gyms, Exercise at Work

Employees can take advantage of Mitsui's optional welfare services and can use outside fitness gyms at corporate rates.

Furthermore, we have also introduced the "Round Refresh" program, under which trainers lead employees in stretching exercises. By standing up at their desks and performing light exercises, employees can relax their muscles, and alleviate shoulder stiffness and back pain. This not only helps to restore their concentration and creativity, but also improves the workplace atmosphere by providing a chance for communication. Employees feel mentally and physically refreshed and are able to reduce stress.

Videos on how to limber up and stretch are shown via digital signage installed on each floor, and videos are distributed via our intranet and apps for teleworkers, to promote employee physical refreshment.

* Our "Round Refresh" sessions have been temporarily suspended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Smoking Reduction Measures

All spaces at our companies and branch office are smoke-free. There are no "smoking rooms."

We are implementing the following measures to help employees to quit smoking, with a goal of a year-on-year reduction of 0.5% in the percentage of smokers:

  • Provision of a counseling room for those wishing to quit smoking
  • Creation of a smoking cessation support page on the intranet
  • Provision of seminars on passive smoking and smoking cessation
  • Implementation of a smoking cessation program using a quit-smoking app

As part of measures to reduce cancer, lifestyle diseases, and other health problems, Mitsui, in cooperation with Mitsui Bussan Health Insurance Society, pays subsidies to employees who successfully quit smoking through smoking cessation therapies provided under the health insurance scheme.

Smoking Rates at Mitsui

Smoking Rates at Mitsui

Alcohol-Related Measures

We hold training for newly hired employees which includes genetic susceptibility testing for alcoholism, to prevent health risks and accidents by raising awareness of alcohol issues. Learning about one's own physical traits has led to a decrease in the volume and frequency of drinking, helping to improve the physical condition and performance of employees.

Moreover, the head of Mitsui's medical clinic has given seminars to managers and provided an opportunity for them to receive optional genetic susceptibility testing for alcoholism. We have set up a new "Alcohol and Health" site on our intranet to spread information to all employees about the importance of responsible drinking.

Alcohol-Related Measures
Alcohol-Related Measures

Health Support for Female Employees

To provide support for female employees, we established a consultation desk to offer advice on women's health and maternal health through individual consultations with female physicians. Useful health-related information is provided via the intranet, together with notices on the availability of various types of health advice.

We also hold online seminars to disseminate correct information about women's physical and mental health issues, as well as ways to address them.

We also provide cervical cancer screening for female employees under the age of 34. For female employees aged 35 or over, we offer breast cancer screening (mammography + ultrasound) and financial assistance for uterine cancer screening.

Health Management for Employees Working Overseas

Approximately 1,200 of our staff are stationed overseas, accompanied by around 1,400 family members. We regard health management for not only employees working overseas but also their families as an important priority, and we have established systems to ensure that advice is available at any time if employees or family members suffer physical or mental illness. Specifically, in cooperation with local personnel, occupational physicians at the Head Office provide support for employees assigned overseas via email, telephone, and interviews using a videophone system.

Vaccinations and health checkups are provided for employees assigned overseas and their families. They also receive overseas health management training covering physical and mental health and other aspects, as well as information about how to obtain medical information and access support systems while overseas. We also provide health management support for employees working overseas and their families in partnership with emergency medical service contractors.

In the fiscal year ended March 2022, we conducted a health check questionnaire for all overseas employees and conducted a web interview with an occupational physician for those who wished.

Mental Health

Under Mitsui's Mental Health Promotion Plan, employees are able to obtain advice easily and at any time via a dedicated consultation service. Through consultations with occupational physicians and health nurses, employees can receive the support that meets their individual needs. Employees also have access to counseling by specialists at the company clinic. In addition, we have established external advice lines through which not only employees, but also their family members can seek advice anonymously via telephone or email, or arrange consultations.

Even when an employee takes a temporary absence from work, occupational physicians and health nurses continue to provide highly attentive care and work through a process that includes multiple interviews, to ensure that employees can feel confident about returning to work. After their return to work, they receive follow-up care, including health monitoring and measures to prevent recurrences, based on collaboration among occupational physicians, health nurses, company doctors, and other personnel.

Every year, Mitsui also implements stress checks with the following aims: measuring the level of employees' stress in order to raise employees' awareness of their own stress levels, and preventing mental health problems (primary prevention). We provide employees suffering from high stress with opportunities to have interviews with occupational physicians, and give feedback pertaining to the group analysis results to the workplace, for the purpose of improving the working environment.

Training and Seminars on Health and Safety

In addition to mental health training and labor management training for line managers, training for health and safety management overseas, and health management training for new-graduate employees, we also hold other health and safety seminars as part of our efforts to build an organization with a high level of health literacy.

Healthy Working Environment

We have implemented the measures detailed below at the new Head Office building to develop a safe working environment for employees.

Safe Working Environment Initiatives Description of Initiative
Ergonomic workplace
  • We have introduced a group address system and free address system, in order to improve productivity through agile teaming in line with work and project needs, and to realize a pleasant office environment.
  • Twice a month, occupational physicians, health nurses, and other medical personnel visit each workplace to examine whether a safe working environment for employees is being maintained, and to identify and respond to safety and health problems in order to ensure a healthy work environment.
Illumination We have introduced luminance sensors and motion detectors to control illumination levels and lighting equipment in an appropriate and efficient way. In addition, by using circadian lighting, which takes biological rhythms into account, we have improved both energy savings and comfort.
Noise By using double structure airflow windows for the building, we have reduced noise and improved the effectiveness of insulation. Walls in meeting rooms have been fitted with soundproof structures that prevent sound from being audible outside the rooms. On the office floors, we have introduced sound masking equipment to reduce discomfort caused by surrounding noise.
Indoor air quality
  • Effective air conditioning is provided by a system with outside air intakes. This lowers the CO2 level while reducing the air-conditioning load. The environment within the building is monitored every other month.
    Moreover, the air in the air conditioning system in the conference rooms around the studio / camp / core areas on the office floor is completely ventilated twice an hour.
  • The ventilation rate for the air conditioning system serving the conference rooms on the east side of the office floor is four changes an hour.
  • The ventilation rate for the air conditioning system serving the conference rooms on floors 8 and 9 is four changes an hour.
Humidity/Temperature
  • We maintain internal humidity at an appropriate and comfortable level above 40%, even during winter when the air tends to be drier, by introducing water vapor through the use of variable air volume (VAV) control/a district cooling and heating system.
  • We have introduced a radiant air-conditioning system at the company medical clinic in order to increase comfort and sound control, while preventing airborne infections by suppressing the occurrence of viruses and dust in the air.
  • On the office floors, we have introduced a user-input-based air-conditioning system linked to the building's internal location positioning system, enabling fine-tuned temperature control.
  • We maintain a comfortable working environment by setting the air conditioning at 26°C in summer and 24-25°C in other seasons. A relaxed dress code has allowed a comfortable workplace environment to be maintained throughout the year, while also reducing the air-conditioning load.
Free drinks and food As part of measures aimed at promoting communication, in shared spaces (camp areas), there is a cafe counter that serves coffee, soft drinks, tea, water, tea drinks, nuts, and other snacks. Employees can use these freely at any time.
Shower booths We have a corporate contract for a shower booth with the Raffine Running Style Otemachi One store on the B1 floor of the Head Office, which employees can use when returning to Japan from a business trip.
Relaxation Room Employees can receive massage and massage with acupressure once a month (for 40 minutes).
Prayer rooms We have separate prayer rooms for men and women that can be used regardless of religion.
Aroma for relaxation
  • We have developed an original aroma from hinoki cypress scraps produced from our company-owned forests. We release this aroma at our reception room on the 8th floor and in the lounge on the 9th floor, to create a relaxing space.
  • In addition, from 2022, we have begun introducing aromas on a trial basis in the common spaces (camps) on the office floors to promote communication and concentration.

Working Hours Management

Based on the Industrial Safety and Health Act, we urge employees who have worked overtime in excess of certain standards to consult with our occupational physicians, and suggest to them measures for reducing excessive working hours and preventing health problems.

From the perspective of consolidated management, we have been preparing standards for labor management at our affiliated companies to suit the business models of the respective companies. Under these circumstances, we have implemented the following measures at our affiliated companies in Japan with the aims of promoting the understanding of laws applicable across all Japanese companies, and ways of responding accordingly, as well as developing appropriate labor management systems by sharing approaches and know-how in relation to working hours:

  • We hold regular meetings with the aim of exchanging information and strengthening relationships between the personnel staff at our affiliated companies. At these meetings, we share Mitsui's policies in relation to workstyle innovations, and give updates on the details of any legal amendments.
  • We have created a checklist of 56 items related to labor management in general, including the management of working hours. We make use of the checklist when developing labor management systems at affiliated companies as part of governance by the supervisory divisions, as necessary.

Regarding overseas branches, working hours are properly managed so as to comply with related laws and regulations in each country.


Occupational Safety

Mitsui takes various measures to protect its employees (including contract employees) from workplace accidents, including periodic inspections by occupational physicians, in order to ensure their safety and security. We have established mechanisms to make sure accidents are promptly reported to the Human Resources & General Affairs Division. When accidents occur at Mitsui or its affiliated companies, reports are immediately submitted in accordance with our compliance-related procedures and a structure is set up to take the appropriate actions, and, at the same time, we strive to prevent recurrences.


Business Continuity Management (BCM/BCP)

Security Management

Mitsui promotes various kinds of business through its 129 points of global operations (as of April 1, 2022).

Ensuring the security of employees and their families is one of our most important tasks for the company. In cooperation with relevant divisions, offices, and security companies in Japan and overseas, Mitsui obtains and analyzes the latest information on the political situation, security situation, and so on, and shares such information with related staff in order for the employees to be able to raise their safety awareness. Mitsui has also prepared systems to handle situations such as accidents, injuries, and diseases, in cooperation with emergency health care service companies.

When employees are to be assigned overseas, we provide training on expatriate safety to them and their spouses.

Evaluation by Society

Certified Health & Productivity Management Organization Recognition Program "White 500"

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Nippon Kenko Kaigi jointly implement the health and productivity management organization program "White 500". Mitsui has been recognized as one of the Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations under the White 500 initiative for six consecutive years.

Employee Health Management

Examinations at the Head Office Medical Clinic

Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.

(Unit: persons)

  FY Mar/2018 FY Mar/2019 FY Mar/2020 FY Mar/2021 FY Mar/2022
Examinations (total number of people examined) 18,808 14,541 12,567 4,895 4,024

* Due to the effects of COVID-19, restricted clinic visits in FY Mar/2021 to prevent the spread of infection resulted in a significant decrease in the number of examinees.

Results of Training Activities in FY Mar/2022

(Unit: persons)

Training Program Number of sessions per year Participants
Training before overseas assignments: Overseas risk management (overseas health and safety management) for general employees 12 263
Training before overseas assignments: Overseas risk management (overseas health and safety management) for overseas trainees 1 22
Training for new Business Staff M2 Band/line managers: Mental health for line managers, labor management for line managers Year round 101
Introductory training for new employees: Health management as a working professional 2 110
M/M Leader (employees in charge of supporting new employees) Training
(Online training/prior viewing; "Alcohol-Related Risk Training")
1 180
Mental health, line care enhancement program 1 29
Health seminars / Healthy lifestyles through increased immunity 1 Approx. 150
Health seminars / Women's Health Week - Dietary techniques for health and beauty 1 Approx. 120
Health seminars / Avoiding COVID-19 – Life with COVID-19 and what we can do now to stop the spread of infection 1 Approx. 130
Health seminars / Part 1: The importance of sleep; Part 2: Pancreatic cancer 1 Approx. 80

In addition to the above seminars and programs, we aim to raise awareness for health among employees through lectures by occupational physicians and health nurses at the Hygiene Committee and by regularly uploading "Messages from Occupational Physicians" and "Health Nurse Column" on the intranet to enable all employees to obtain health information.