ESH Auditing
1. Framework for Promotion
The DIC Group regularly conducts ESH audits to ensure the effectiveness of Responsible Care initiatives at Group companies, plants and R&D facilities. Because these audits assess a variety of factors, in Japan they are carried out by audit teams composed of Responsible Care Department specialists, the executive officer responsible for production, production and R&D site administrators, and labor union–endorsed union members.
Audits also look at the implementation of safety initiatives and the progress of remedial measures undertaken in response to issues cited in the previous year’s audit. DIC’s president also takes part, underscoring senior management’s active engagement in efforts to ensure ESH-related concerns are addressed. As a result of COVID-19, in fiscal year 2022 teams were limited to Responsible Care Department specialists and site administrators. In other countries and territories, regionalheadquarters’ ESH officers conducted audits together with Responsible Care Department specialists and local site administrators to ascertain the progress of initiatives with the aim of enhancing Responsible Care at individual sites.
2. ESH Audits in Fiscal Year 2022
In Japan, Responsible Care Department specialists lead ESH audits not only at DIC but also at DIC Group companies to certify initiatives and support efforts to improve performance. In fiscal year 2022, audits were conducted at principal Group sites in Japan, 10 belonging to DIC and four to subsidiary DIC Graphics. These consisted of systems audits, designed to verify management levels; site inspections, which focus on frontline facilities; and compliance audits, which are conducted by a third-party consulting firm. These audits helped improve the level of safety and environmental management, identify production line hazards and improve compliance with pertinent laws and regulations. Systems audits were also conducted at 11 sites belonging to eight Group companies other than DIC Graphics and the SEIKO PMC Group with the aim of enhancing safety and environmental management.
DIC Group companies in other countries and territories also undergo ESH audits. In fiscal year 2022, audits were carried out at 17 sites belonging to 12 companies in the Asia–Pacific region. Owing to COVID-19, these audits were limited to principal sites. In Greater China, audits were conducted at 14 sites belonging to 13 companies. This included three sites in Taiwan that, because of COVID-19, were implemented autonomously. In the Americas, Europe and Africa, ESH audits were conducted at 66 sites belonging to Sun Chemical Group companies.
ESH audits were also implemented at 10 sites around the world belonging to the SEIKO PMC Group, which manufactures papermaking chemicals and resins for printing inks and reprographic products. The SEIKO PMC Group audits were conducted online because of COVID-19.
Administrative Penalties
In fiscal year 2021, one violation of Responsible Care–related regulations with a significant financial penalty* was reported overseas and one violation of environmental regulations with such a penalty was reported overseas. The DIC Group responded by swiftly implementing and confirming the effectiveness of remedial measures.
- A penalty in excess of $10,000
Key Data
