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, they are carried out by 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. In fiscal year 2021, however, auditing teams were limited to Responsible Care Department specialists and site administrators as a result of COVID-19. Overseas, regional headquarters’ ESH officers conduct 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 2021

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 2021, audits were conducted at the Group’s principal domestic sites, 10 belonging to DIC and four to subsidiary DIC Graphics. These consisted of systems audits, designed to verify the management level of production facilities; site inspections, which focus on frontline facilities; and compliance audits conducted by a third-party consulting firm. These audits helped improve the level of safety and environmental management, identify hazards and improve legal compliance at these key sites. ESH audits were also implemented at 10 sites belonging to eight other domestic DIC Group companies. The objective of the audits, which centered on systems audits and site inspections at 11 sites belonging to eight companies, was to enhance environmental management.
Overseas DIC Group companies also undergo ESH audits. In fiscal year 2021, audits were carried out at 23 sites belonging to 17 companies in the Asia–Pacific region. As a result of COVID-19, these audits were performed by the sites themselves. In Greater China, audits were conducted at 15 sites belonging to 14 companies, including at three sites in Taiwan that were implemented autonomously, owing to COVID-19. In the Americas, Europe and Africa, ESH audits were implemented at 22 sites belonging to Sun Chemical Group companies and 13 sites belonging to the SEIKO PMC Group, which manufactures chemicals for paper production and resins for printing inks and reprographic products. The SEIKO PMC audits were conducted online as a consequence of COVID-19.

Outline of ESH Audits Implemented in Fiscal Year 2021

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

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