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In accordance with the stipulations in Article 71-3-1 of the Industrial Safety and Health Law (No. 57, 1972), the following guidelines have been established, stipulating the measures to be taken by employers for the creation of comfortable working environments.
Guidelines for Measures to Be Taken by Employers for the Creation of Comfortable Working Environments
Recent rapid advancements in technology have led to major changes in working environments. Other factors such as the shift to an information and service economy and the increasing globalization of corporate activities have led to changing work patterns, broader employment areas, and other changes for individual workers. These recent changes in workplace environments have created new issues such as employment-related fatigue and stress among workers.
Japan's economic prosperity has led to a shift in awareness among the people from material prosperity to an increasing emphasis on spiritual prosperity. Along with the increasing awareness regarding health issues, this has resulted in further emphasis on comfortable workplaces such as a desire to reduce physical and mental burdens caused by heavy labor as well as a need to shorten working hours.
Furthermore, an analysis of the employment structure in Japan reveals a higher ratio of middle-aged and elderly persons in workplaces resulting from the aging of Japan's workforce population, as well as a higher percentage of female workers due to increasing female participation in a wide range of employment categories. These changes in the nation's employment structure require an effort to create working environments that incorporate improved work methods, etc.
These changes in the employment structure have also resulted in a critical importance attached to the creation of comfortable working environments that reduce the fatigue and stress placed on workers by the workplaces where much of their time is spent. In addition, creating comfortable working environments will also contribute to better utilization of the capabilities of workers and further vitality in workplaces.
Based on the aforementioned idea, in regard to measures to be taken by employers for the creation of comfortable working environments, these Guidelines stipulate the goals of the creation of comfortable working environments, measures to be taken by employers in order to create comfortable working environments suitably and effectively, and matters that should be taken into account for the implementation of those measures. These Guidelines are designed to promote voluntary efforts by employers, with the aim of contributing to the creation of comfortable working environments.
I. The goals of the creation of comfortable working environments
Employers are encouraged to create comfortable working environments through the following approach:
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Control of working environments
In cases where working environments such as the air environments and thermal conditions are inappropriate because of dirty air, hot or cold temperatures at work, inadequate illumination, etc., workers' fatigue and stress may increase. To cope with this problem, efforts should be made to exercise proper control over discomfort factors in working environments such as airborne dust, offensive odors, improper workplace temperatures or inadequate illumination.
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Improvements in work methods
Work usually gives physical and mental stress to workers. When it comes to work that requires an unnatural posture and great muscular strength in particular, such stress becomes enormous. Thus, improvements in work methods for such stressful work should be undertaken in order to reduce workers' physical and mental burdens.
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Installation and maintenance of facilities and equipment for the lessening of workers' physical and mental fatigue
There is the need to have workers recover from the physical and mental fatigue caused by their work as quickly as possible. For this, efforts should be made to install or improve such facilities as resting rooms, which are designed to allow workers to recover from their physical and mental fatigue.
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Maintenance and control of other facilities and equipment
Hand-washing rooms, toilets and other facilities and equipment, which are required for workers' comfortable vocational lives, should be maintained and controlled in a clean and accessible state.
II. Measures to be taken by employers in order to create comfortable working environments
Employers should carry out the following measures in order to create comfortable working environments:
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Measures for the maintenance and control of comfortable working environments
(1) Air environments
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Take necessary measures to maintain and control indoor workplaces so that workers may not experience a sense of discomfort about airborne dust, offensive odors, etc., in the air environments. If necessary, take measures against smoking, such as designating places for smoking in workplaces. At outdoor workplaces where airborne dust or offensive odors are constantly generated, it is desirable to take necessary measures to curb their dispersion.
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(2) Thermal conditions
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Keep the temperature, humidity and other thermal conditions appropriate at indoor workplaces according to the types of work, the seasons, etc. When it comes to outdoor workplaces, it is desirable to take measures for the lessening of the negative impact produced by outside temperature and other factors both in the summertime and the wintertime. |
(3) Visual factors
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Secure appropriate work illumination of the sort that is appropriate for the work concerned. Take measures so that there will be neither a sharp contrast in luminous intensity nor a disagreeable glare anywhere in the field of vision. When it comes to indoor workplaces, it is desirable to take measures while taking account of lighting, color factors and the features of light sources. |
(4) Acoustic factors
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Take measures to effectively eliminate noise that comes in from outside offices. Strive to reduce noise levels, for instance, by using less noisy OA equipment, etc., in offices. When it comes to indoor workplaces other than offices, strive to curb noise by covering with sound insulators such machinery and equipment that function as sources of noise in indoor workplaces. |
(5) Work space, etc.
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Strive to secure appropriate workspace and pathways. |
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Measures for improvements in work methods
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When it comes to work in an unnatural posture which constantly produces a heavy burden on the waist, neck or some other part of the body, or the whole body, strive to improve the work methods, for instance, with improvements in machinery and equipment. |
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In cases where a considerable degree of muscular strength is required for work, such as constant lifting and carrying of heavy cargoes or the handling and operation of heavy machines or equipment, strive to lessen workers' burdens by the introduction of supportive devices or other similar measures.
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| (3) |
In cases where work is done at places with high temperature, high humidity, excessive noise, etc., strive to lessen workers' burdens by installing shields against heat and noise, a remote-control system, etc.
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When it comes to work that requires retention of high tension or work of the kind in which a specific posture must be retained for a long period of time, strive to lessen workers' burdens by the introduction of devices that mitigate the tension or other similar equipment.
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| (5) |
When it comes to routinely used machines and facilities, office equipment, articles of furniture, etc., put up clear signs written in discernible letters, and see to it that work may be readily done, such as with manipulation of the kind that fits the features of the moves required for the work. |
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Installation and maintenance of facilities and equipment designed to lessen work-derived fatigue
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Secure resting and other rooms with beds where workers may lie down to recover from fatigue or stress.
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In cases where workers heavily perspire or must work in soiled clothes, prepare shower rooms and other body-washing facilities. Keep them clean and readily accessible at all times.
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Secure counseling rooms, etc., where workers can consult about their fatigue, stress, etc., at workplace.
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| (4) |
Prepare exercise space at workplace to enable workers to do physical exercise. It is also desirable to improve the environment, for instance by developing green tracts of land on the premises.
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Other measures required to create comfortable working environments
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Make sure that toilets, locker rooms and other facilities for workers are clean and readily accessible at all times.
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| (2) |
Make sure that company cafeterias and other places where workers take meals have ample space and are kept clean.
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| (3) |
It is desirable to secure hot-water supply facilities, conversation rooms, etc., for the benefit of workers.
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III. Matters that should be taken into account for the implementation of measures to create comfortable working environments
Employers are encouraged to fully consider the following items, when they carry out necessary measures in order to create comfortable working environments:
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Continuous and systematic approach
For the creation of comfortable working environments and their appropriate maintenance and control, it is indispensable not only to take measures such as installation of necessary facilities and equipment , but also to take continuous and systematic measures after the installation. Toward this end, there is the need to work for the development of a system to promote abovementioned measures, for instance by designating supervisors in charge of the day-by-day promotion. It is also necessary to take measures such as the preparation of manuals on performance and functions of the facilities for the creation of comfortable working environments so that their functions can be fully utilized at all times. While taking account of such matters as changes in the substance of work and the age composition of workers at workplaces and also the evolution of technology which is associated with comfortable working environments, the environments of workplaces should be constantly reviewed and, depending on the review, necessary measures should be taken.
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Reflection of workers' views
Workers are the most susceptible to the effects of their working environments. Therefore, when measures to create comfortable working environments are carried out, there is the need to take measures so that the views of the workers at the workplace may be reflected as thoroughly as possible, for instance by making effective use of safety and health committees.
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Consideration to differences between individuals
Because there are differences, not to mention those based on his/her age, between individuals concerning the way each worker feels about temperature, lighting and other environmental conditions of the workplace as well as his/her physical and mental burdens, necessary measures should be taken with enough consideration to such differences.
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Consideration to amenity
There is no need to point out that efficiency and functionality must be fully explored at workplaces. At the same time, given that workers spend a certain length of time at their workplaces, the workplaces should be made pleasant as places where the workers lead their daily lives , thus enabling them to reduce their tension.
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