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Guidelines for the Necessary Measures to Prevent Health Impairments to Workers Due to Chemical Substances, Etc. (2000)
In Japanese

1.Purposes
	More than 50,000 types of chemical substances are now being used in industries, and 500 to 600 new chemical substances are introduced each year. As these chemical substances may impair the health of workers who are exposed to them, their usage results in a significant number of health impairments every year. In some cases, workers are injured by being exposed to chemical substances because of their leakage or improper handling during storage, safekeeping or transportation processes in the workplace.
	In recent years, moreover, we are facing new public concerns involving chemical substances, such as the effects of environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals on health as well as health impairments stemming from flon alternatives.
	Under these circumstances, employers who manufacture or handle toxic chemical substances, etc., (hereinafter referred to as "Employers") are required to improve the management of chemical substances, etc., at workplaces to prevent health impairments to workers. (In this paragraph, chemical substances, etc., mean chemical substances, preparations containing chemical substances and other substances which are liable to pose hazards to worker health (hereinafter referred to as "Chemical Substances, Etc."), as stipulated in Item 1, Article 58 of the Industrial Safety and Health Law (Law No. 57 of 1972) (hereinafter referred to as the "Law").
	The management of Chemical Substances, Etc., at workplaces is to be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the related cabinet order and other regulations on the basis of the Law. Moreover, as specified in Item 1, Article 58 of the Law, Employers are to assume responsibility for conducting their own toxicity studies, etc., and for undertaking the necessary measures to prevent the impairment of worker health caused by Chemical Substances, Etc. (hereinafter referred to as "Measures to Prevent Health Impairment") based on the results of such studies.
	In order for these Measures to Prevent Health Impairment to be carried out appropriately and effectively, it is further required that specific implementation methods are to be established at relevant workplaces.
	With the aim of contributing to preventing worker health impairment and in compliance with Item 2, Article 58 of the Law requiring that Measures to Prevent Health Impairment are to be carried out appropriately and effectively, these guidelines have been prepared to specify the principle items to be implemented and to otherwise promote the voluntary management of Chemical Substances, Etc., by Employers. In carrying out Measures to Prevent Health Impairment, it is desirable that Employers adopt an approach that meets the actual conditions prevailing at individual workplaces while still basing the management plan on these guidelines.
2.Formulation, Etc., of Chemical Substances Management Plan
(1)	Employers are to formulate a plan that stipulates the items to be implemented for the appropriate management of Chemical Substances, Etc. (hereinafter referred to as the "Chemical Substances Management Plan"), and to make workers aware of this plan.
(2)	The Chemical Substances Management Plan is to include the following items:
a.	Matters related to observing all related industrial safety and health laws and ordinances concerning the prevention of industrial accidents caused by Chemical Substances, Etc. (including notices based on same; hereinafter referred to as "Laws and Ordinances") and the Chemical Substances Management Plan, etc.
b.	Matters related to the formulation and implementation of Measures to Prevent Health Impairment based on the results of risk assessment. (In this paragraph, risk assessment means to obtain information on the toxicity of Chemical Substances, Etc., to evaluate the possibility and extent of health impairment to which workers may be subject depending on the type and degree of toxicity of said Chemical Substances, Etc. (hereinafter referred to as "Toxicity, Etc.") and the extent of worker exposure to said Chemical Substances, Etc., and to examine measures to prevent or reduce exposure to said Chemical Substances, Etc.; hereinafter the same).
c.	Matters related to the appropriate management (including the prevention of leakage and/or theft of Chemical Substances, Etc.) of storage, safekeeping and transportation (including transportation outside the workplace; hereinafter the same) of Chemical Substances, Etc., used in workplaces.
d.	Matters related to the prevention of worker health impairment caused by exposure to said Chemical Substances, Etc., in the event of any substantial leakage and/or overflow of Chemical Substances, Etc., from any facilities that produce or handle Chemical Substances, Etc. (hereinafter referred to as "Facilities").
e.	Matters related to health management such as understanding the health impact said Chemical Substances, Etc., may have on workers who produce or handle such Chemical Substances, Etc.
f.	Other matters related to the prevention of worker health impairment caused by Chemical Substances, Etc.
(3)	In preparing the Chemical Substances Management Plan, Employers are required to reflect the views and opinions of workers as elicited through health committees and by other means.
3.Identification of Toxicity, Etc., and Risk Assessment
(1)	Employers are to carry out appropriate studies to identify and carry out risk assessments concerning the Toxicity, Etc., of Chemical Substances, Etc., which are produced or handled in the workplace. In this case, Employers are to appoint a person from among those who have the required skills concerning the appropriate management of Chemical Substances, Etc., to take charge of the management of Chemical Substances, Etc. (hereinafter referred to the "Chemical Substances Manager"), and to assign such person the responsibility to carry out technical work concerning the identification of Toxicity, Etc., and risk assessments.
(2)	In identifying Toxicity, Etc., and carrying out risk assessments, the Chemical Substances Manager is to positively utilize Material Safety Data Sheets for Chemical Substances, Etc. (referring in this paragraph to the documentation, etc., provided by the party who transfers or otherwise provides to another party those substances subject to notification as stipulated under Item 1, Article 57-2 of the Law (hereinafter referred to as "Items Subject to Notification"; hereinafter the same), information on Toxicity, Etc., of Chemical Substances, Etc., other than those Items Subject to Notification, and/or information on Measures to Prevent Health Impairment caused by such substances (hereinafter referred to as "Information on Toxicity, Etc.")).
(3)	With respect to Item (2) above, any party who is an Employer, and to whom Chemical Substances, Etc., are transferred or otherwise provided, is to have the Chemical Substances Manager examine the accompanying information on Toxicity, Etc., and is to have said manager clarify any unclear or questionable matters, etc., among said information by means of making inquiries to the party who transferred or otherwise provided said Chemical Substances, Etc., outside experts concerning the Toxicity, Etc., of Chemical Substances, Etc., specialist organizations dealing with the same, and/or by other means.
(4)	Further, any party who is an Employer, and who transfers or otherwise provides Items Subject to Notification, is to have a person who is properly qualified with the required knowledge to prepare safety data sheets for Chemical Substances, Etc. (hereinafter referred to as the "Person Qualified to Prepare Chemical Substances, Etc., Safety Data Sheets") prepare the same, and to issue it to the party to whom said item is transferred or otherwise provided. Moreover, the party who transfers or otherwise provides Chemical Substances, Etc., other than Items Subject to Notification is to examine the Toxicity, Etc., of said item(s), and is to endeavor to provide the written results of same to the party to whom said items are to be transferred or otherwise provided.
4.Implementation Items
(1)	Employers are to specify the implementation items of Measures to Prevent Health Impairment based on Laws and Ordinances, the Chemical Substances Management Plan, etc., and to carry out said items.
(2)	Said implementation items are to include the following.
a.	With respect to any work related to the production or handling of Chemical Substances, Etc., measures are to be taken to prevent or reduce worker exposure to such Chemical Substances, Etc., by means of the following steps.
	(a)	Work Environment Management
	i.	Making appropriate changes in usage conditions, etc.
	ii.	Making improvements in the work processes
	iii.	Making the seal for facilities
	iv.	Installing local exhaust system, etc.
	(b)	Work Management
	i.	Selecting a work location, work posture and work method that prevents or reduces worker exposure to said Chemical Substances, Etc.
	ii.	Requiring the use of personal protective respirators and other personal protective equipment
	iii.	Shortening the time of worker exposure to said Chemical Substances, Etc.
	(c)	Management of Local Exhaust System, Etc.
		In case Step iv under (a) is adopted, appropriate management of the local exhaust system, etc., is to be carried out in accordance with the following.
	i.	The local exhaust system, etc., is to be effectively operated during the time the work is being carried out.
	ii.	Maintenance and inspections are to be conducted regularly.
	(d)	Providing Personal Protective Equipment
		Personal protective equipment is to be provided in sufficient quantity to equip more than the number of workers who may be working at any one time, and said equipment is to be effectively maintained and always kept in clean and good condition.
	(e)	Preparation of Work Rules, Etc.
		Work rules are to be established concerning said work with respect to the following items, and such rules are to be strictly enforced in carrying out all work.
	i.	Operation, adjustment, maintenance and inspection of the Facilities, equipment, etc.
	ii.	Emergency measures in the event any abnormality occurs
	iii.	Use of personal protective equipment
	(f)	In addition, appropriate measures are to be adopted to prevent or reduce worker exposure to Chemical Substances, Etc.
b.	For workers engaged in work to produce or handle Chemical Substances, Etc., industrial health education with respect to the following is to be provided concerning Chemical Substances, Etc.
	(a)	Names and physical chemistry properties
	(b)	Health impairments likely to result from exposure, such as Toxicity, Etc., and preventive measures
	(c)	Facilities that prevent or reduce exposure, and the maintenance and inspection methods to be used for same
	(d)	The types, performance, usage methods, maintenance and management of personal protective equipment
	(e)	Emergency measures in the event any abnormalities occur
	(f)	In addition, any other necessary matters to prevent health impairment caused by Chemical Substances, Etc.
c.	In storing, safekeeping and transporting Chemical Substances, Etc., such items are to be put in a sturdy container, or otherwise carefully and securely packaged to prevent any dangers from the leakage, spillage, etc., of said Chemical Substances, Etc. In addition, appropriate measures are to be taken to prevent the theft of said Chemical Substances, Etc.
d.	In case of disposing of or otherwise removing Chemical Substances, Etc., from the workplace, appropriate measures are to be taken to prevent any workplace pollution by same, as well as to consider the prevention of any pollution outside the workplace resulting from same.
e.	With respect to Facilities, measures are to be taken to prevent accidents such as the leakage of Chemical Substances, Etc., from such Facilities by selecting appropriate structures and materials, strictly observing maintenance and inspection requirements, preparing appropriate work rules concerning the work using such Facilities and strictly observing said work rules in carrying out such work, and installing appropriate safety devices.
f.	In case a major leak, etc., of Chemical Substances, Etc., occurs as a result of an accident as mentioned in Item e above, measures are to be taken in advance such as securing an evacuation route, deploying emergency protective respirators, etc., installing facilities for eye and body washing in order to prevent worker health impairment caused by exposure to said Chemical Substances, Etc., while at the same time carrying out the necessary education and drills, such as regularly conducting evacuation drills, etc.
5.Evaluations, Etc.
(1)	Employers are to carry out regular evaluations and patrols to ascertain the implementation situation regarding the Chemical Substances Management Plan (hereinafter referred to as "Evaluations, Etc.").
(2)	Based on the results, etc., of Item (1) above, Employers are to improve the Chemical Substances Management Plan and its implementation when it is so deemed necessary.
6.Records
	Employers are to record all necessary items concerning the results, etc., of the implementation situation regarding the Chemical Substances Management Plan, Evaluations, Etc., and other matters, and to maintain such records in an appropriate manner.
7.Development of Personnel
	The Person Qualified to Prepare Chemical Substances, Etc., Safety Data Sheets and the Chemical Substances Manager are required to have full and complete knowledge relative to their respective technical fields. For this purpose, Employers are to endeavor to develop and train such personnel accordingly.

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