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11. Government Responsibilities (2)

3. Matters Enforced by the Director of Prefectural Labour Office

(1)Manufacturing permission, inspection and designation, etc.

* Permission for the manufacture of specified machines, etc.
* Inspection of specified machines, etc. at the time of manufacturing
* Designation of inspection agencies (within limited areas) carrying out specified voluntary inspections
* Designation of training institutions carrying out skill training course
* Issuance and revocation of a license (tests are carried out by designated testing institutions)
* Permission for the manufacture of chemical substances that are likely to cause serious health impairments


(2)Recommendations to general safety and health supervisors and other orders

* Orders to recall machines failing to comply with structural standards
* Orders to suspend operations or to modify dangerous machines and facilities, and orders to suspend dangerous or harmful work
* Recommendations to general safety and health supervisors and overall safety and health controllers relating to performing their work
* Instructions on working environment measurements
* Instructions to carry out temporary medical examinations
* Instructions to workplaces to prepare safety and health improvement plans
* Recommendations to request the assistance of industrial safety and health consultants in preparing safety and health improvement plans
* Examination of the plans necessary for technical study among construction work plans, etc.
* Instructions to those responsible for workplaces where industrial accidents have occurred to undergo training courses to prevent recurrences


(3)Other

* Issuance of personal health records
* Inspections by entering authorized inspection agencies covering machines at the time of manufacturing


4. Matters Enforced by the Chief of Labour Standards Inspection Office

(1)Orders and recommendations

* Orders to increase the number of safety and health supervisors or to dismiss them from their office
* Examination of construction work or operational plans, orders to suspend or change plans based on the examination results, and recommendations to order-placers concerning such work
* Orders to suspend or change the use of dangerous machines or facilities, and orders to suspend dangerous and/or harmful operations
* Inspection of specified machines, etc., at the time of their manufacture, performance in operations, modifications or reuse


(2)Powers of labour standards inspectors

* Entering and inspecting workplaces, making inquiries to related parties, inspecting records and vouchers, carrying out working environment measurements, and removing raw materials without compensation
* Conducting investigations as special law enforcement officers
* In case of imminent danger exists, orders to suspend or change the use of dangerous machines and facilities, and orders to suspend dangerous operations may be issued by the chiefs of labour standards inspection offices


(3)Duties of expert officers of on industrial safety and health

* Handling notifications concerning safety and health improvement plans
* Handling professional matters relating to industrial safety and health (inspections, etc.) and guidance for employers
* Entering and investigating workplaces, making inquiries to related parties, inspecting records and other properties, carrying out working environment measurements, and removing raw materials, etc., without compensation


(Matters to be Observed by Workers will be discussed in the next session.)
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