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7. Regulations Concerning Safety and Health Education

In order to prevent industrial accidents, persons who operate machines that pose a greater hazard, as well as those who otherwise work in hazardous and harmful working environments, are required to acquire a qualifying license or complete a skill training course.  Employers are also required to provide specific education in order to secure the safety and health of workers in the following cases.
1. Education at the Time of Employment and Change in Work

Employers are required to provide safety and health education at the time of employing a worker and at the time of changing any work contents.
(1)Contents of education
(a) Training concerning information on and proper handling of hazard or toxicity of machines,
(b) Training concerning the function and proper handling of harmful substance control devices or of personal protective equipment.
(c) Training concerning operational procedures.
(d) Training concerning inspections before the start of operations.
(e) Training concerning the causes and prevention of diseases which workers are susceptible with regard to the work concerned.
(f) Training concerning neatness, orderliness and maintaining cleanliness.
(g) Training concerning emergency treatment and evacuation procedures at the time of an accident.
(h) Training concerning other safety and health matters related to the work
(2)Omission of some contents of education

For the types of operations listed (generically referred to as non-industrial types) in 1 of this series (" Safety and Health Management System"), (a) through (d) above can be omitted.
2. Special Education

With respect to hazardous and harmful operations other than those for which a qualifying license and/or the completion of a skill training course is obligatory, an employer is required to provide special education before assigning the worker to such work.
(1)Targeted kinds of works
(a) Work other than that for which a qualifying license and/or the completion of a skill training course is required (examples)
* Work involving handling of small-sized boilers.
* The operation of cranes with a lifting load of less than five tons, or mobile cranes with a lifting load of less than one ton.
* The operation of gondolas.
* Slinging operations involving loads of less than one ton.
* The operation of elevated work vehicles that are less than 10 meters in height.
(b) Other dangerous and harmful work, etc. (examples)

Covers a total of some 45 types of work including the following:
* Replacement and testing operations of abrasive wheels.
* Fitting and removal the metal die of press machines.
* Arc welding.
* The operation of vehicle-type construction machines with a weight of less than three tons.
* Providing instructions to industrial robots.
* Work to be carried out at sites with the danger of oxygen-deficiency.
* Work at sites where dust is generated.
* Work that involves operations and maintenance of chemical facilities where chemical reactions are proceeded.
(2)Contents and required duration of education

The contents and the required duration of special education are specified in the provisions on special education in safety and health. Such the education is required to be provided in both lectures and on the side training.

(Example) Education for those who engage in arc welding, etc.

* Knowledge about arc welding

* Knowledge about arc welding devices, etc.

* Knowledge about working methods of arc welding

* Related laws and regulations

* Practical education
3. Education for Foremen

For foremen or workers who directly instruct or supervise other workers during work (except for operations chiefs), an employer is required to provide specific safety and health education for foremen.
(1)Targeted industry
* Construction
* Manufacturing industry (excluding the manufacture of food and cigarettes, the manufacture of textiles, the newspaper industry or the publishing and printing industry)
* Electric power and gas supplying industry
* Automobile repairing industry
* Machinery repairing industry
(2)Contents and required duration of education
* Matters pertaining to the decision of the method of work and the assignment of workers
* Matters pertaining to the method of guiding and supervising workers
* Matters related to maintenance and control of operation facilities and workshop
* Matters related to measures at the time of abnormalities,etc.
* Matters related to keeping-up of interest and continuing ideas for prevention of industrial accidents
4. Education for Newly Assigned Personnel

In construction work sites at which employees of many subcontractors are working together, the incidence of workers who are injured within one week of being newly assigned to such construction sites is high. Because of this, it is necessary to provide education for newcomers on the site situation and the relations between each work, and the prime employer is required to provide a place and materials for such education to be carried out by the relevant sub-contractors.
(Regulations for Maintenance and Promotion of Health will be discussed in the next session.)
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