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Industrial Safety
METI implements proper management of potential risks involved in industrial activities and takes measures to ensure public safety.
In the field of industrial safety, METI implements regulations on industrial facilities according to their characteristics. Such facilities include those for handling high pressure gas and explosives, electric power plants and utility gas facilities, and mines. While taking into account the different types of risks arising from the respective facilities, METI endeavors to prevent occurrences of disasters and accidents.
- Smart Industrial Safety
- Safety of Electricity
- Safety of Mines
- Safety of Explosives
- Safety of Utility Gas
- Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
- Safety of High Pressure Gas and Gas Complexes
- Safety of District Heating and Cooling
- Safety of Hydrogen and Its derivatives
Smart Industrial Safety
- METI inaugurated a “Public-Private Council on Smart Industrial Safety,” bringing together the top leaders of the public and private sectors as members, in order to encourage the public and private sectors to collaborate and strongly promote a smart industrial safety system among Japanese industries.
- The Council formulated its basic policy in order to facilitate its actions based on joint efforts between the public and private sectors.
Related News Releases and Information
- Japan-Thailand Policy Dialogue on Smart Industrial Safety Held (December 15, 2022)News Release
- Japan-Indonesia Policy Dialogue on Smart Industrial Safety Held (October 4, 2022)News Release
- Japan-Thailand Policy Dialogue on Smart Industrial Safety Held (October 4, 2022)News Release
- Smart Industrial Safety Digital Catalog
- METI and Indonesian Government Sign Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Smart Industrial Safety (January 26, 2022)News Release
- METI and Thai Government Sign Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Smart Industrial SafetyNews ReleaseNews Release
- BASIC POLICY ON PROMOTION OF SMART INDUSTRIAL SAFETY(PDF:33KB)
- Guidance for Integrated Corporate Disclosure Concerning Industrial and Product Safety Revised (April 5, 2021)News Release
Contact:
Industrial Safety Division, Industrial and Product Safety Policy GroupTEL +81- 3-3501-8628
Safety of Electricity
- In an effort to ensure public safety, in accordance with the Electricity Business Act, METI regulates the construction, maintenance, and operation of electric facilities by stipulating technical standards and examining construction plans and licensee's inspection mechanisms implemented by the entities that establish such facilities.
- In order to prevent occurrences of disasters that may be caused by inappropriate electric work, METI stipulates the qualifications and obligations of technicians engaged in electric work and implements regulations on the electric work business through the registration of business operators.
- In accordance with the Electricity Business Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, entities applying for the construction of electric power plants are required to assess the environmental impact of the construction in advance, and the government reviews the assessment results so that proper consideration will be given to environmental conservation.
Contact:
Electric Power Safety Division, Industrial and Product Safety Policy Group
TEL +81-3-3501-1742
Safety of Mines
- METI's Regional Industrial Safety and Inspection Departments conduct audits and inspections of mines for the purpose of ensuring the safety of mine workers and protecting the environments surrounding mines.
- In order to prevent mine pollution that may be caused by hazardous wastewater discharged from metal mines, METI provides support for the reliable and sustainable treatment of mine drainage under the mine pollution prevention fund program as well as for mine pollution control projects carried out by local governments.
- METI also makes efforts in technical assistance to promote the transfer of sophisticated coal mine safety technologies, which Japan has developed over many years, to coal producing countries in Asia.
Related News Releases and Information
Contact:
Mine Safety and Explosives Control Division, Industrial and Product Safety Policy Group
TEL +81-3-3501-1870
Safety of Explosives
Explosives are applied to a wide variety of products, for instance, space launch vehicles, car airbags, dynamite and fireworks. Explosives play an important role in supporting the development of natural resources, construction of social infrastructure, and advancement of science and technology.
At the same time, they entail the danger of causing serious accidents and social unrest if they are handled incorrectly or used for an illegal purpose.
With the objective of preventing disasters that may be caused by explosives and protecting the public from such disasters, METI endeavors to ensure the safety of explosives by implementing reasonable regulations while strengthening safety management systems and enhancing safety education by encouraging voluntary safety activities for handling explosives by business operators.
Contact:
Mine Safety and Explosives Control Division, Industrial and Product Safety Policy Group
TEL +81-3-3501-1870
Safety of Utility Gas
With the goal of completely eliminating fatal gas accidents by 2020, the "Gas Safety Enhancement Plan" provides that all parties concerned, namely, the government, gas business operators, consumers, and other relevant entities, should work together to ensure the safety of utility gas.
METI hopes for the understanding and cooperation of the public toward achieving the goal of "zero gas accidents."
In order to prevent disasters that may be caused by utility gas, METI implements various regulations on business operators under the Gas Business Act.
Specifically, in an effort to prevent occurrences of gas accidents, such as carbon monoxide intoxication, METI implements a licensing system for ensuring the proper installation of exhaust pipes for gas boilers. To protect gas pipes from being damaged by engineering work other than gas piping work, METI also posts caution messages in newspapers/magazines, as well as on its website.
With the objective of preventing disasters that may be caused by utility gas and protecting the public from such disasters, METI endeavors to ensure gas safety by implementing reasonable regulations on gas business operators by encouraging them to carry out voluntary safety activities under the Gas Business Act.
METI also conducts on-site inspections to examine the details of such voluntary safety activities and the status of legal compliance.
Contact:
Gas Safety Office, Industrial and Product Safety Policy Group
TEL +81-3-3501-4032
Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
- For the purpose of protecting general consumers from LPG accidents, METI requires LPG dealers to comply with standard sales methods, conform to the technical standards for gas cylinders and other gas supply equipment as well as gas consumption equipment, and take safety measures.
- By conducting periodic on-site inspections of LPG dealers, METI examines the status of their legal compliance and conformity to technical standards, and issues instructions for improvement if the inspection results fail to meet the required level.
- METI instructs LPG dealers to upgrade their internal safety systems and carries out programs to raise awareness among general consumers of their responsibility for ensuring the safety of gas consumption equipment, from gas meter outlets to combusting equipment.
Contact:
Gas Safety Office, Industrial and Product Safety Policy Group
TEL +81-3-3501-1672
Safety of High Pressure Gas and Gas Complexes
- With regard to the handling of high-pressure gas, METI operates a permission system for producing high pressure gas and requires the inspection of facilities upon construction and on a periodic basis, while respecting voluntary safety activities carried out by business operators, thereby examining the status of their conformity to technical standards and ensuring public safety.
- For public safety, METI also conducts inspections of high-pressure gas cylinders and dangerous large gas storage tanks upon production or importation.
- METI imposes stricter rules for safety management on sites handling gas located within industrial complexes than it does on ordinary sites and regulates the layout of facilities within such complexes for public safety.
Related News Releases and Information
- Revision of the Guidelines on Safe Drone Usage in the Field of Plant Safety (April 19, 2022) News Release
- Cabinet Decision on the Bill for Partial Revision of the High-Pressure Gas Safety Act, etc. (March 4, 2022) News Release
- Revision of the Collection of Use Case Examples of Drones at Plants (April 14, 2021) News Release
Contact:
High Pressure Gas Safety Office, Industrial and Product Safety Policy Group
TEL +81-3-3501-1706
Safety of District Heating and Cooling
District heating and cooling systems supply hot and cold water and steam produced at a central plant to buildings and houses in the district via a pipeline network.
Such systems form area energy networks with the use of the heat sources available within each district, or more specifically, applying not only gas and electricity but also waste heat recovered and energy from the temperature difference of river water, etc.
In order to prevent disasters that may be caused by district heating and cooling, and to protect the public from such disasters, METI endeavors to ensure safety by implementing reasonable regulations on business operators while encouraging them to carry out voluntary safety activities.
For safety in district heating and cooling, METI conducts on-site inspections to examine the status of legal compliance.
Contact:
Gas Safety Office, Industrial and Product Safety Policy Group
TEL +81-3-3501-4032
Safety of Hydrogen and Its Derivatives
- Hydrogen is one of the important energy sources to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.
- METI will establish a rational and appropriate safety system that meets the characteristics of hydrogen for safe and secure large-scale use of hydrogen.
- In addition, METI will promote initiatives such as human resource development and risk communication with each stakeholder in order to build a safe and secure hydrogen use environment.
Related News Releases and Information
- Hydrogen Safety Portal Website Launched (June 30, 2023)News Release
- Interim Report for the Hydrogen Safety Strategy Released (March 13, 2023)News Release
Contact:
Industrial Safety Division, Industrial and Product Safety Policy GroupTEL +81-3-3501-8628
Division in Charge
Industrial Safety Division, Industrial and Product Safety Policy Group
Download(To Adobe site)Last updated:2024-04-09