Chemical Substance Management at Factories

To reduce the risk of environmental pollution involved in the use of chemical substances, Panasonic began to manage chemicals by issuing Version 1 of the Chemical Substances Management Rank Guidelines (hereinafter, Rank Guidelines) in 1999, based on a survey of 327 substance groups by four Japanese electrical and electronics-related associations. In fiscal 2002, we expanded this list to include substance groups specified by the Japanese Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Law, and several other substances groups based on hazard assessments,* which resulted in our Rank Guidelines Version 2.1, covering 509 chemical substance groups. And to define the objectives of chemical substance management more specifically, separate product and factory versions of the Rank Guidelines were prepared. In fiscal 2005, we further upgraded the Rank Guidelines to Version 3 by taking into consideration the Occupational Health and Safety Law in Japan, and various other laws and regulations on chemical substances, in addition to the Law Concerning the Examination and Regulation of Manufacture, etc. of Chemical Substances, and our own hazard assessments. In fiscal 2008, we issued Version 3.1, which incorporated measures to deal with new substances subject to regulation.

Through these measures, we endeavor to conserve the environment around factories, reduce risks at factories, and improve occupational health and safety.

• * Hazard assessment: an assessment to classify substances into ranks based on carcinogenicity assessments undertaken by various international organizations, the U.S. and Japan.

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