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Safety Measures during the Manufacturing Process
Facility and Equipment Maintenance
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1. Legally Mandated Inspections |
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Taiyo Nippon Sanso’s facilities and equipment are covered by the High Pressure Gas Law and other laws. We promote safety by performing comprehensive inspections to ensure all facilities and equipment conform to legal safety and technological standards. |
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2. Regular Inspections and Repair
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In addition to legally mandated inspections, we at Taiyo Nippon Sanso perform voluntary facility inspections at all our plants in an effort to maximize safety.
At our gas production facilities, we regularly disassemble key equipment to inspect each part for wear or possible malfunctions, and we make repairs as necessary. This allows us to operate our air separation plants in the most stable, efficient manner possible. |
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3. Replacement of Old and Outdated Equipment
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In order to ensure a safe, stable supply of gas for our customers, we constantly evaluate optimal timing for replacement of our air separation plants. We analyze, for example, whether it is optimal to add new equipment in response to increased demand or switch existing equipment to larger-scale models, all depending on the state of development of new, high-efficiency devices. |
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4. Oxygen Filling Safety
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In order to fill oxygen cylinders with the greatest possible safety and prevent explosions, we have constructed an oxygen filling system wherein basic data measurement of oxygen under high pressure, accident analysis, and safety measure research are all reflected in facility design, operation, and maintenance. |
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Ensuring Stable, Safe Operations
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1. Intensive Oversight of Nitrogen Production Facilities |
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As of August 2005, we provide nitrogen by producing it on-site for customers in over 80 locations. This method, in which we operate a compact (JN type) nitrogen generator on-site using our own pipeline, helps us provide large quantities of nitrogen gas to those customers who require an efficient, stable supply of large quantities of nitrogen. More and more customers are requesting this option.
In order to best provide the stable supply our customers demand, in June 2002 we established the “JN Total Oversight Center” for intensive monitoring of on-site nitrogen production facilities throughout the country. |
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2. Safety Measures in Specialty Gas Factories
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Specialty gases such as high-purity gases and semiconductor gases are key for the development of cutting-edge technologies, especially considering the role they play in semiconductor fabrication. Japan Fine Products manufactures these gases for Taiyo Nippon Sanso in four factories. Most specialty gases require extra care in terms of safety because of their explosiveness and toxicity, and any accident involving them would have a severe affect on the surrounding communities. For this reason these factories use safety measures such as automated processing, remote supervision, and crisis control systems in addition to thorough safety education programs. |
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3. Earthquake Preparedness
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All facilities in our gas production plants, including air separation plants, are designed and operated according to earthquake-resistance standards. Each plant also has an earthquake response manual that outlines conditions for work stoppage, inspections, and work resumption according to different severities of seismic activity. Some types of equipment are also connected to seismographs and cease operating automatically after earthquakes while other types of backup equipment come on line automatically when a stoppage occurs. |
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4. Container Fall Prevention
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Containers, most often cylinders, are used for one of the major forms of gas delivery. There is a danger of these cylinders falling both at our plants and on customer premises, resulting in either leaks or personal injury. These accidents can occur as the result of earthquakes, so cylinder fall drills are performed as a part of earthquake preparedness measures.
Other steps to prevent cylinder accidents include instruction within Taiyo Nippon Sanso and affiliated companies on cylinder fall prevention measures, including methods for restraining cylinders with chains and using simple hardware devices to prevent falls. |
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Promoting a Safety Culture
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1. Training Simulators |
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We use training simulators to improve the skills of plant personnel responsible for safe operation of air separation plants. These simulators allow personnel to practice accident and error protocols in a safe environment so they can respond rapidly and appropriately in case accidents or malfunctions should occur. |
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2. Disaster Drills
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We perform disaster drills and high-pressure gas leakage drills at all work locations to enable rapid, appropriate response in case of fire, gas leaks, or other emergency situations. |
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| Safety Measures during the Supply Process >> |
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