CSR/Environment

Coping with Asbestos

■ Products

Some facilities and equipment at our own plants or in affiliated companies use asbestos as an insulation or sealing material. It is also used in filling for acetylene containers. All of these products are cast or molded, so they should give off essentially no asbestos fibers or dust under normal use. At this time of writing (October 2005), there are no legal regulations on the use of these products, but asbestos will be prohibited in our new facilities and equipment built or procured after April 2006. While giving consideration to life expectancy, we will upgrade asbestos-containing items already in use by replacing them with asbestos-free items when repair is required.

■ Physical Plant and Facilities We have performed a study of asbestos use in all the physical plants and facilities utilized by Taiyo Nippon Sanso and affiliated companies. Going forward, we will further study and either take steps to prevent asbestos contamination or remove any item found to contain asbestos.

■ Employees

Our goal is early diagnosis and early response for those employees whose health may have been harmed by working with materials containing asbestos. To this end, we set up a consultation desk and in mid-August 2005 invited current and previous employees to take a health exam. We continue offering these health exams to any interested employees.

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