Now is the time for flood prevention measures during the rainy season Part 2 [Environmental Measures VOL.6]

We will outline a path for companies to become resilient to flooding and provide specific methods to minimize risks.

The rainy season has fully set in, but are you adequately prepared for flood damage? In "Flood Damage Countermeasures During the Rainy Season Part 2," we outline the path for companies to become resilient against floods and provide specific methods to minimize risks. In Part 1, we explained the recent occurrences of flooding, the use of hazard maps for flood prediction, and securing evacuation routes. In Part 2, we will focus on the types and quantities of supplies needed during a disaster, how to develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP), and advanced initiatives. We hope that by sharing know-how for immediate and appropriate responses during disasters, we can contribute to the safety of your company.

• Refrigerated showcase

I will answer the question, "How should companies prepare for flood damage prevention?" Now, before the rainy season begins, let's prepare for typhoons and heavy rains.

Flood damage poses a significant risk to businesses. In recent years, the damage caused by floods and heavy rains has increased, greatly impacting corporate performance and sustainability. For example, the damage from the heavy rains in western Japan in July 2018 and Typhoon No. 19 in October 2019 is still fresh in our memories, and it is important to learn from these cases. Every time we see news about corporate facilities such as offices, warehouses, factories, and stores suffering from flooding, many stakeholders may worry, "Is our company going to be okay?" Measures against flooding have become extremely important for business continuity. To address the question of "How should companies implement flood prevention measures?", we will introduce the basics of flood prevention in two parts. Now, before the rainy season begins, let’s prepare for typhoons and heavy rains.

• Safety and consumables
• Disaster prevention supplies
• Refrigerated showcase

We will introduce the causes and measures of water pollution that have a significant impact on life and the environment.

During Japan's period of rapid economic growth, pollution-related diseases caused by environmental pollution continue to cast a dark shadow over victims, residents of affected areas, and the environment. Among pollution-related diseases, the four major pollution diseases are Minamata disease, Second Minamata disease, Yokkaichi asthma, and Itai-itai disease, with the latter three being caused by water pollution, excluding Yokkaichi asthma. **Minamata Disease** This pollution-related disease occurred in Minamata Bay, Kumamoto Prefecture. It resulted in serious health damage due to the consumption of fish contaminated by organic mercury discharged from factories. It is also referred to as the origin of pollution. **Second Minamata Disease** This pollution-related disease occurred in the Agano River basin in Niigata Prefecture. It resulted in serious health damage due to the consumption of fish contaminated by organic mercury discharged from factories. **Itai-itai Disease** This pollution-related disease occurred in the Jintsu River basin in Toyama Prefecture. It resulted in serious health damage due to the consumption of rice grown in water contaminated by cadmium discharged from mines. This time, I would like to address water pollution, which has a significant impact on life and the environment.

• Reinforcement and repair materials
• Disaster prevention supplies
• Temporary Construction Materials

We will introduce the basics of risk assessment and safety protective equipment to ensure the safety of workers.

Since 1988, the number of casualties from workplace accidents has been decreasing, but since 2000, the decline has plateaued. In White Paper Vol. 2 [Winter Season Sees a Surge, Preventing Falls], we addressed the causes and preventive measures for falls, which are the most common workplace accidents. But why do workplace accidents occur in the first place? This time, we would like to focus on protecting the safety of workers and discuss the mechanisms behind workplace accidents and their prevention.

• Safety and consumables
• Disaster prevention supplies
• Safety Supplies

The number of fall accidents during the winter period (from December to February) is about twice the annual average. This explains the causes and countermeasures.

Labor accidents (work-related injuries) refer to situations where workers are injured, become ill, or die due to work or commuting. Specifically, the following situations are included: 1. Occupational accidents: When workers are injured, become ill, or die due to their work. 2. Commuting accidents: When workers are injured, become ill, or die due to commuting. To reduce labor accidents, there is a medium-term plan established by the government, businesses, and workers that focuses on specific issues, and this information is useful for the prevention and countermeasures of labor accidents. Additionally, businesses are required to continue their efforts to ensure a safe workplace environment. This time, we will focus on the most common type of labor accident, falls, and introduce measures for their prevention.

• Showcases (for general store use, freezing, refrigeration, heat retention, etc.)
• Safety and consumables
• Rain protection items

Introducing case studies on ISO 14001 measures. This is a white paper that can assist with updates and training. Please feel free to check it out.

ISO 14001 is a standard aimed at establishing a framework that allows organizations to achieve sound environmental performance by managing the "impact of their business activities and the products/services resulting from them on the environment" in alignment with their own "environmental policies and objectives." There are four main areas of focus: "understanding environmental impacts," "risk management and planning," "operating the PDCA cycle," and "creating an environmental manual." Through these efforts, organizations can enhance their image and create business opportunities by contributing to environmental conservation. This white paper aims to introduce environmental changes, disaster cases, and their countermeasures, serving as a resource to assist you in preparing for ISO 14001 acquisition and renewal, with monthly updates planned. This time, based on the environmental changes and disaster cases that occurred in 2023, I hope to provide insights that will help you in acquiring and improving your ISO 14001 in 2024.

• Safety and consumables
• Disaster prevention supplies
• Sandbags

Measures against flooding damage caused by typhoons and heavy rain! Uses superabsorbent polymer *Video explanation available.

● It is a water-absorbing, inflatable, bag-shaped temporary dam. ● Recommended for flood prevention measures against heavy rain, typhoons, and other water-related disasters. ● Before absorbing water, it is lightweight and easy to handle, and can be stored compactly. It won't be a nuisance even when kept on hand. ● When in use, fill the container with about 20 liters of water for each Pig Water Bag, and knead it by hand while allowing it to absorb water. It will expand in about 5 minutes. ● The Pig Water Bags can be stacked up to three layers. ● If unopened, the shelf life is approximately 5 years. *Currently, we are offering a document summarizing recent trends in flood damage.

• Disaster prevention supplies

A clean, reusable, aesthetically pleasing water-specific sock-like absorbent material. It can be used to prevent water leaks and condensation from refrigerators, freezers, and cold cases.

- Made of polypropylene, it has the effect of suppressing mold growth, allowing for safe use over a long period. - By squeezing out the absorbed water and allowing it to air dry, it can be reused. Please avoid sun drying or using a dryer. Reuse is recommended up to three times. - Even after reuse, it maintains its shape well and is less prone to bacterial growth, which helps control odors. - It is flexible and fits well around the refrigerator and in corners. - The polypropylene cover is resistant to tearing and durable.

• Showcases (for general store use, freezing, refrigeration, heat retention, etc.)
• Other store equipment and supplies
• Refrigerated showcase

Attendance management is something that is expected of every company and should be addressed. When asked, "Are you doing it?" it might be more concerning to hear, "Are you doing it correctly?" which could make some responsible parties feel anxious. You may be using time cards for clocking in, but are unsure about overtime calculations. You might be having employees input data into Excel, but how does that stand in terms of legal compliance? You may be managing paid leave on paper, but there’s no room for double-checking. Employee resignations may be ongoing, but could this be due to overwork...? Why not review the various pros and cons of different attendance management methods and revisit the important aspects of attendance management from the "basics"?

We have released a white paper titled "The Common Points of Attendance Issues Highlighted by the Labor Standards Inspection Office." This document provides a clear explanation of the challenges in attendance management that are likely to be pointed out by the Labor Standards Inspection Office, using specific examples. It addresses operational risks commonly seen in many companies, such as attendance aggregation in Excel, timekeeping management through self-reporting, insufficient management of paid leave, and rounding of overtime hours. Additionally, it introduces points that are often highlighted in inspections by the Labor Standards Inspection Office, such as "objective understanding of working hours," "unpaid overtime," "management of the 36 Agreement limits," and "compliance with the obligation to take 5 days of annual leave." This content can serve as an opportunity for companies that think "there have been no problems so far, so it's fine" to review their operations. Companies considering improving the efficiency of attendance management and strengthening compliance are encouraged to take a look. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to let us know.

What do the members of the back office department consider when choosing or replacing a system? If the same product is handled by both a "manufacturer" and a "distributor," how do you feel about it? "Distributor"? Isn't it cheaper to buy directly from the manufacturer? It's obvious that receiving direct service is better, right? ...Is that really the case? In the materials we are releasing this time, we will explain the benefits of "introducing a distributor." Here’s a preview of the materials: 【If you’re going to choose, you should leverage the power of a distributor that handles the ○○ system!】 【Make the distributor your ○○○○○○○ and use them to the fullest!】 Along with these points, we are offering a "Distributor Evaluation Checklist" that will be your strong ally, free of charge! Please make good use of it.

Cutting in metal processing is not just a process of simply dividing materials. It is necessary to choose the appropriate method according to the type and thickness of the material, as well as the required precision, whether it be laser cutting, plasma cutting, or mechanical cutting. Additionally, fine adjustments of conditions during cutting and management of distortion due to heat greatly depend on the experience and skills of the operator. How does high-quality cutting affect subsequent welding, bending processes, and the quality of the final product? For more detailed explanations, please visit the Kando Industrial website! You can find the continuation through the related links.

We are pleased to announce that in the software "INtime for Windows," which enables real-time control on Windows, we are now working on the development and verification for support of AMD CPUs in addition to the Intel CPUs we have traditionally supported. On the following page, we have published performance data and a video titled "The Possibilities of PC-Based Control Created by AMD CPU x INtime RTOS" using PCs equipped with AMD CPUs. We invite you to take a look at this opportunity. https://www.mnc.co.jp/INtime/AMDxINtime/amdxintime.html #RealTimeOS #PCControl #AMDCPU #Ryzen