Encouraging smoke-free workplaces

Based on the Japanese Health Promotion Law and the Guidelines for Smoking Measures in Workplaces (Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare), Sharp prohibits smoking in workplaces everywhere and makes it a rule to have smokers use designated smoking rooms. This helps keep employees healthier by giving them a pleasant indoor working environment free of second-hand cigarette smoke. Sharp also provides its smoking employees with advisory programs led by doctors to help them quit smoking.

Accident risk management

In the first half of this century‚ experts tell us that there is a high probability that a large-scale earthquake will occur in Western Honshu. Building public structures that can withstand such an earthquake is one of Japan’s most pressing problems.

In November 2003‚ Sharp devised a "Disaster Preparation Plan for a Major Earthquake‚" and is currently engaged in ongoing development of concrete disaster preparation measures based on this document. Of course‚ human life must be given the highest priority in these measures. The highest objective of this policy is‚ first of all‚ to ensure the safety of Sharp’s employees and their families, then to preserve Sharp’s plants and equipment and maintain operations‚ thereby fulfilling our role as a member of the regional community (being a good corporate citizen).

Sharp has set up a "Disaster Preparation Plan" for each business site that specifies the procedures to be followed when a disaster, such as an earthquake or catastrophic fire occurs. The plan is intended to preserve the safety and security of employees and also to prevent damage to Sharp facilities from affecting members of the surrounding community.

Based on this Disaster Preparation Plan‚ Sharp is working to elevate disaster prevention awareness and upgrade the skills of every staff member by holding disaster drills in which all employees at every business site participate. We also conduct special disaster training for company on-site fire-fighting/rescue teams.

As one aspect of educating employees about responses at the time of a disaster‚ Sharp is distributing copies of a Disaster Preparation Action Plan to all employees and their families. In addition to a disaster occurring during work hours‚ this publication envisions various scenarios, including "off-duty‚" "on your daily commute‚" "away from the office‚" and "on a business trip". It provides a plan for actions that each individual should take and what to do first in any emergency.

We are distributing satellite phones to key business sites as a reliable means of communication during a major earthquake. This will ensure that information on the safety of employees and extent of damage to facilities can be exchanged between business sites if the public telephone network cannot be used.

Also‚ in fiscal 2005‚ assuming that a major earthquake occurs during working hours‚ Sharp will implement a series of disaster preparedness measures‚ including distributing escape equipment, such as safety helmets to employees‚ providing disaster equipment to key response personnel, as well as to staff unable to go home‚ stockpiling emergency food rations‚ and the like.