Promotion of Occupational Health and Safety

In order to instill pride in employees, it is necessary to ensure the health and safety of employees at each of the Group’s locations and to maintain sound management. NIPPON PAPER GROUP has formulated its Philosophy and Basic Policy on Safety and Disaster Prevention, while also constructing a system for promoting occupational health and safety, under which all employees and members of management are united. It accordingly maintains the health of employees, realizes a comfortable and friendly working environment and helps to prevent disasters.

• NIPPON PAPER GROUP Safety and Disaster Prevention Committee, which is chaired by the General Manager of the Technical & Engineering Division, supervises the Group’s occupational health and safety and disaster prevention activities and reports on these to the Risk Management Committee.

• The Group has established a communication system between the mills and the head office as well as the divisions within the head office in the case of a disaster. The Group has also established and operates a system to report necessary information to NIPPON PAPER GROUP Safety and Disaster Prevention Committee and top management.

• Based on the guidelines of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Group operates its own Nippon Paper Occupational Safety and Health Management System (NPSS*).

• The Company formulates annual plans for Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems at all manufacturing and research sites (18 sites) and conducts risk assessment and training.

• The Group formulates and promotes health and safety plans for each mill, business site, and Group company and conducts "Mill Safety Audits" at least once a year as part of its drive to maintain and improve safety standards.

• The Company also incorporates into its safety activities advice from external experts, such as the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association, on ways to improve its standards.

• ISO45001 certification are obtained by Opal and Jujo Thermal Oy.

• In FY2024, Nippon Paper Industries (Nakoso Mill, Iwanuma Mill, Iwakuni Mill, Ishinomaki Mill Health and Safety Cooperation Association, Iwanuma Mill Health and Safety Cooperation Association, Gotsu Mill Health and Safety Cooperation Association) and Nippon Paper Papylia (Kochi Mill) were awarded at the “64th National Conference of the Pulp and Paper Industry on Safety and Health”

• In cooperation with the health insurance union, the Group strives to improve the health of employees and prevent and detect diseases at an early stage through regular physical examinations, lifestyle-related disease checkups, regular workplace visits by industrial physicians, spousal health examinations, health promotion apps, and quit smoking program, among other things.

• In terms of mental health, the Company implements external EAP cooperation, stress checks, expert consultations​, and a rehabilitation work system when returning to work, among other things​.

• The Company conducts regular physical examinations and vaccinations, among other things​, for employees posted abroad regarding global health issues such as infectious diseases.

The Company formulated a new "Medium-term Safety Activity Plan 2030" in 2026 and is working to create a foundation to prevent occupational accidents. With the ideal of "no one shall be injured within the premises of its mills," the Company is implementing safety patrols in cooperation with labor unions and contractors, providing protective equipment, conducting safety inspections of equipment, and providing guidance to contractors in safety activities.

1. This ideal state includes all stakeholders on NIPPON PAPER GROUP premises including Group employees, employees of contractors of mills working on site, and visitors from outside

2. Mill management indicators are determined every 12 months

3. Pinched or caught, falls, contact with hazardous objects, collisions, electric shocks, flying/falling, contact with high-temperature objects (including heat stroke)

The Group carries out facilities management, workplace environment evaluation, chemical substances management, special medical examinations for work with a high risk of injury and illness. In addition, the Group prepares for emergencies such as natural disasters and fires by preparing disaster preparedness manuals, regular disaster prevention drills, life-saving courses, and surveys by specialist risk management companies. In addition, as a way to raise awareness of traffic safety, the Group participates in traffic safety training, lectures and campaigns.

The Group continues to work on health and safety by disclosing the status of the lost-time injury frequency rate, occupational accident severity rate, the number of work-related employee/contractor fatalities.

• The Group promotes the dissemination and establishment of health and safety awareness by conducting safety training for employees, contractors, and temporary site visitors.

• The Company regularly conducts safety-related e-learning (safety education for elderly employees, fall accident prevention education, heat stroke prevention education, etc.), statutory education, and training on first aid, heat stroke prevention, traffic safety, etc.

• The Company encourages participation in safety-related qualifications and external training, and conducts a survey once a year to keep abreast of the status of health and safety education at each mill and office.