OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

Under its Safety and Health Creed, Mazda is making Groupwide efforts to develop people, workplaces, and mechanisms that ensure the safety and health of employees. In FY March 2023, the Company launched a new three-year plan and globally promoted activities involving participation by all employees in accordance with the plan’s three pillars, which support the realization of a proactive and enjoyable workplace.* The Company believes that these efforts will help invigorate employees and improve their work performance and thereby help it exercise its corporate philosophy.

*Proactive and enjoyable workplace: A workplace where intensive problem-solving activities are implemented, taking into account the division’s characteristics, and where individual employees work as a team harmoniously led by their manager, so that individual employees and the organization are both invigorated. 

Mazda has established the General Safety and Health Committee, whose members include management (executive officer in charge of safety, general managers of each division and independent department) and labor representatives (Mazda Workers’ Union leaders). The committee members meet to discuss each year’s action plan and priority measures concerning safety and health. Based on the decisions made by the committee, division and independent department general managers take the lead in promoting occupational safety and health activities, taking into account the work characteristics of and the risks faced in specific workplaces.

Mazda offers proactive support to Group companies in Japan and overseas by such means as holding regular meetings, sharing activity plans and information, and providing educational materials to help resolve safety and health issues. Three overseas plants have obtained ISO 45001 certification and other plants operate an occupational safety and health management system that is based on ISO 45001 or other standards. The Company works to make continuous improvements throughout the entire Group to such management systems.

Mazda implements voluntary and continuous occupational health and safety management measures through its occupational safety and health management system with the aim of reducing the potential risks for work-related accidents, enhancing overall levels of occupational health and safety, and achieving the industry’s lowest-level workplace accident occurrence in Japan. Furthermore, the Company evaluates the procedure and facility risks that may easily lead to serious accidents, creates mechanisms to prevent accidents before they happen, and works to improve the performance of its occupational health and safety management system. 

Social data（Lost-time injury frequency rate for the past five years）

Risk Assessments 

Mazda conducts risk assessments in all divisions, including those related to production, development, management, and administration, to identify and evaluate the potential risks of disasters, diseases, and fire and implement appropriate countermeasures. Through these efforts the Company reviews and identifies risks each year, improving the level of workplace safety. Moreover, in much the same way, Mazda carries out risk assessments when chemical substances or machinery is introduced and is promoting more substantial safety measures. Particularly for the management of chemicals, the Company has introduced a system to create a database of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)*1 that enables it to evaluate risks from the perspectives of damage and exposure. 

Education and Training 

One of the initiatives described in the One Mazda Movement for an Enjoyable Workplace the Three-Year Plan is to develop human resources with heightened sensitivity toward occupational safety and health. As part of this undertaking, Mazda strives to improve safety and health education and training. The Company places particular emphasis on training to enhance employees’ risk sensitivity and organizes safety education seminars,*2 risk simulation training,*3 and KYT (risk prediction training) for all divisions, including those related to production, development, management, and administration. The Company also supports Group companies in Japan and overseas, suppliers (Toyukai Affiliated Corporation*4), and partner companies within the Company premises in conducting education and training programs on safety and health in order to develop safety-conscious human resources across the Mazda Group. 

*1 A Safety Data Sheet is a document used when chemical substances and chemical mixtures are transferred or provided to others to supply information on their physical properties, potential risks, and harmfulness as well as instructions for safe use of these chemical substances. 

*2 The seminars feature panel exhibitions showing a timeline of Mazda’s safety activities that summarizes past serious accident cases and safety activities that Mazda has implemented so far to help employees reflect on the Company’s safety activities and past accidents, raise their awareness, and obtain new knowledge, which will be helpful to safety management in the future. 

*3 The training is intended to improve employees’ sensitivity toward risk through simulations of various potential risks in their workplaces. 

*4 Toyukai Affiliated Corporation is a voluntary organization established in 1952 by Mazda (then Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.) and 20 partners with transactional relationships with the Company. This organization currently consists of 63 members. The Company offers advice and support to these members from the perspective of safety by providing safety information and inviting members to safety training provided by Mazda. 

To maintain and improve the health of its employees, Mazda promotes measures to prevent and mitigate mental health problems and lifestyle-related diseases. Also, Companywide health improvement activities are underway emphasizing the reduction of health risks by providing guidance and education based on the results of health checkups, promoting physical fitness and healthcare for senior employees, supporting related activities at domestic Group companies, and offering health support for employees dispatched to other companies overseas. With the aim of getting employees to think about their own health and giving them a chance to act, each month's payday has been designated as Health Promotion Day and Mazda distributes health information throughout the Company. 

Measures for Combating Health Risks

Measures for Mental Health *1

In 2003, Mazda declared its commitment to active cooperation between labor and management to promote employees’ mental health and formulated the Mazda Warm Heart Plan. Management, divisions, occupational health doctors and advisors, and the Mazda Workers’ Union have come together in labor–management cooperation to advance ongoing measures.

Consultation System 

Mazda has established a system to provide consultations by occupational health doctors and advisors. Not only for employees at Mazda headquarters but also for employees dispatched to other companies in Japan and overseas, the Company offers on-site healthcare consultations and consultations via telephone or online conference systems.

Education and Training 

Mazda holds training for newly appointed managers on caring for the health of their team members. Subjects of these trainings include listening skills, assertion, and response to case studies. Furthermore, regular self-care training is conducted targeting third-year employees. The Company also offers training in which instructors are dispatched to specific workplaces based on their individual needs. In addition, information is periodically provided to managers regarding the important points of mental health measures.

Vitality Checkups (Stress Check System)

In 2008, prior to the enactment of legislation requiring companies to implement the stress check system, Mazda began offering employees the occupational stress diagnoses (known as “vitality checkups”) provided by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Employees use the results of individual diagnoses to understand and manage their own health conditions. Organization-level results are shared with the respective divisions. Based on the results of these diagnoses, divisions promote exhaustive workplace diagnoses*2 to facilitate workplace improvements and prevent mental health problems.

*1 These activities are only conducted at Mazda Motor Corporation. 

*2 Exhaustive workplace diagnoses are activities in which all members of a workplace participate to identify points needing improvements and make proposals for improvements, and assess their working environment from a broad perspective to drive improvements by using clear and simple procedures. 

Measures to Prevent Lifestyle-Related Diseases*1 

To alleviate and prevent lifestyle-related diseases, including metabolic syndrome, Mazda carries out various activities, such as nonsmoking measures, promotion of walking, and seminars on these themes. 

Promotion of Nonsmoking Measures 

Mazda has set a long-term target of reducing the percentage of smokers at the Company to 25%. To achieve this target, the Company offers full individual support and promotes a nonsmoker-friendly environment. A Companywide smoke-free day has been implemented once a month. In addition, the provision of outside smoking areas is promoted to prevent passive smoking.

Promotion of Walking 

To help employees improve their health, Mazda promotes walking using the PepUp*2 personalized website for individuals. The Company has been also introducing the Eco-Walk Commuting Program, which provides those who walk to work with allowance payments.

Joint Activities with the Mazda Health Insurance Society (Collab Health)*3 

Mazda conducts the following health promotion events in cooperation with the Mazda Health Insurance Society: 

• Weight Challenge Event: Promotion of weight management by employees 
• Health Quiz Challenge: Enhancement of employees’ understanding on health checkup items 

*1 These activities are only conducted at Mazda Motor Corporation. 

*2 This health website supports efforts to become healthier and is available for use to those insured by the Mazda Health Insurance Society or their dependent spouse. 

*3 Collaboration is promoted between the Health Insurance Society and the Company in promoting preventative health and health improvement measures for insured individuals in an efficient and effective manner based on the clear segregation of roles and in a good work environment. 

Systems for Supporting Employees Returning to Work 

Mazda is enhancing its systems for supporting employees who are returning to work after taking leave due to illness in order to prevent them from being forced to take subsequent leave. The systems include a reduced work hour system, a system of allowing employees to return to workplaces on a trial basis, and follow-up consultations after their reinstatement.

Special Work Provisions for Employees Undergoing Treatment

Mazda has employed occupational health doctors and advisors as part of its measures for helping employees facing diseases that require ongoing treatment to continue working while undergoing treatment. In addition, the Company offers special work provisions for employees who can only undergo treatment on weekdays or who must take leave for treatment, even short-term treatment.

Health Checkups*1 

In addition to legally prescribed health checkups*2 for all employees, Mazda carries out comprehensive medical checkups*3 covering a variety of areas for employees when they reach the ages of 30 and 35, as well as for employees aged 40 or above. Furthermore, the Company conducts complete physical checkups, including gastroscopy and abdominal ultrasonography, for employees when they reach the ages of 50, 54, and 58. Based on the results of these health checkups, occupational health doctors and advisors offer personal health guidance to support employees in improving their health. 

*1 These activities are only conducted at Mazda Motor Corporation. 

*2 Checkup items: Height, chest circumference, chest X-ray, blood test, urinalysis, electrocardiogram, etc. 

*3 For employees aged 30, 35, and 40 and above, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, and other cancer screening is available. 

Healthcare Guidance Data

Measures for Combating Health Risks*

The business climate has undergone various changes, including the globalization of workplaces and the extension of the retirement age. Giving consideration to these changes, Mazda strives to establish a system to appropriately assess and address the health risk of employees from the perspectives of risk prevention and management. 

* These activities are only conducted at Mazda Motor Corporation. 

Infection Prevention Measures 

In response to various risks related to infectious diseases, Mazda takes appropriate measures in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, including the Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Medical Care for Patients with Infectious Diseases. To prevent infectious diseases, the Company, at its expense, provides employees dispatched to other companies overseas and their accompanying spouses with necessary vaccinations, such as hepatitis A and tetanus, taking into account the risk status of each country or region. The Company also provides pre-overseas assignment education, which incorporates information on how to prevent infectious diseases, such as malaria and hepatitis B. In regard to influenza, the Company has launched a system to cover part of the expenses paid by employees for flu vaccinations to prevent mass flu infection at workplaces. Moreover, the Company has prepared internal guidelines on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 given that the Japanese government has downgraded the threat level of this disease. These guidelines have been distributed throughout the organization. 

Measures for Employees at High Health Risk 

Mazda has established a system to take appropriate measures for employees at high health risk of heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. The Company has also clearly defined standards for determining high-risk individuals and has established a follow-up system to care for high-risk individuals that includes measures such as mandatory meetings with occupational health doctors.

Mazda has a standing labor agreement with the Mazda Workers’ Union.* The Company builds relationships in which everyone thinks and works together with the Union to build environment contributing to all stakeholders. The Company and the Union held discussion on such themes as personnel affairs, production and sales once or twice a month. A discussion with the Mazda Workers’ Union is also held regarding operation changes which may have a significant impact. The information about operation changes should be shared with employees with sufficient lead time. Moreover, various measures for discussion with labor are ready in entire Mazda Group to maintain and develop positive labor relations. 

■Group companies in Japan

Regular exchanges of information and engagement in active discussions with the Federation of All Mazda Workers’ Unions 

■Group companies overseas 

Measures for discussion with labor based on the labor practices in each country and region 

【Statistics from FY March 2024】

No collective labor disputes at Mazda Group companies. 

*Membership is approximately 90% of Mazda employees. 

Dialogue between Labor and Management*

At Mazda, labor unions and management work together to create opportunities for dialogue. The Company recognizes that a sense of psychological safety is created when management and employees accept each other and continue to see and address the same issues.  It is important to accelerate and evolve such two-way dialogue, which will lead to the nurturing of an open workplace culture. 

*These activities are only conducted at Mazda Motor Corporation.