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Chemical substances have the potential to improve our lives in many ways, but at the same time can cause many serious problems such as ozone layer depletion and dioxin poisoning - the spread of harmful elements throughout nature. In order to forestall this sort of damage, it is vital that the use of chemical substances be carefully controlled, that the amount of chemicals used is reduced, and that safer substances are substituted wherever possible. Nikon is currently devising a management system that will enable us to effectively take all of these actions.
Nikon performs chemical substance control at every phase of the product life cycle, from purchase through use and disposal, in order to stop pollution caused by these substances. When first purchasing a new chemical substance, we obtain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the item, and carry out an assessment of the potential dangers of its use in the workplace. Based on the results of this assessment, our Environment, Safety and Health section performs a review and confirmation of actions taken from technical viewpoint.
In addition to these measures, our Data Centre, located at the Ohi Plant, carries out intensive management of registration, updates and storage of MSDS. We have also started disclosure via the intranet. Nikon places strict control especially on the chemical substances with higher environmental loading to reduce consumption of them, and strives to make pollution by chemical substances cut to zero as far as possible through research activities on alternative materials.
Each Nikon plant manages its chemical substances - from purchased inventories, to safe control, handling, use and disposal according to MSDS. The "Nikon PRTR Guide" was released in March 2000, and the range of chemical substances under management was extended. In March 2002, Nikon established a company system for legal notification, adding to and revising existing procedures for filling out such notifications.
In accordance with the statute, here are the reports for each of our plants.
"PRTR survey results (year ended March 31, 2008)" is shown.