Mukaidono Safety Award
Applications for the 2019 awards were accepted throughout the month of July, and the winners were selected through a review by the Awards Screening Committee, which is made up of experts. The awards ceremony was held on the following dates and times.
Award title: Contribution to building a global culture of prevention in the fields of occupational safety and health and social security
Estimated Professor Dr Mukaidono, dear Dr Fujita, ladies and gentlemen
I would first like to express my great appreciation to the IGSAP's Mukaidono Safety Award Review Committee for recognizing my work on occupational safety and health with the “Mukaidono Safety Award 2019 – Lifetime Achievement Award”.
The improvement of working conditions and in particular the protection of people against the risks at work have been at the center of my professional activities since I commenced my career in 1982 in the Danish Ministry of Employment.
Two events marked the early days of my professional life and were key motivators for my commitment to prevention ever since:
Firstly, the gas leak incident on the night of 2–3 December 1984 at Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, leading to thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousand people injured.
Secondly, “Alice – a fight for life”, a British documentary from 1982, about 47 year old Alice Jefferson who was diagnosed with mesothelioma from working only for a few months, when she was 17, with asbestos. Alice died within weeks of film ending.
Why do I share this personal story with you today, more than 35 years later? The answer is simple: because these human tragedies could have been avoided if appropriate prevention and protection measures had been in place.
Unfortunately this notion is still of relevance today as 2.8 million lives could be saved and losses of 4 % of GDP be recovered every year if companies worldwide would place the safety, health and wellbeing of people at the center of their activities.
This is why I in 2017 launched the Vision Zero Campaign and as its Ambassador am committed to building a global prevention culture based on Vision Zero!
Professor Mukaidono, Meiji University Professor Emeritus and IGSAP President, Professor Fujita, Executive Director, and everyone here today,
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the IGSAP Mukaidono Safety Award Selection Committee for presenting me with the 2019 Mukaidono Safety Award Special Achievement Award in recognition of my efforts in occupational safety and health.
Since starting his career at the Danish Ministry of Employment in 1982, he has spent decades focusing on improving working conditions and, in particular, on improving personal protection against risks in the workplace.
Two events occurred early in my career that have since fueled my passion for preventing workplace accidents.
The first incident was the Union Carbide India gas leak that occurred overnight on the 1nd and 1984rd of December 12 at a pesticide manufacturing plant in Bhopal, India, killing thousands and injuring hundreds of thousands.
The second event was the 2 British release of Alice: Fight for Life, a documentary about 1982-year-old Alice Jefferson. After working in an asbestos factory for just a few months at the age of 47, Alice was diagnosed with mesothelioma 17 years later. She passed away a few weeks after the release of the film.
Do you know why I'm here today sharing with you personal stories from over 35 years ago? The answer is simple: both events are tragedies that could have been avoided if the proper safeguards had been in place.
This idea is unfortunately still important today, because 280 million lives and 4% of GDP are still lost in the workplace every year. But if every company in the world focused their business on the safety, health and happiness of people, these 280 million lives and 4% of GDP could be avoided.
For this reason, I launched the Vision Zero campaign in 2017 and, as an ambassador, I am encouraging the creation of global protection measures based on Vision Zero. I would like to ask for your continued understanding and support.
Award title: Contributions through research, education and awareness in the field of global occupational safety and health
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am really very honored that the Mukaidono Safety Award Review Committee of the Institute for Global Safety Promotion (IGSAP) has decided to honor my work on occupational safety and health, by awarding me the “Mukaidono Safety Award 2019”. In 2018 I visited Japan including interesting workplaces upon invitation by IGSAP. I presented our research on Vision Zero and the developments in European companies and met leading Japanese safety experts, including professor Mukaidono, and Board members of IGSAP, JISHA and NECA. I was impressed by the safety 2.0 approach for working with collaborative robots, an excellent example of innovation for safety and productivity. JISHA successfully runs a zero accidents programmer since 1973, characterized by total participation. In our research we have shown that management commitment is indispensable for successful implementation of Vision Zero, which we regard as a 'commitment strategy'. Inspired by our research JISHA now combines top-down with bottom-up approaches. Japan is actively contributing to the global Vision Zero campaign of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and to our present project to develop a set of leading indicators for safety, health and wellbeing in the perspective of Vision Zero. I am convinced that the safety developments in (and beyond) manufacturing industries in Europe and Japan are compatible and complementary. Our histories and cultures are diverse but are based on similar values: an excellent basis for cooperation. I am extremely proud and grateful for IGSAP's recognition of my work, and hope that the years to come will bring many opportunities for further collaboration between Japan and Europe in the area of safety and health at work.
ladies and gentlemen
I am extremely honoured to receive the 2019 Mukaidono Safety Award from IGSAP for my work in occupational safety and health. IGSAP invited me to visit Japan in 2018, which included some interesting workplace visits. During that time, I presented our Vision Zero research and its development in European companies, and met with leading experts in the field of safety in Japan, Professor Emeritus Mukaidono, as well as members of the board of directors of IGSAP, Japan Safety and Health Agency and NECA.
I was very impressed with the Safety 2.0 approach to work including collaborative robots and think it is a great example of a revolution in safety and productivity.
The JSA has been successfully implementing the Zero Accident Campaign since 1973 and is notable for its total number of participants.
Our research shows that the commitment of top management is essential for the success of Vision Zero. This is what we call the Commitment Strategy. Based on this research, CSA is now implementing a combined top-down and bottom-up approach. The Japanese people have been active contributors to the ISSA's global Vision Zero campaign and are actively participating in our project to develop leading indicators for safety, health and well-being from a Vision Zero perspective. We believe that Europe and Japan are compatible and complementary in safety development in their manufacturing industries and beyond.
Europe and Japan have different histories and cultures, but are based on similar values and offer an excellent basis for cooperation.
Therefore, I am proud and grateful to receive this award from IGSAP, and I hope that there will be further opportunities for cooperation between Japan and Europe in the field of occupational safety and health.
Award title: Contribution to the IECEE personnel competency certification system
Ladies and Gentlemen. I am Kerry McManama, Executive Secretary & COO of the IECEE Conformity Assessment System with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in Geneva Switzerland. I apologize for not being able to be with you today. However, that does not, in any way, minimize my appreciation, or the honor I feel for receiving the Mukaidono Safety Award. I stand on Professor Mukaidono's shoulders in his achievements in safety, and his spirit and principles, as well as those of the esteemed award winners who have preceded me . I would like to express my appreciation to The Institute of Global Safety Promotion, and the Safety Assessor Conference. Domo Arigato Gozaimasu.
The photo behind me is of the first IEC President – Lord Kelvin. It was over 100 years ago that he shared, and acted upon, a vision of an international community of experts in the electrotechnical field. As a continuing strategy related to that vision, the IEC and the Nippon Electric Control Equipment Industries Association, or NECA, have entered into a partnership to collaboratively implement NECA's very successful Personnel Competencies for Machinery Safety and Occupational Safety Program within the IECEE, and thereby extend it from a relatively regional, or mostly Asian , service to an international offering.
This IECEE and NECA effort was begun several years ago and could not have happened without the support of Dr. Toshihiro Fujita. Fujita-san had a similar vision of an international community of experts, which facilitated the collaborative efforts with the IEC. So, I thank Dr Fujita for the award I am receiving today, because it would not have been possible without his great foresight and shared efforts.
I also acknowledge and thank Toshihiro Kajiya, who always seems to be involved in these important international matters, in his support of the Japanese industry, and who always manages to get the right people to the table when international cooperation is needed.
I would also like to add that the work underway could not have been undertaken without the leadership of Ikuo Maeda-san of IDEC Corporation. As IECEE WG 34 Convener, Maeda-san has proven to be an effective international leader for the development of an IECEE Certification of Personnel Competency program. Thank you, Maeda-san.
In closing, again, and sincerely, I am honored. Domo Arigato Gozaimasu.
ladies and gentlemen
My name is Kerry McManama. I am Secretary General and COO of the IECEE Conformity Assessment System at the IEC in Geneva, Switzerland. I regret that I cannot be here with you today, but I am honored and humbled to receive the Mukaidono Safety Award. Like all other award recipients, I respect Professor Mukaidono's achievements, spirit and conviction in the field of safety, and I would like to express my gratitude to IGSAP and the Safety Assessor Council. Thank you very much.
The man in the photo behind me is Lord Kelvin, the first IEC President. Over 100 years ago, we shared and inspired a vision for an international community of experts in the field of electrical engineering. As a continuing strategy for that vision, IEC and NECA have partnered to jointly implement NECA's highly successful personnel qualification program for machinery safety and IECEE's occupational safety program, thereby expanding the program from a primarily Asian one to an international one.
This IECEE-NECA initiative, which began several years ago, would not have been possible without the support of Director Toshihiro Fujita, whose vision for the international community of experts allowed us to work smoothly together with the IEC. Therefore, it is thanks to his great foresight and shared efforts that I am receiving this award today, and I thank him for that.
I would also like to thank Toshiyuki Kajiya, who is always tackling important international issues, supporting Japanese industry, and ensuring that the right people are placed in the right positions in international cooperation efforts.
I would also like to mention that this effort would not have been possible without the leadership of Mr. Ikuo Maeda of IDEC Corporation. As Chair of IECEE Working Group 34, Mr. Maeda has already proven himself to be an effective international leader in the development of IECEE certification of personnel qualification programs. Thank you, Mr. Maeda.
Once again, from the bottom of my heart, I am honored to receive this award. Thank you very much.
Award title: Contribution to promoting safety and health at industrial sites as an industrial physician
My name is Nakamura Yoshinori, and I am a doctor at Sano City Hospital and other locations.
I am extremely grateful for this wonderful award.
I practice medicine both as a clinical physician and as an industrial physician.
During my career as a contracted industrial physician, I have not had the experience of providing medical care to people with serious industrial accidents who were unable to return to work. However, my original specialty was emergency medicine, and I used to work at a critical care center, so I had the experience of receiving a considerable number of industrial accident patients.
I still feel depressed when I think back to the cases of those who became bedridden, lost arms, went blind, and even died. I cannot even imagine the grief and disappointment that must have been felt by the individuals themselves, their families, and even by their colleagues.
All medical workers like me must feel that "work-related accidents should not exist." I feel the same way, and this feeling has become even stronger after I experienced the suicide of the president of the company where the deceased worked in a fatal accident.
All medical professionals want to heal injured or ill people as best they can and send them back home. This is also true for work-related accidents.
Looking at the causes of injuries and illnesses, preventive medicine in the field of surgical trauma involves disaster prevention, and I believe that safety assessors are one aspect of that. I have studied a lot of things, thinking that disasters are caused by "hazard sources." I began to take seminars on disaster prevention and crime prevention, which at first glance may not be directly related to medicine, and qualification exams for field workers. In the midst of all this, I finally came across the safety assessor qualification last year, and obtained it.
In machine safety, risk assessment and risk reduction are important concepts for reducing industrial accidents, and I think the Safety Assessor is a very good way to learn about them. I think that risk and safety should be spread in schools and other places as something necessary for human life, just like morality and life-saving methods. I am honored to have the opportunity to speak here today in front of all of you who are interested in safety. I myself would like to continue studying in order to be useful from the perspective of accident prevention as an industrial physician, so I would appreciate your guidance.
