Environmental Risk Management

Preventing Soil and Groundwater Pollution

The Furukawa Electric Group engages in the management of specific toxic substances and conducts regular inspections for leaks so as to have no harmful impact on the soil or groundwater in our communities. We continuously seek to reduce the risk of pollution by preventing leaks and switching to substitute substances.

In fiscal 2011, we began proper disposal of the slag stored in the Oyama area (a plant site of the former Furukawa Magnesium Co., Ltd.). Soil remediation through excavation and removal has been conducted at locations where site examinations have found contamination. Also, we have executed measures for soil remediation and prevention of groundwater diffusion at some sites where groundwater has been found to exceed contamination standards. We will continue to implement measures as we monitor progress.

Among our affiliates, groundwater measures begun in the previous fiscal year were ongoing at the Ibaraki Plant owned by Aoyama Kinsho Co., Ltd.

Effort to Prevent Atmospheric and Wastewater Pollution

Every Furukawa Electric works maintains voluntary control limits and manages operations to avoid exceeding regulatory limits for atmospheric and wastewater quality.

In fiscal 2011, due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, COD (chemical oxygen demand) temporarily exceeded regulatory limits at our Chiba Works, but afterward returned to normal. With the exception of that incident, the air and water quality data at all of our manufacturing works was within the regulatory limits.

PCB Management

The Furukawa Electric Group monitors the amount of PCB-containing equipment at each of our Works and affiliate company sites, and conducts proper storage and management. PCB waste is registered promptly with the Japan Environmental Safety Corporation, which we contract for planned, sequential PCB disposal. Also, condensers and transformers removed from our facilities are examined for PCB content on a case-by-case basis. We are also proceeding with planned examination of equipment containing even small amounts of PCB, with all examinations slated for completion by fiscal 2013.

Number of instruments containing PCB

Works		In storage	In use	Total
Chiba Works	Already processed	88	0	88
	Unprocessed	15	23	38
Nikko Works		385	12	397
Hiratsuka Works		883	10	893
Mie Works		131	3	134
Copper Tube Division		65	0	65
Yokohama Works		22	0	22
Copper Foil Division		16	2	18
Total		1,605	50	1,655

Response to Asbestos Concerns

Although our company does not currently produce or import any products containing asbestos, some of the industrial-use products we made and sold in the past did contain asbestos. These include electrical wiring for ships, and fire-resistant products for constructing telecommunications and electrical power facilities, etc. For details please visit our homepage.

We are currently examining the buildings and plants of Furukawa Electric and our affiliates to determine if asbestoscontaining building materials have been used. Inspections for asbestos dispersal in buildings in which spray-on materials had been used have confirmed the presence of asbestos, and removal work or containment measures have been taken to prevent future dispersal. We have also proceeded to replace equipment and fixtures in which asbestos insulation has been used so as to prevent dispersal, with planned replacements of items which are currently not dispersing asbestos with items not containing it timed to coincide with regular inspections or facility renewal.

Responding to Asbestos-Related Health Issues

During the period from 2005 to 2006, we once again investigated workplaces that previously handled asbestos products and we organized medical examinations focused on asbestos for all relevant employees. We also sent out notices urging retired employees who worked at the relevant sites to undergo medical examinations.

So far, symptoms have been detected in one current employee and nine retired employees. Also, a retired employee who had worked laying underground cables died from mesothelioma, and in 2006 this was confirmed to be an industrial accident. We are continuing to deal with this by notifying retired employees who worked at the relevant site regarding changes to the requirements for issuing health cards in the wake of revisions to Occupational Health and Safety Regulations in October 2007.

Environmental Accident Response

Emergency situations such as environmental accidents can impact the surrounding area, sometimes seriously.

At the Furukawa Electric Group, we conduct annual checks for conceivable, clear environmental impact so as to prevent environmental accidents or prevent widespread impact in the event of an accident. We also conduct simulation drills that presuppose post-accident responses.

Nonetheless, in fiscal 2011 an operational error at an affiliate in Kita-Kyushu City caused an accident resulting in COD (chemical oxygen demand) exceeding standard levels. The incident was immediately reported, and recurrence prevention methods were taken. The authorities conducted an on-site inspection related to this incident, and served the affiliate with a cautionary notice.