Nippon Electric Glass Fiber UK intrigued the judges with its first-ever entry in the awards. Electric Fiber, a Japanese-owned company which makes glass fibre used in wind turbines, wanted to engage more employees at its Wigan base in improving the ‘Near Miss’ hazard reporting process. It used the title Hiyari Hatto, which is the Japanese for ‘Near Miss’ to challenge all employees to submit one report a month of a near miss, an unsafe act, or an unsafe condition.
The project also gave Electric Fiber the opportunity to educate staff about hazards and to get their input into reducing risk and accidents. The project used noticeboards, monthly newsletters, digital signage and group discussions, and the company says it has seen “an excellent response” with over half of all employees putting in a monthly report. The project also encouraged all contractors in this year’s furnace rebuild programme to take part.
Dave Dalton, Chief Executive of British Glass, has visited the Nippon Electric Glass plant in the UK and said: “I was very impressed with the company’s work and its ethos. Nippon Electric Glass strives to build a brighter future for the world by uncovering the unlimited possibilities of glass for more advanced creative manufacturing. The ‘Near Miss’ Hiyari Hatto entry is a clear example of its consistent drive to improve health and safety conditions.”