Establishment of All-Site Soil Contamination
Risk Management System/Efforts
Concerning Asbestos and PCBs
|
 |
|
Surveys at 1,022 Non-Production Sites Completed
 (Ricoh Group/Global) |
The Ricoh Group has established Basic Policies Concerning Soil and Underground Water Contamination and Standards for the Management of Risks Related to Soil and Underground Water Contamination. According to the policies and standards, each site monitors the current situation and prepares a scenario for implementation, including estimates of future costs for completing purification.
In addition, the Group started surveying the history of all Group business sites –including both the production and non-production sites of subsidiaries of Ricoh's subsidiaries– in fiscal 2004 and established a soil contamination risk management system. The survey of owned and leased land at 1,022 non-production sites worldwide was completed in September 2006. The history of business activities and the use of
chemical substances were surveyed at non-production sites for sales, distribution, services, and technological development, as well as production sites of subsidiaries of Ricoh's subsidiaries. The topsoil was surveyed at the five sites that had used chemical substances that could lead to contamination to confirm that there were no
contamination risks. As a result of completing the surveys, the Ricoh Group now understands and manages soil contamination risks at all its sites including production sites. In the future, efforts will be made to continue and improve management and surveying of new business sectors acquired by Ricoh through M&A, etc.
|
Ricoh Group's Basic Policies Concerning Soil and Underground Water Contamination
|
| (1) |
Top priority is given to controlling impact on the living environment in the neighborhood. |
| (2) |
Efforts will be made to carry out surveys and measures to cope with contamination caused by the Ricoh Group's business activities. |
| (3) |
Laws, regulations, and ordinances set by the national and local governments shall be observed. |
| (4) |
Efforts will be made to establish risk communication with local governments and residents. |
| (5) |
Soil is checked for contamination when land is purchased/transferred or rented/returned. |
|
|
|
Asbestos and PCBs  (Ricoh/Japan)
As for asbestos used at Ricoh's business sites and facilities, a survey was conducted on sprayed asbestos, which showed that it has been applied in seven places at three business sites. Measures to prevent dispersal, such as containment and enclosure, have been taken at all sites and it has been confirmed that it is at a level that would not negatively affect human beings, neither people in the neighborhood nor employees. We will continue our systematic
efforts for improvement and removal. In the meantime, Ricoh has surveyed all of the PCBcontaining products held by Ricoh, and has managed them and completed notification in compliance with laws and regulations. Ricoh plans to complete their disposal by fiscal 2016 (excluding low-density PCBs). As for the Ricoh Group as a whole, it is currently revising the range of management, with regard to the amount contained and properties/condition. The Group will set appropriate management levels in consideration of social interests, trends in laws and regulations of other countries, the costs of surveys and management, and the ideal future the Group should pursue as a corporate goal.
|
Petroleum Pollutants Also Covered by Investigation; Decontamination Completed  (Ricoh UK Products Ltd./U.K.)
Ricoh UK Products Ltd. (RPL), a manufacturing subsidiary in the U.K., conducted an investigation into groundwater contamination by petroleum in March 2007 by drilling 12 new locations, in addition to the ongoing monitoring of groundwater contamination by chemical substances. The investigation revealed contamination beneath a manufacturing facility that exceeded the environmental standards specified by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the U.K. To remove the contamination promptly, RPL started decontamination work in September 2007 using equipment to remove oil. The work was completed in January 2008. A third-party organization verified that the contamination level had been reduced to less than 1 mg/l (unit to be confirmed), half of the standard value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Survey Results of Underground Water Pollution
|
|
|
 |
|
