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Development and Issue of Technical Standards |
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KHK develops and issues technical standards to ensure and maintain high pressure gas safety.
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| High pressure gas-related operations are commonly utilized in various industrial fields. It is absolutely necessary for the companies involved in such industries to be active in autonomous safety operations. KHK develops and issues technical standards to support their activities and also, submits proposals to METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) on technical matters concerning high pressure gas safety. |
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Inspections and Evaluations |
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KHK inspects evaluates high pressure gas-related equipment, vessels, etc. as an impartial and neutral organization. |
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| KHK executes the following legal inspections and evaluations/investigations prior to ministerial approval for conducting an autonomous inspection, approval as a registered manufacturer, or approval of the application of a special design, accreditation of specified equipment, etc., as an independent impartial organization. |
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Initial investigation prior to ministerial approval as an accredited self in-service safety inspection executing company, an accredited self completion inspection (after modification of a plant) executing company, a registered manufacturer of transportable containers or a registered manufacturer of designated equipment, etc. |
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Legal in-service safety inspection of cold evaporators, refrigeration facilities, etc. |
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Legal inspection of pressure vessels, transportable gas containers (cylinders), refrigerators, etc. |
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Evaluation of special design for high pressure gas equipment to be conducted prior to obtaining ministerial special technical approval or prior to applying special standards other than those included in the detailed technical standards that are illustrated as examples by ministerial notification. |
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Evaluation of manufacturer's management system for high pressure gas equipment (valves, pumps, compressors, etc.) to be conducted prior to obtaining ministerial approval. |
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Accreditation of specified equipment (refrigerators, air separation units for nitrogen generation). |
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Assessment on earthquake-proof designs of equipment and facilities. |
| KHK also conducts extensive activities in the areas for which legal inspections are not mandatory, including inspections and tests, type approval, etc. |
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Inspections, tests, etc., of equipment which does not apply to the High Pressure Gas Safety Law, including equipment for export in accordance with test standards set forth by clients. |
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Inspection of refrigeration facilities, safety checks for cold evaporators. |
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Approval of inspection bodies and testers for LPG plants or containers of LPG tank trucks. |
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Type approval of vaporizing unit equipment for LPG bulk supplying systems. |
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Approval of construction companies of refrigeration facilities. |
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Education |
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KHK provides various education and training courses for persons to develop technical and safety management capabilities, and for the purpose of developing qualified operators who can work at the front end of production and construction sites. |
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KHK provides training courses for those engaged in the production and sales of high pressure gas in order for them to acquire the qualifications necessary to maintain the safety of high pressure gas. This education program is composed of about 30 training courses covering various areas such as general high pressure gas, LP gas, and air-conditioning/ refrigeration. KHK has educated a total of approximately 120,000 people a year. In order to ensure and promote high pressure gas safety, KHK also publishes text-books and provides other safety promotion training courses as well as technical lectures and seminars on safety.
There is growing interest in ISO certification for various management systems, and KHK provides training seminars for internal inspectors and education courses on ISO and on occupational health and safety for the acquisition of such certification.
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Qualifying Examinations |
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KHK carries out the legal qualifying examinations on high pressure gas safety assigned by the competent authorities.
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Research and Development |
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In order to contribute to high-pressure gas safety measures, KHK conducts long-term R&D in range of areas from the fundamentals to applied technologies, including developing of equipment, material elements, and safety systems, etc.
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LPG Research Laboratory |
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The LPG Research Laboratory studies and develops technologies for the purpose of protecting consumers from various accidents. The laboratory conducts extensive research work in areas ranging from LPG basic properties, supply and consumption facilities, and various safety devices and safety systems in order to maintain and promote safety at every stage from distribution to consumption of LPG.
The laboratory is also performing R&D activities including projects under the commission of the government and projects requested from private sector as a top runner in this field.
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High Pressure Gas Safety Laboratory |
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The High Pressure Gas Safety Laboratory stores researches and investigations on the studies or knowledge of data concerning technical standards for high pressure gas and the technological data which is necessary for the inspection and the judgment of authorization examination.
The Laboratory also promotes researches and investigations to analyze accidents involved in high pressure gas and to improve technology for the safety of high pressure gas.
Those accumulated technical data in the Laboratory will be fully utilized for establishing further rational safety standards.
In addition, KHK contributes to the development of new technologies following requests for research and inspection from the private sector.
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Measures to Promote LPG Consumer Safety |
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KHK strives to promote safety activities and by propose safety measures on the handling of LPG, paving the way to a more comfortable and peaceful lifestyle and living environment.
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KHK takes various measures to ensure that consumers can use LPG without any anxiety. One such measure is the promotion of safety services through compilation and distribution of various manuals targeting LPG dealers. Another is promotional and instructional campaigns on LPG safety through newspapers and brochures targeting about 26 million households nationwide. With these efforts for safety promotions, KHK is aiming to create a more comfortable living environment for LPG consumers.
KHK also provides a training program to develop professional safety engineers as well as information on necessary techniques that LPG dealers and safety management agencies should provide as consumer safety services.
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Technical Exchanges and Collecting and Offering of Information |
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KHK collects and offers information on accidents and technologies for high pressure gas safety. In addition, KHK exchanges general information with foreign organizations and carries out overseas technical cooperation.
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KHK provides information and offers library services for not only KHK members but also employees of related industries to carry out research, investigation, and business activities concerning high pressure gas safety. For this purpose, KHK collects information on accidents and literature on high pressure gas from home and overseas and then categorizes this information for client convenience.
KHK has also opened an Overseas Cooperation Office for supporting consultations related to high pressure gas from abroad and technical exchanges with foreign organizations in Korea, Taiwan, etc.
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Assessment and Registration of Management Systems |
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As a accredited body for management systems based on ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001, the KHK-ISO Center performs assessment and registration activities concerning management systems of quality, environment and occupational health and safety. |
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Having abundant experience in assessing management systems of companies in a variety of industrial fields, ranging from high pressure gas, to electricity, chemical, mechanical, construction and service businesses, the center can respond appropriately to various requirements.
Auditor placed in seven branches nationwide as well as the headquarters (in Tokyo) provide assessment and certification registration services concerning various management systems, keeping close and frequent contact with the recipient organizations so that each corporation can make use of a system that will effectively improve its corporate activities.
A quality management system brings merits to both clients and registering business organizations through raising awareness of quality, reevaluating management practices, and promoting smoother business transactions. The quality management system, which is being utilized worldwide, is aimed at ensuring corporate quality that passes in international society.
An environmental management system brings merits to registering corporations through contributing to global environmental issues, boosting further environmental awareness, and cutting cost by promoting savings in energy and resources. Certification of an environmental management system acts as proof to the world community that a company has a high level of environmental consciousness.
The Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) results in a decrease in the number of serious occupational accidents, a rise in health and safety standards, and the alleviation of potential hazards (accident causes) by risk assessment. The Center is approved by the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) as a JISHA-OHSMS accredited organization.
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