1-1. 2025 Industrial Safety and Health Act Amendments: Key Points and Corporate Actions

The 2025 amendments to the Industrial Safety and Health Act will further strengthen employee safety and health management, making it urgent for companies to respond. The amendments introduce regulations that take into account diversifying work styles and new risk factors, and require companies to address areas that were not adequately covered under the previous framework. This article explains the main points of the amendments and the practical measures that companies should take.

The first point of the revision is the strengthening of mental health measures. In recent years, mental health problems caused by long working hours and power harassment have become a social issue. The 2025 revision will require businesses to increase the effectiveness of their stress check systems, and will require them to go beyond simple surveys and develop and implement plans to improve the workplace environment based on the results. Furthermore, it will be essential to establish a system for continuously monitoring employees' mental health through collaboration with industrial physicians and external experts.

The second amendment is the strengthening of regulations on chemical substance management. Risk assessments for specified chemical substances have become mandatory, and businesses must prepare and update SDSs (Safety Data Sheets) and thoroughly implement risk reduction measures. Small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, in particular, are likely to face challenges due to a lack of specialized knowledge and resource constraints, so seeking assistance from external experts will likely be a realistic option.

The third amendment promotes the use of digital technology to prevent workplace accidents. Real-time hazard prediction using wearable devices and IoT sensors, and workplace accident risk analysis using AI, are recommended in accordance with guidelines from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. This will lead to a shift from traditional safety management methods that rely on paper and inspection sheets to data-driven management methods. For companies, leaving a digital trail will be important for responding to audits and fulfilling accountability to business partners.

Finally, it is important to note that this revision mixes "mandatory" and "required efforts." For example, mental health support is essentially becoming mandatory, and failure to address it directly leads to the recognition of industrial accidents and the risk of litigation. On the other hand, while the use of digital technology remains a "required efforts" for the time being, early action is desirable if companies are to be aware of how they will be evaluated by business partners and investors.

The measures that companies should take are based on four steps: (1) understanding the amendments and conducting a gap analysis, (2) securing the commitment of management, (3) implementing in-house education and training, and (4) collaborating with external experts as necessary. For global companies in particular, it is also important to report the amendments specific to Japan to their overseas headquarters and have them reflected in their policies.

The 2025 amendments will not simply tighten regulations, but also serve as an opportunity to support sustainable corporate growth and the establishment of a safety culture. Rather than simply responding passively, addressing occupational safety and health as part of strategic occupational health and safety management is the best way to increase corporate value.