Health & Safety at work

I’m half-way through our month-long graduate training.

The first week (post 3 and 4) was based at the HQ in Tokyo, whilst the last three are taking place in a small town, 4 hours west from the capital by bullet train. It’s an industrial town that developed thanks to The Company, who, for the record, still keeps a strong presence by being the biggest employer of the area. 30.000 people dwell here. There are no cinemas, theatres or restaurants open on Sunday, but I go backpack over the week-end, so that’s ok.

 

Today was my first day working with the factory’s labourers. Most of them make heavy manufactures, i.e.: industrial boilers, coal tanks and other sexy things. I could be romantic and say they are all prols, but except for the hammer and rough traits, they all like their drinks, cars and families. A nice bunch of people!

Things that surprised me today:

♥ ラジオ体操 (Radio Taiso, or Radio Exercices): 

 At 7.55 AM and 12.55 PM, our team of prols and us (a group of four) gathered outside and started doing a series of simple movements, like bending, twisting and jumping, to the rhythm of a cheesy music transmitted by crackling loud speakers. I was amused and ashamed, as it was my first time, but Japanese do it since primary school.

These exercises are also called Calisthenics, and were introduced to Japan in 1928 to commemorate the Emperor Hirohito (sounds vaguely military…). Meant to strengthen group morale, etc.

Radio Taiso is also nationally broadcasted on radio and tv.

Made in Miyagi, after the 11/03 Earthquake-Tsunami-Fukushima:

 

♥「指差し呼称」「確認よし！」（Pointing and Calling）:

According to Wikipedia, “it is a method of occupational safety or avoiding mistakes by pointing at important indicators and calling out the status loud.” We thus had to point at our partner’s safety helmet, work clothes, shoes and so on whilst calling them out and say “check!” if they were fine. This is meant to reinforce conscious decisions and actions (in this case) related to safety.

It only exists in Japan, Taiwan and S. Korea, but I had only seen it done so far by Japan Railways (JR) train conductors.