Annual Report for Fiscal 2012
(April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013)

The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan (KHK)1. Business environment and overview of operations
Although still affected by the aftermath of theoccurred during fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012,

Great

and

East

Japan

Earthquake,Japan'sconsideredreinforcing

assessment

economy during the first half of fiscal 2012 saw

measures for pre-assessments by KHK for thea gradual upward curve as a result of

METI’spost-earthquake

demand.

completion/safety inspection executors. Then,

During the latter half of fiscal 2012, despite

KHK reported those results to the Industrial

the continued post-earthquake reconstruction

Safety Committee of the Industrial Structure

demand, economic recovery appeared to haveCouncil of METI.

reconstruction

approvalofaccredited

slowed due to the deteriorating international
economy. Under such conditions, although

At the Education & Publication Department,

capital investment, a direct influential factor

KHK

on the operations of KHK, partly saw a degree

including on-site lectures depending on the

of

needs

recoveryduereconstruction

to

the

demand,post-earthquake

its

overalllevel

remained low.

has
of

been

deployingeachclients,

newventuresseminars,andpublishing, and the development of a system
for more proactive implementation of suchactivities was conducted in fiscal 2012.

The number of high pressure gas-related
accidents has steadily increased since 2000,

Furthermore,

and there were a total of 379 incidents in 2012

inadequate questions found in Ministerial

alone. Major accidents has occurred two years

examinations

in a row since 2011 involving industrial

Examination Center strictly reinforced its

complexes, and investigations and analyses

processes

were undertaken after such incidents. Led byverification.

the

the

problems in examinations occurred despite an

Industrial Structure Council, the Ministry of

increase in the total number of applicants by

Economy,approximate 3,000 in comparison to theIndustrial

SafetyTrade

Committee

andIndustryof(METI)

organized investigations and coordination fortakingduring

of
As

into

account

fiscal

2011,question

preparationanoresult,

the
the
and

noticeable

previous fiscal year.

the re-establishment of industrial safety.
As for the ISO Registration Center, the ISO
Under such business environments in fiscal

Promotion2011 and fiscal 2012, KHK participatedregistered companies, which had been certified

accident investigation committees, which wereby the organization withdrawing from ISO

held at the sites of industrial complexes wherecertification business, in order to promote themajor accidents had occurred, in order tosmooth transfer of their ISO registrations toundertake

KHK.

investigations

andperformGroupnegotiated

with

ISO

analyses on the causes of the accidents. In
addition, KHK investigated causes of major
accidents

1

inindustrial

complexesthat

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan2. Overview of financial statements for fiscal 2012
1) Balance sheet (As of March 31, 2013)

Asse t s
Current assets
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets
Investments
Total
Liabilit ie s/ c apit al
Current liabilities
Fixed liabilities
Reserve
Profit for the term
Total2) Statement of profit and loss
(April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013)

2012
Million Yen
2,105
5,800
446
243
5,110
7,906

2011
Million Yen
2,258
5,860
465
283
5,110
8,118

Expe n dit u r e

2012Million Yen
822
3,076
4,039
-30
7,906

2011
Million Yen
974
3,105
3,866
173
8,118

In c o m e

Ordinary expenditure
Operating expenditure
Extraordinary loss
Corporate taxes, etc.
Profit for the term
Total

Ordinary income
Operating income
Non-operating income
Extraordinary income
Total

2012
Million Yen
4,617
4,617
-30
4,587

2011
Million Yen
4,500
4,500
173
4,674

2012
Million Yen
4,557
4,428
128
30
4,587

2011
Million Yen
4,401
4,266
134
273
4,674

3. Overview of each activity
1) Development and issue of technical standards
To promote safety in activities involving highCommittee organizations undertaking thepressure gas production, sale, consumption,
preparation of technical standards are as
and transportation, KHK establishes technicalfollows:
standards such as KHK Standards (KHKS) as
well as reviews existing standards.

Fitness for Service Standards Committee

LPG Standards Committee

Technical Committee

Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
Standards Committee

The High Pressure Gas
Safety Institute of Japan
High Pressure Gas Standards Committee

Transportable Container Standards
Committee

Pressure Vessel Standards Committee

2

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan

Each committee consists of committee
members appointed from among experts who
have relevant knowledge and experience inhigh pressure gas or LPG safety.
In response to requests from the president of
KHK, the technical committee decides basic
policies for establishing the technicalstandards.
The technical standards are then establishedby each standards committee section inaccordance with the basic policies, and thedevelopment and issue procedures maintainfairness and openness as the fundamental
rule.
During fiscal 2012, the following standards
were established or reviewed.
① Newly established technical standards
・ Safety inspection standards (related tounderground rock cavern tank system for
LPG stockpiling base) (KHK/JOGMEC S
0850-8)・ Periodical
self-inspection
guidelines(related to underground rock cavern tanksystem for LPG stockpiling base)(KHK/JOGMEC S 1850-8)
From the point of view of maintaining andimproving safety, the above technicalstandards were prepared for examining
effective and desirable inspection methods forequipment relating to underground rockcavern tanks, which are scheduled to come into
operation, and also to conform to related laws
and regulations.
② Revised technical standards
・ Standard for low pressure LPG piping forindoor use (KHKS 0708)
・ Safety education guideline for LPG sales
operators (KHKS 1701)
・ Standard for automatic gas shutdown
device with microcomputer-based LPG
flow detector (Type-S) (KHKS 0733)
・ Standard for LPG bulk storage tanktransportation (KHKS 0840)
・ Standard for automatic gas shutdown
device with microcomputer-based LPG
flow detector (Type-S 4) (KHKS 0742)

3・ Guideline fordesign of threaded
components (KHKS 1222)
・ Standard for periodical inspection of
seamless containers for air breathingapparatus (KHKS 0151)
・ Standard for periodical inspection of
seamless aluminum alloy containers forgeneral use (KHKS 0152)
・ Standard for test methods of prototype
containers (KHKS 0123)

2) Inspection, examination and approval① Inspections for pressure equipment
The High Pressure Gas Safety Act stipulates
that the person who has manufactured/
imported a container or accessory shall apply
for the Container/Accessory Inspection. We at
KHK conduct these inspections.
In addition, for preventing explosions or otheraccidents, the act defines "equipment for highpressure gas production (including storage
incident thereto),“ which particularly requires“inspections of its design or material quality or
inspection in the process of its manufacturing",
as "Designated Equipment." KHK undertakes
mandatory inspections of such DesignatedEquipment at each manufacturing process.
KHK undertakes technical assessments inadvance to obtain Ministerial Special
approval, and also offers services forcertification and examination as a part of its
optional activities.
During 2012, the number of equipment applied
for the Designated Equipment Inspection
increased by 4.4% compared to the previous
fiscal year. Meanwhile, the number ofcontainers applied for the Container
Inspection and that of equipment applied for
the Accessory Inspection decreased by 4.5%
and 15.7%, respectively.

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan

Number of
equipment
applied forinspection
40,000

Number of pre-assessments
2012
2011

37,105

Accredited completion
inspection executor
Accredited safety
inspection executor

35,00031,15330,00027,180

20

20

22

20

25,00020,01718,48620,000③

13,84415,00012,161
10,951 11,644

Safety inspections of refrigeration andair-conditioning facilities

10,000
5,000
0
2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Fiscal Year

Number of Designated Equipment Inspections
Number ofcontainers/K

Container

2,500

2,286
1,983

2,000

Number ofaccessories/K

Accessory

24,000

2,251

1,930

1,907

1,892
1,604

1,807

1,595

1,500

1,000

20,00016,00013,315

13,957

12,00012,558500

11,205 11,165 11,555
9,003

9,742

8,811

0

8,000

The number of inspections of refrigeration andair-conditioning facilities undertaken by KHK
2012
2011
Completion inspection ofrefrigeration andair-conditioning facilities
Safety inspection ofrefrigeration andair-conditioning facilities
Approval of specified
equipment (refrigerationequipment)
Transfer of specified
equipment (refrigerationequipment)
Testing of refrigeration
apparatus
Design strength verification
test, etc.

66

52

2,202

2,150

201

220

2

3

281

412

177

135

4,000
2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Fiscal Year

Number of Container/Accessory inspections② Pre-assessment of accredited completion/
safety inspection executor
This pre-assessment undertaken by KHK ispart of the statutory service related to the
Ministerial approval of accredited completion
inspection executor and safety inspection
executor.
Class 1 high pressure gas producers who
obtained Ministerial approval as a result of
this pre-assessment can replace completion
inspections or safety inspections that are
conducted by prefectural governments withself–inspections by the approved producers
themselves. When the self-inspections are
conducted, the results shall be submitted toprefectural governments.

4

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japanconsumption, retraining of retail operation
chiefs, training and retraining of LPG filling
operators, as well as training of safety
operators and inspectors of facilities designed
to consume LPG.
Among the total number of aforementioned
statutory training courses, the number ofapplicants for retraining has been changing
periodically, and fiscal 2012 saw an increase to50,126 from the previous fiscal year's 30,986.
This resulted in an increase in the overall
number of applicants for statutory training
from 73,931 to 94,954.

3) Education① Statutory training
By the High Pressure Gas Safety Act, highpressure gas producers are required toestablish a safety management teamconsisting of members with a designated highpressure gas production safety management
certificate, which is in accordance with thetype and scale of processing equipment andthe type and volume of gas produced. To train
certified personnel, KHK offers lectures oneach certificate type, and retraining forexisting members of safety management
teams.
In addition, KHK also provides training
courses for the following certificates: highpressure gas sales safety chiefs required at
specifiedhighpressuregas
dealers,transportation supervisors required fortransportation of specified amount of specified
high pressure gas, and specific high pressure
gas operation safety chiefs required for storage
and consumption of specified high pressuregas beyond the designated capacity.
As for the LPG Law-related activities, KHK
offers the following courses: training andretraining of LPG installation engineers for
LPG piping facilities used for general② Other training
During fiscal 2012, KHK held periodical
seminars including basic lectures on highpressure gas safety (6 types at 21 locations),
and organized 14 on-site lectures on voluntary
safety activities depending on the needs ofeach business facility.
③ Publications
KHK publishes books related to highpressure gas safety such as high pressure gas
safety act, technical standards, and textbooks
for training. During fiscal 2012, KHK
published 148 types of books, accounting for a
total of 183,234.

Number ofapplicants
110,000
100,566
100,000

102,445

97,944

97,36094,95490,00080,00075,752

72,86073,931

69,17470,00060,00050,00040,000

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Fiscal Year

Number of applicants for statutory training

5

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan4) Qualifying examination
The High Pressure Gas Safety Act and LPG
Law stipulates that the Minister of Economy,
Trade and Industry or prefectural governors
must be responsible for conducting the highpressure gas production safety management
examination, the high pressure gas sales
safety chief examination, and the LPG
installation engineer examination, dependingon the classification of examinations.
However, the actual implementation of suchexaminations was transferred to KHK from
the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
and prefectural governors.
In fiscal 2012, the total number of applicants
for such examinations was 57,467, an increaseof 5.9% compared to 54,281 from the previous
fiscal year.
Furthermore, based on the lessons from theissue of inadequate questions found in
Ministerial examinations during fiscal 2011,
KHK greatly improved verification proceduresfor questions in Ministerial examinations.
Number ofapplicants
60,00055,00057,46757,378 57,170
54,73254,281

53,12552,76249,851 49,489

50,00045,00040,000
2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

facilities.
During fiscal 2012, the center conducted thefollowing investigations and tests entrusted by
the New Energy and Industrial Technology
Development Organization (NEDO).
① Research and development on preparing
standards for hydrogen infrastructure
As a part of the research and development on
preparingstandardsforhydrogeninfrastructure, the investigations and tests offollowing subjects: expansion of the applicablesteel grade for hydrogen stations, preparationof standards for composite containers forvehicle transporting compressed hydrogen(carbon fiber reinforced plastic, CFRP) and
CFRP vessels for hydrogen stations, as well as
the study on a design coefficient for highpressure gas equipment and its application tohydrogen.
Study of distances between facilities ofhydrogen stations and CNG stands forside-by-side installations
Investigations were conducted to verify safety
requirements for distances between equipment
in compressed natural gas (CNG) stands andthat in hydrogen station to promote parallel
establishment of the two facility types, using
simulations where necessary. Based on thefindings from the investigations, preliminary
technical standards were drafted to besubmitted to METI for enforcement.
②

Fiscal Year

Number of applicants for qualifying
examinations

6) Measures to promote LPG consumer
safetyThe Research and Development Center at
KHK owns equipment for tests such as
tensile/fatigue tests of materials, as well as
hydraulic fatigue/explosion tests of pressure
equipment including transportable containers,
undertaking research and development toenhance high pressure gas safety, and offers
consignment tests/research utilizing its

6

Liquefied
Petroleum
Gas
SafetyCommission
The commission operates with contributions
from 17 LPG-related organizations and KHK.
In partnership with the Gas Safety Office at
METI Commerce, Distribution and Industrial
Safety Policy Group, the commission
performed the following safety campaigns
during fiscal 2012.
①

5) Research and development

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan LPG consumer safety campaign
Prepared and distributed LPG safety guides
and posters, and advertised in magazines,
while provided assistance to safety activities
undertaken by prefectural LPG associations.
LPG
consumersafetypromotion
conference
At the event, the commission offeredcommendations for LPG retailers and related
operators (including individuals) with the‘METI Minister's Secretariat, Director-General
for Commerce, Distribution and Industrial
Safety Policy Award,' 'KHK President's Award,'and 'Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety
Commission President's Award,' respectively.
② Examination
During fiscal 2012, the following examination
activities were undertaken.
Examination activities
2012
2011
LPG leak alarm
examination

2,669,956

2,598,150

LPG incomplete
combustion alarm
examination

21,73039,210LPG sensor
examination

2,630

2,350

7) Collection and offering of information,technical exchanges① Collection of accident information
Acting on a commission by METI, KHK
compiles a database of high pressure gas and
LPG-related accidents and conduct astatistical analysis.
Organization of various conferences andconventions
The notable conferences and conventions
KHK organized during fiscal 2012 includes thefollowing:②

7

Grand conference of national associationof general high pressure gas safety
organizations (July 12, 2012 in Tokyo)
The conference was organized for the purposeof fostering cooperation and discussions among
general high pressure gas safety organizations
established in prefectures. KHK acted as theadministrative department for the conference.


Seminaronsafetymanagement
technology for industrial complexes (July19, 2012 in Tokyo, August 22, 2012 in
Osaka)The seminar is organized annually andintended to provide a point of information
provision,
informationexchange
anddiscussions related to high pressure gas
producing equipment, their operations, andsafety management activities, and is aimed at
the personnel of three management divisions(equipment, operation, and safety), including
those at headquarters management level, ofhigh pressure gas producers at industrial
complexes.
High pressure gas equipment manager
meeting (October 19, 2012 in Tokyo)
The meeting is organized annually for the
purpose of informing high pressure gas
equipment
personnel(applicantsfor
Designated Equipment Inspection) of question
and answers about material, design, welding,and structure-related issues in order toachieve consistent applications across varying
issues.


National Conference of High Pressure
Gas Safety (October 26, 2012 in Tokyo)
The conference, which takes place every
October, is organized as a part of the annual
high pressure gas safety promotion week,
hosted by METI in conjunction with KHK.
Each year, top-rated plants of safety, persons
who have rendered distinguished safety
service and excellent production safety
managers are awarded in honor of theircontinuing hard work, support, and resulting
outcomes in preventing high pressure

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japangas-related accidents.
Generalresearchpresentation(November 26, 2012 in Tokyo)
The presentation is hosted annually todisseminate information on the findings fromthe investigative research undertaken by the
Research and Development Center at KHK.


③ International technical exchange
KHK sends a delegate to the boiler andpressure vessel standards committee and thepost-construction standards committee of theAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME), and also has established good
relations with Korea Gas Safety Corporation
and Industrial Safety and Health Associationof the R.O.C.
In addition, KHK accepts overseas researchgroups as a part of its international technology
exchange activity. During fiscal 2012, in Aprila visiting group from Thailand wishing toresearch high pressure gas-related regulations
was welcomed.

organization withdrawing from the ISO
registration
operation.
Includingsuchtransfers, the total number of registrations asof the end of the fiscal year was 1,699(including 732 withdrawals).
② Assessment
andregistrationofenvironmental management systems
For
assessment
andregistrationofenvironmental
management
systems(ISO14001), the center became a JABaccredited certification body in 1996, and as ofthe end of fiscal 2012, it operates registration
screenings in 34 out of 39 JAB-accreditedclasses (class 1-39).
During fiscal 2012, the center accepted a totalof 51 transfers of registrations from anorganization
withdrawing
fromISOregistration
operation.
Includingsuchtransfers, the total number of registrations asof the end of the fiscal year was 948 (including
315 withdrawals).
Number ofregistrations
1,800
1,719

1,744

1,734

1,718

1,664

1,700

1,604

8) Assessment and registration system

1,600

1,600
1,554

1,500

① Assessment and registration of quality
management systems
Since being accredited by the Japan
Accreditation Board (JAB) as a quality
management system certification body in
1994,
KHK
ISO
Registration
Center(KHK-ISO Center) handles registration ofquality management systems for operators inaccordance with the ISO9000 series standards,
and manages registration and publication ofregistered organizations. As of the end of fiscal
2012, it operates registration in 30 out of 39
class JAB accredited (class 1-39).
During fiscal 2012, the center accepted a totalof 37 transfers of registrations from an

8

1,400
2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Fiscal Year

Change in the total number of registrations(Quality and Environment)③ Other assessment and registration
As of the end of fiscal 2012, the total numberof occupational health and safety management
system (OHSMS) registrations was 39(including 10 withdrawals). In addition, thetotal number of food safety management
system (ISO22000) registration screenings
was 6 (including 2 withdrawals).

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan4. Organization
1) Organization chart

Compliance Promotion Office
General Planning Department
Board of Councilors

General Affairs Department
Information Services & Research Department

Board of Directors
High Pressure Gas Safety Department
LPG Industrial & Consumer Safety Department

President

Inspection & Certification Department
Education & Publication Department
AuditorVice President
Examination Center
Directors

ISO Registration Center (KHK-ISO center)Research & Development Center

Seven Branch Offices
2) Board of directors (As of March 31, 2013)
President:
Eiji Sakuta
Vice President:
Mitsuo Ohashi
Auditor:
Junichi Izumi
Managing Director: Yoshinori Suzuki
Managing Director: Shinichi Yasuda
Managing Director: Kazuo Kurihara
Managing Director: Toru Kato
Director:
Yuji Endo
Director:
Momoki Katakura
Director:
Yasuyuki Watanabe
Director:
Masahiro Toyoda
Director:
Sakugoro Matsuda
3) Membership status
Types

9

March 31, 2013

March 31, 2012

Companies

925

937

Organizations

192

193

Individuals

104

107

Supporters

33

36

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of JapanReference: Overview of accidents in recent years
Under the commission of METI, KHK records statistics of high pressure gas- and LPG-related
accidents, based on the number of reports submitted in accordance with the regulatory
requirements of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act and the LPG Law.
The
numberofhigh
Number ofaccidents/injuries or deaths
pressuregas-related
500
accidents
has
been
450
increasing in recent years,400
and 2011 in particular saw a
350
sharp rise in the number as
300
a result of the Great East
250
Japan
Earthquake.
200
Althoughdecreasedin150
comparison to 2011, the100number of accidents in 201250
has still remained relatively
0Year 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012high. Particularly, major
Number of84
91 106 91
8990
79
99 122 139 147 157 166 195 288 314 300 381 458 379
accidents
accidents
involving
Number of
5
3
1
7
4
2
2
3
4
6
3
0
3
4
5
4
5
3
1
3
deathsexplosions at industrial
Number of
30
86
58
57
56
55
40
68
71
60 150 54
57
9180
92 104 77
70
64
injuries
complexes have occurred inrecent years, and further
Number of high pressure gas-related accidents
strengthening
andrevisions of operations are demanded in our aim of eliminating high pressure gas-related
accidents.

Number ofaccidents/injuries or deaths

300
250
200
150
100

50
0
Year 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Number of
112 8288 101 68
75
79
78
87
90 120 105 105 219 239 234 185 204 227 258
accidents
Number ofdeaths

7

3

12

14

6

9

5

8

2

4

7

2

1

0

4

4

4

5

1

1

Number of135
injuries

83

80

109

64

82

66

73

69

64

86

88

58

78

98

79

148

83

88

85

Similarly, the number of
LPG-related
accidents
has also remained highin recent years, ataround 200 per year.
Particularly,
accidents
involvingcommercial
kitchen equipment are
showing an increasing
trend, and a rise in thenumberofaccidents
caused by deterioration
due to corrosion or CO

poisoning has also beenrecorded. In order toprevent such accidents from occurring, it is increasingly essential to provide effective information
to LPG users, facility owners and possessors.
Number of LPG-related accidents

10

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan

＜Contact for inquiries related to this document＞

The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan (KHK)
Information Services & Research Department
International Affairs Office
Toranomon 4-3-13, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8447
TEL: +81-3-3436-2201 FAX: +81-3-3438-4163
Web: http://www.khk.or.jp/english/index.html
MAIL: oversea@khk.or.jp

11

Copyright© The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan