Annual Report for Fiscal 2021
(April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022)

The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan (KHK)1. Business Environment and Overview of Operations
Although the Japanese economy remains in a difficult situation due to Covid-19 infection, it is expected to
improve at a moderate pace, with economic and social activities heading toward normalization by theeffects of various policies and improvements in overseas economies. However, amid uncertainties due tothe situation in Ukraine, it is necessary to pay close attention to the risks that supply constraints will further
lower the domestic and foreign economies and to the effects of fluctuations in the financial and capital
markets. As the torrential rains in July and August that caused great damage over a wide area nationwide,
heavy rain disasters in Japan have become more severe and frequent in recent years, and continued
response to these events has been required.
Turning to the field of high pressure gas safety, as a part of the smart high pressure gas safety policy, theprocedures and inspections related to security regulations will be reviewed for "businesses that can
independently secure a high level of security while making good use of technology", on the premise of
ensuring safety,
In addition, as a part of the development of safety regulations for the realization of carbon neutrality, theGovernment considered unification of regulations for fuel cell vehicles, etc. to which presently both theHigh Pressure Gas Safety Act and the Road Transport Vehicle Act are applied. For the both policies, acabinet decision on the bill has just been made in March 2022.
In view of the high public responsibility of KHK, we strengthened governance such as compliance andinformation security. In consideration of the future management situation, KHK prepared for the internalreorganization scheduled from April 2022, and for the improvement of the information system in line withthe reorganization. Consideration was given to adopting cloud services with a secured security level while
improving business efficiency. In addition, we introduced a new authentication strengthening system andthus strengthened security measures.
Regarding the business of the fiscal year 2021 of KHK, the impact of the Covid-19 infection, which was
great in 2020, has been reduced, and the number of participants of legal training and examinees of national
examinations is returning to normal. The income of the special accounts 1 and 2 improved significantly
compared to that of 2020. On the other hand, it is still necessary to secure a venue for legal training andnational examinations taking necessary measures to prevent Covid-19 infection. Under thesecircumstances, efforts were made to significantly reduce expenditures in order to attenuate the impact on
the KHK's balance of payments. In addition, we utilized online technology such as making legal training
online and remoting research work to ensure that the work was carried out without causing stagnation.

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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan2. Overview of Financial Statements for Fiscal 2021
(1) Balance Sheet(As of March31, 2022)
2021

2020

Million Yen

Million Yen

Current assets

3,680

2,666

Fixed assets

Assets(2) Statement of Profit and Loss(from April 1,2021 to March 31,2022)
Expenditure
Ordinary expenditure

2021

2020

Million Yen

Million Yen

4,374

4,233

4,498

5,156

4,374

4,233

Tangible fixed assets

960

983

Extraordinary loss

1

0Intangible fixed assets

270

205

Corporate taxes, etc.

1

1Operating expenditure

3,268

3,968

Profit for the term

70

-28

Total

8,177

7,823

Total

4,446

4,206

Liabilities/Capital

2021

2020

Income2021

2020

Million Yen

Million Yen

Million Yen

Million Yen

4,428
4,354
74
18
4,446

4,024
3,931
93
182
4,206

Investments

Current liabilities

724

612

Fixed liabilities

2,440

2,268

Operating income

Reserve

4,943

4,971

Non-operating income

Profit for the term
Total

70

-28

8,177

7,823

Ordinary income

Extraordinary income
Total

3. Overview of Each Activity
3-1. Inspection, Examination and Accreditation(a) Pre-Assessment of Accredited Completion/ Safety Inspection Executor
This pre-assessment undertaken by KHK is part 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 thispre-assessment can replace completion inspections or safety inspections that are conducted by
prefectural or municipal governments with self–inspections by the approved producers themselves.
When the self-inspections are conducted, the results shall be submitted to jurisdictional prefectural or
municipal governments.
Number of pre-assessments
2021

2020

Accredited completion inspection executor

18

21

Accredited safety inspection executor

20

21Super accredited completion inspection executor

54Super accredited safety inspection executor

85(b) Inspections for Pressure Equipment
The High Pressure Gas Safety Act stipulates that the person who has manufactured/ imported acontainer or accessory shall apply for the Container/Accessory Inspection. We at KHK conduct these
inspections.
In addition, for preventing explosions or other accidents, the act defines "equipment for high pressure
gas production (including storage tanks) "which particularly requires "inspections of its design,material quality, and the process of its manufacturing", as "Designated Equipment." KHK undertakes

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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japanmandatory inspections of such Designated Equipment at each manufacturing process.
KHK undertakes technical assessments in advance to obtain Ministerial special approval, and alsooffers services for certification and examination as a part of its optional activities.
In fiscal 2021, the number of application for inspection of containers increased by 57.4% and that ofaccessory equipment increased by 24.3% compared to the previous fiscal year respectively. And thenumber of application for inspection of Designated Equipment increased by 10.6% compared to theprevious fiscal year.
Noumber ofContainers(thousands)
4,000

Container

Number ofAccessories(thousands)
24,0003,528

Accessory

3,500
20,000

3,000
2,500
2,000

1,807

2,111 2,162 2,149 2,217 2,082 2,035

2,262 2,241

12,000

1,500
1,000

16,0009,742

10,651 10,735
9,917 10,893

11,96010,2639,760 10,058

500

8,000

9,624

0

4,000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Fiscal Year

Number of Container/Accessory inspections
Number ofequipment
25,00019,18720,00015,00017,476
13,74914,909 14,311

20,433
18,473

15,22013,72012,161

10,0005,000

02012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Fiscal Year

Number of Designated Equipment Inspections
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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan(c) Safety Inspections of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Facilities
Number of inspections of refrigeration and air-conditioning facilities undertaken by KHK
2021 2020
Completion inspection of refrigeration and air-conditioning facilities

46

39

1,554

1,497

Approval of specified equipment (unit type refrigeration equipment)

99

130

Transfer of specified equipment (unit type refrigeration equipment)

7

7

Testing of refrigeration apparatus

320

164

Design strength verification test, etc.

158

195

Safety inspection of refrigeration and air-conditioning facilities(d) Examination of LPG alarm, etc.
Number of examination
LPG leak alarm and Bulk gas leak sensor
LPG incomplete combustion alarm
LPG sensor

2021

2020

2,721,354

2,659,937

20,1801,740

24,5401,780

3-2. Education(a) Seminars
During fiscal 2021, KHK held various seminars related to high pressure gas as below; on-site lectures
corresponding to the needs of each business facility, safety seminars (such as basic lectures on highpressure gas and seminars on relevant law and regulations), seminars for high pressure gas safety
executors (such as safety inspection seminars), and various seminars corresponding to the local needs.
(b) Publications
KHK publishes books related to high pressure gas safety such as high pressure gas safety act, technicalstandards, and textbooks for training. During fiscal 2021, KHK published 148 types of books,
accounting for a total of 153,597.
3-3. Assessment and Registration System(a) Assessment and Registration of Quality Management System
Since being accredited by the Japan Accreditation Board (JAB) as a quality management system
certification body in 1994, the KHK ISO Registration Center (KH-ISO Center) evaluates quality
management system for operators in accordance with the ISO 9000 series standards, and manages
registration and publication of registered organizations. On June 2000, the Center started evaluating
and managing registration and publication of registered organizations of the medical device quality
management systems, which requires highly technical knowledge among quality management system
based on ISO13485. As of the end of fiscal 2021, it performs registration in 31 out of the 39
JAB-accredited classes (classes 1-39). As of the end of fiscal 2021, the number of registrations stands
at 753.
(b) Assessment and Registration of Environmental Management Systems
For assessment and registration of environmental management systems (ISO14001), the Center
became a JAB-accredited certification body in 1996. As of the end of fiscal 2021, it operates
registration screenings in 34 out of the 39 JAB-accredited classes (classes 1-39). As of the end of fiscal

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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan2021, the number of registrations stands at 486.
(c) Assessment and Registration of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
On March 2000, the Center began evaluating and managing registration and publication of registers fororganizations of occupational health and safety management systems based on OSHA18001. In July
2018, the Center initiated management based on newly established ISO 45001. As of the end of fiscal
2021, the number of registrations stands at 28.
(d) Assessment and Registration of Food Safety Management Systems
Taking advantage of the framework of quality management, environmental management, andoccupational and health management systems, in 2011 the Center started managing registration andpublication of registers of organizations based on ISO22000 series as a JAB-accredited body. As of theend of fiscal 2021, the number of registrations based on ISO 22000 stands at 7 and that based on
FSSC22000 series stands at 11.
Number ofregistrations
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400

1642 1636
1575
1520
1462
1394

1355

1328
1259

1300

1285

1200
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Fiscal Year

Change in the total number of registrations
3-4. Measures to Promote LPG Consumer Safety
The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Commission operates with contributions from 17 LPG-relatedorganizations, 4 related ministries/agencies, 2 consumer organizations and KHK. In partnership with
the Gas Safety Office at METI Commerce, Distribution and Industrial Safety Policy Group, thecommission performed the following safety campaigns during fiscal 2021.
(a) 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.
(b) LPG Consumer Safety Promotion Conference
At the event, the commission offered commendations 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 Chairman’s Award,' and 'Liquefied
Petroleum Gas Safety Commission President's Award,’ respectively.
3-5. Development and Issue of Technical Standards
To promote safety in activities involving high pressure gas production, sale, consumption, and5

Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japantransportation, KHK establishes technical standards such as KHK Standards (KHKS) as well as
reviews existing standards.
Committee organizations undertaking the preparation of technical standards are as follows:

Each committee consists of committee members appointed from among experts who have relevant
knowledge and experience in high pressure gas or LPG safety. In response to requests from thechairman of KHK, the Technical Committee decides basic policies for establishing the technicalstandards. The technical standards are then established by each standards committee section inaccordance with the basic policies, and the development and issue procedures maintain fairness andopenness as the fundamental rule.
During fiscal 2021, the following standards were confirmed and revised.
(a) Confirmed Technical Standards
 Standard for Re-inspection of Seamless Container for Air Respirators (KHKS 0151)
 Standard for Re-inspection of Aluminum Alloy General Seamless Container (KHKS 0152)
 Facility Standards for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment [Ammonia Facility Edition](KHKS 0302-4)(b) Revised Technical Standards
 Standard for Non-circular Cylinders Pressure Vessels (KHKS 0221)
 Guidelines for Strength Design of Screw Structure (KHKS 1222)
 Standard for LPG Low Pressure Hose with Fittings (KHKS 0709)
 Standard for Self-recording Pressure Gauge and Electric Diaphragm Type Pressure Gauge for
LPG (KHKS 0713)
 Standard for Anti-seismic Automatic Gas Shutoff for LPG (KHKS 0714)
 Standard for LPG Regulator (KHKS 0735)
 Standard for LPG High Pressure Hose with Fittings (KHKS 0736)
 Standard for Ministerial Notification Inspection of Bulk Storage Tanks (KHKS 0745)
 Standard for Ministerial Notification Inspection of Attached Equipment (KHKS 0746)
 Standard for LPG Bulk Storage Tank Transfer (KHKS 0840)
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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan

Guidelines for Security Education Plan (for Refrigeration-related Business Establishments)(KHKS 1305)

3-6. Statutory Training (Special Account 1)
By the High Pressure Gas Safety Act, high pressure gas producers are required to establish a safety
management team consisting of members with a designated high pressure gas production safety
management certificate, depending on the type and scale of processing equipment and the type andvolume of gas produced. To train certified personnel, KHK offers lectures on each certificate type, andretraining for existing members of safety management teams.
In addition, KHK also provides training courses for the following certificates: high pressure gas sales
safety chiefs required at specified high pressure gas 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 pressure gas beyond thedesignated capacity.
As for the LPG Law-related activities, KHK offers the following courses: training and retraining of
LPG installation engineers for LPG piping facilities used for general 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.
Number of applicants for statutory training
2021
2020
Qualification Training

39,611

30,242Re-training (Compulsory training)

33,13330,697

Total of Statutory training

72,74460,9393-7. National Qualification Examination (Special Account 2)
The High Pressure Gas Safety Act and LPG Law stipulates that the Minister of Economy, Trade andIndustry or prefectural governors must be responsible for conducting the high pressure gas production
safety management examination, the high pressure gas sales safety chief examination, and the LPG
installation engineer examination, depending on the classification of examinations.
However, the actual implementation of such examinations was transferred to KHK from the Ministerof Economy, Trade and Industry and prefectural governors. The total number of applicants for suchexaminations in fiscal 2021 was 54,088, which was an increase of 26.4% compared to 42,804 from theprevious fiscal year.
Number ofapplicants

62,33265,00060,00059,59557,467 58,231 58,365

55,40155,00053,41954,08852,20450,00042,80445,00040,000

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Fiscal Year

2018

2019

2020

2021

Number of applicants for National qualification examinations
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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan

3-8. Research & Development and Commissioned Studies(a)The Research and Development Center
The research and Development Center at KHK owns testing machines such as tensile/fatigue tests ofmaterials, as well as hydraulic fatigue/explosion tests of pressure equipment including transportablecontainers, undertaking research and development to enhance high pressure gas safety. In addition,
KHK are working on researches commissioned by the government and incorporated administrative
agencies (see (b) (5)(6)below).
In fiscal 2021, the Center conducted 17 studies commissioned by private companies, etc.
(b)Commissioned Studies
KHK conducted the following studies commissioned by the government, etc.
(1) High pressure gas safety measures
Study on high pressure gas safety technical standard establishment / operation
Study on safe use of low GWP refrigerant in freezing equipment(2) Security measures related to oil and gas supply (i)Study on the implementation of legal training related to high pressure gas safety
Research and study for further advancement of seismic design methods for high pressure gas
equipment
Accident information survey of oil refining plants, etc.
Survey of technological trends of the latest cited standards for example standards for Class 1
Designated Equipment in Designated Equipment Inspection Regulations(3) Advanced security regulations for new energy, etc.
Study on the safety evaluation standards for hydrogen-related technologies related tocompressed hydrogen stands and fuel cell vehicles
Study on the regulations to fuel cell vehicles, etc.
(4) Security measures related to oil and gas supply (ii)
Safety technology dissemination
Study on LPG safety regulations
Study on accelerate information gathering of LPG equipment in the event of disasters(5) Promotion of the full-scale prevalence of ultra high pressure hydrogen infrastructure/Technological development related to domestic regulatory optimization /Research andDevelopment on the introduction of new criteria for evaluatory hydrogen characteristics(6) Full-scale diffusion technology research and development project for Ultra-high pressurehydrogen infrastructure /Technological development related to cost reduction of hydrogen stations
etc. /Development of evaluation method for composite pressure vessels, and technicaldevelopment for the preparation of technical standards(7) Operation performance confirmation and examination work such as security inspections related tothe petroleum gas bedrock storage bases(8) Training and awards on high pressure gas safety(9) Seismic resistance evaluation work for the petroleum gas bedrock storage bases against
large-scale earthquakes
3-10. Collection and Offering of Information, Technical Exchanges(a) Collection of Accident Information
Acting on a commission by METI, KHK compiles a database of high pressure gas and LPG-related
accidents and conduct a statistical analysis. See the reference at the end of this brochure.
(b) Organization of Various Conferences and Conventions
The notable conferences and conventions KHK organized during fiscal 2021 include the following:8

Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan Grand Conference of National Association of General High Pressure Gas Safety Organizations(Tokyo, September 2021)
The conference was organized for the purpose of fostering cooperation and discussions among generalhigh pressure gas safety organizations established in prefectures. KHK acted as the administrative
secretariat for the conference.
 Seminar on Lessons from Accidents and Safety Management Technology
This seminar is held at the venues as well as delivered online live and on demand.
 Part of Safety Management Technology (Tokyo, October 2021)
This seminar is for the accredited completion and safety inspection executors and the personnelof three management divisions (equipment, operation, and safety), including those atheadquarters management level, of high pressure gas producers at industrial complexes, and it isorganized to provide a place of information provision, information exchange, and discussions
related to high pressure gas producing equipment, their operations, and safety management
activities.
 Part of Lessons from Accidents and Safety Measures (Tokyo, October 2021)
The high pressure gas producers that actually caused accidents explained their experience andpost-accident efforts on safety measures so that seminar participants could make use of theinformation that would be helpful for their future voluntary safety activities, including lessons
from accidents and preventive measures.
 National Conference of High Pressure Gas Safety (Tokyo, October 2021)
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 ofsafety, persons who have rendered distinguished safety service and excellent production safety
managers are awarded in honor of their continuing hard work, support, and resulting outcomes inpreventing high pressure gas-related accidents.
 High Pressure Gas Equipment Manager Meeting (Kyoto, November 2021)
The meeting is organized annually for the purpose of informing high pressure gas equipment
personnel (applicants for Designated Equipment Inspection) of question and answers about material,
design, welding, and structure-related issues in order to achieve consistent applications across varying
issues.
 Hydrogen Seminar (Online on demand, March 2022)
The seminar was organized to provide hydrogen-related people with a wide range of the latest trends
in hydrogen, including institutional and technical aspects, in view of the realization of ahydrogen-based society.
(c) International Technical Exchange
KHK participate as a delegate to online conferences organized by the American Society of MechanicalEngineers (ASME), and also has established good relations with Korea Gas Safety Corporation andIndustrial Safety and Health Association of Taiwan.

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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan4. Organization
4-1. Organization Chart

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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan

4-2. Membership Status
Types
Companies
Organizations
Individuals
Supporters

11

March 31, 2022
838
190
83
35

March 31, 2021
839
191
82
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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 (hereinafter referred to as “HPG Act”) and the Securing of Safety and the
Optimization of Transaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (hereinafter referred to as “LPG Act”).
Figure 1 shows the number of the HPG Act accidents that occurred between 2012 and 2021 classified as
human damages. Note that among the HPG accidents, the figure excludes those involving general
consumers, which pertains to LPG Act.

Figure 1: Change in number of HPG Act accidents classified as human damages

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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan

Figure 2 shows the LPG Act accidents that occurred between 2012 and 2021 classified as human damages.
The total number of the LPG Act accidents classified as human damages is gradually decreasing.

Figure 2: Change in number of the LPG Act accidents classified as human damages

Contact for inquiries related to this document

The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan (KHK)
General Affairs and Planning Department
General Planning and International Affairs Group
4-3-13 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8447
TEL: +81-3-3436-1704 FAX: +81-3-3436-5704
Web: http://www.khk.or.jp/english/index.html
MAIL: oversea@khk.or.jp

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Copyright © The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan