[IGA Co., Ltd.] “Knowing” disaster risks – To protect the lives of staff and the workplace –
*IGA Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 21, 2024
“Knowing” disaster risks – To protect the lives and workplaces of staff – *IGA Co., Ltd. held an in-house disaster prevention seminar. Change the mindset of all staff. *
Store managers holding a workshop on risks that occur in stores Women’s apparel brand “axes”
IGA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, President and Representative Director: Akijun Igarashi), which operates “Femme (Axys Fam)”, has raised awareness of disaster prevention in order to respond to the recent increase in disaster risks such as torrential rains, typhoons, and earthquakes. We are strengthening our efforts to improve the quality of our products. In particular, we hold disaster prevention seminars at store manager training sessions so that each store manager and staff member at stores nationwide can be aware of and act on disaster prevention as their own personal responsibility.
In October 2019, Peony Walk Higashimatsuyama was flooded due to Typhoon No. 19. Our own store, which was open at the time, suffered major damage, and we were also affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred in January 2024, including store damage and staff evacuation. Taking this opportunity, we believe that it is urgent to not only review our stockpiles but also raise disaster prevention awareness among all staff working at stores across the country so that they can take action to protect their own lives.We therefore held a disaster prevention seminar inviting external lecturers. I’m doing it.
Peoni Walk Matsuyama store damaged by flooding
The entire shopping center suffered major damage.
We invited Junko Kaneto, representative director of EnPal Co., Ltd., which conducts disaster prevention awareness activities, as a lecturer at the seminar.
Mr. Kaneto talked about the importance of having a sense of ownership in disasters, which “could happen anytime and anywhere,” rather than treating them as “other people’s problems,” by sharing his own experience of having his home completely destroyed in the heavy rains in western Japan. I’m talking about sex.
Junko Kaneto, Representative Director of EnPal Co., Ltd.
“I had never even looked at a hazard map,” he said, adding that he didn’t even understand the risks before preparing, and that if he had known, he might have acted a little differently.He emphasized the importance of “knowing.” He said he felt the pain.
If you don’t understand the environment and risks at home or work, you won’t be able to consider the necessary preparations, so last year’s seminar had the theme of “Know” and started by understanding your own environment and risks. Using a “layered hazard map,” participants actually searched for potential damage risks at home and at the store where they work, and conducted group work to discuss what could happen in store operations based on the assumptions.
In order to move on to the next step, “preparation”, we need to know more information.
We held seminars that emphasized “learning more.”
Last time, we mainly focused on flood damage, but this time we will use various disaster prevention tools such as “Earthquake 10 Second Diagnosis” and “Tokyo Stockpile Navigation” in addition to hazard maps, to help you understand the risks to your store and home. We held a workshop to investigate.
He says that even after knowing the specific numbers, there are many things that need to be considered before actually evacuating, such as what the family structure is and whether there are pets. Check the route to the evacuation center in advance, especially if there are underground sections, slopes, or stairs to reach the evacuation center, as unexpected situations may occur, such as impassability or evacuation time depending on the situation. It is also important to do so.
Mr. Kaneto also spoke about his own experience, saying that it is common for families to refuse evacuation because they do not want to leave their homes. In a situation where every moment counts, if it takes time to persuade someone, the risk will increase. One way to prepare is to discuss and decide what to do in the event of a disaster with your family.
In a survey conducted after the training session, there were many opinions about how much more stockpiling was needed than they had anticipated, and about things that should be considered when evacuating with family and pets. .
* ▽Based on the results of a questionnaire survey of participating store managers▽*
“I live alone in a house with almost no storage, so I would like to do more research on the amount, storage methods, and specific products that are good for stockpiling.”
“Even though I knew the evacuation site, I had never given much thought to whether I would actually be able to take the same route based on the people who would be evacuating with me, so this gave me an opportunity to re-evaluate.”
“I was surprised that I didn’t know the staff’s phone number because they only used LINE.I thought again that I wanted to know the phone number.I was overwhelmed by how much I needed to stock up in just 7 days. I don’t have a car, so I thought I’d have to walk to the evacuation center.I’d like to prepare my belongings in case of an emergency.
“I was able to find out how much I needed based on my family structure using the stockpile navigation system, but honestly I think it would be difficult to evacuate with the necessary amount in case of a disaster, so I would like to talk with my family about how we can secure it. Because I own a pet, I wanted to know more about what happens to my pet in the event of a disaster.I want to know how I can keep my pet together as they are important members of my family. Additionally, there were many store managers who had actually suffered damage from heavy rains and earthquakes, and there were many comments that raised awareness of disaster prevention, saying that they need to look back on their past experiences and prepare once again. Especially in recent years, there have been many sudden torrential rains, and there have been an increasing number of situations in which people feel a sense of crisis in their daily lives, and there have been many opinions about preparing for the Nankai Trough earthquake, which has recently come up as a hot topic. .
* ▽Based on the results of a questionnaire survey of participating store managers▽*
“Even in Akita, there was heavy rain last year and this year, and I couldn’t believe that the place where I live would be affected…” was a big feeling. Even though the evacuation order (level 4) was in place, I still feel like I’m safe even if I don’t have to flee, so I I wanted to know the criteria for deciding whether to evacuate. “I live in Kochi Prefecture, an area that is prone to floods, so I have learned that I need to prepare for disasters by knowing what the situation is like in the area where I live. It gave me an opportunity to think about what is important.
In fact, the region is predicted to experience major disasters within the next 30 years, such as the Great Nankai Earthquake, so it is important to think about the safety of not only yourself, but also the staff and stores working at your store. I thought it was important to be well prepared for what actions to take when something happens. ” “Due to recent torrential rains, I felt that the nearest station was flooded and rivers were rising, making me feel like I was in danger. We don’t know when or what will happen during a flood disaster, but I felt that we should do everything we can to prepare in advance, such as finding a safe route to an evacuation center and stocking up on the minimum amount of supplies, even if everything is difficult. ” “When I went to the Onoda Sunpark store the other day, I had trouble with Shinkansen delays and sudden train suspensions due to heavy rain.Even though the weather at the time of departure from Kagawa Prefecture was sunny, the trains in Yamaguchi Prefecture I just realized that there are times when it rains so much that it stops.I will share today’s details with the staff while actually operating the site.
“I also experienced a close encounter during the Fukuoka heavy rains.The area where I live was sandwiched between a small river and turned into a sandbar. The cause of the accident was that the river was rising at high tide, and as the car was evacuating, the car’s engine stopped, and the car door had a hard time opening, so I pried it open through the gap and escaped, heading to a nearby house. They let me in and I was rescued by a lifeboat.I was panicked by this unexpected incident.After that, the car sank.I shudder to think that something like this would have happened if there had been a high tide. A disaster that happens more than expected. I will be sure to convey this to the staff as a personal matter. ”
“I also experienced the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016. Even though I knew the location of the evacuation center, when I actually evacuated, it took a long time to reach my destination due to traffic jams, and my grandmother I’ve had experiences where I said I didn’t want to go through a disaster or stayed in my car for days on end, so there were many parts of this story that I could relate to, and I realized that a disaster could happen to me at any time. I think it was great to be able to learn more specifically about things like being aware of what to do, preparing for it on a daily basis, researching routes in advance of evacuation, how to get there, and what to expect after a disaster.”
Mr. Kaneto emphasizes that disaster prevention and countermeasures require “self-help,” “public assistance,” and “mutual assistance.” Particularly in recent years, there have been an increasing number of households in which they do not know much about the area where they live or have no connections in the area due to reasons such as living alone, transferring jobs, or going on business trips. Employees at companies and the stores they work at, as well as the shopping centers where they operate, are expected to play a role in expanding connections as a community.
At the “SC Business Fair” where SC developers and tenant companies gather, “ES Bousai”
Can you protect yourself in case of “what if”? ”, Mr. Kaneto of EnPal Co., Ltd., Mr. Sato, Managing Director of Cenova Division of Shizuoka Property Management Co., Ltd., and Igarashi, President and
Representative Director of IGA Co., Ltd., took the stage. The presentations, which shared the perspectives and opinions of developers and tenants, attracted the attention of visitors, with more than 100 people listening intently.
Protecting stores across the country will not only protect the lives of staff, but also protect the jobs of working staff and protect their livelihoods after recovery. Disaster prevention and countermeasures need to be seen as an issue that companies should put even more effort into tackling.
We will continue to hold seminars and develop support systems so that all employees can take action on their own initiative, and we will continue to value daily communication even when we are apart, so that the company (headquarters) and staff across the country are deeply “connected.”
*EnPal Co., Ltd.*
* Ms. Junko Kanefuji*
EnPal Co., Ltd. Representative Director
Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental Life and Natural Sciences Urban Environmental Creation Course Doctoral Program Student Born in Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City. Majored in international relations at Kobe University Faculty of Law.
After working as a senior researcher in the Information Planning Office and Marketing Office at JTB, he joined a company that develops packaging systems for the distribution and retail industry. Since 2007, he has been engaged in CRM for retail distribution and commercial facilities, as well as analysis of store opening and closing trends, as a senior managing director. EnPal was founded in June 2020 after his home was completely destroyed in the heavy rains in western Japan.
Disaster Prevention Specialist/Disaster Reserve Manager/SC Management Specialist ◆EnPal Co., Ltd.: https://en-pal.co.jp/
◆Senken Newspaper My business diary: https://senken.co.jp/tags/business-diary
On August 9th, the new book “Run now!” will be published by President Publishing. Released “Natural Disasters Not Caused by Humans”. * “Run away now! “Natural disasters that are not caused by humans” President Inc.*
Junko Kaneto (author) ¥2,200 tax included
https://amzn.asia/d/7SV41lZ
IGA Co., Ltd.
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Mail: axesfemme-press@iga-group.com