- Product Safety and Product Security
Based on Toshiba Group Basic Policy on Product Safety and Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group, we ensure product safety and product security, and positively disclose full information of safety to customers. We will boost our efforts to swiftly retrieve products after a recall has been announced in order to ensure the safety of our customers in the market. Furthermore, we will redouble our activities related to product safety and product security across all companies to eliminate serious accidents caused by our negligence.
FY2023 Key Achievements
- The number of incident reports under “Consumer Product Safety Act”: 2* (cases in which the causes unknown)
- Enhanced Product security initiatives in the supply chain
- Figures may change going forward due to additional information, progress with incident investigation, etc.
Basic Policy on Product Safety and Product Security
In keeping with the Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group on Product Safety and Product Security, Toshiba Group endeavors to comply with relevant laws and regulations, to ensure product safety and product security, and also to proactively disclose reliable safety information to our customers. Furthermore, we continually research safety-related standards and technical standards (UL Standards*1, CE Marking*2, etc.) required by the countries and regions where we distribute products, and display the safety compliance of our products in accordance with the relevant standards and specifications.
Compliance with relevant laws and regulations is managed by our technology-related divisions and quality assurance divisions, and product safety traceability is managed by specifying items on a per-product basis.
Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group on Product Safety and Product Security
- We observe both Japanese and overseas laws and regulations related to product safety and product security.
- We collect, and proactively disclose, a wide range of information about product accidents.
- We immediately report any product accident to the authorities concerned in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
- We promptly inform customers when a need arises to recall and repair products.
- We appropriately raise caution and display warnings when deemed necessary in order to help people use its products in a safe manner.
- If an accident should occur, we carry out a thorough analysis of the causes and take necessary measures to prevent it from recurring. We also strive to prevent accidents by predicting risk at the design stage.
- We strive to eliminate vulnerabilities from products prior to shipment.
- We collect a wide range of information on product vulnerabilities in order to reduce risk.
- We widely provide product security measures in cooperation with the relevant organizations.
- UL Standards: Limited Liability Company that develops standards for materials, products, and equipment and provides product testing and certification.
- CE Marking: A certification mark that indicates conformity with the safety standards of the European Union (EU). The CE marking is required for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA).
Structure of Response to the Occurrence of Product Accidents
If an employee discovers information on accidents involving Toshiba products in the market, he/she promptly alerts the accident response staff in the relevant companies. Then the necessary measures are discussed and enacted by the CPL Committee*1 of relevant companies, chaired by a senior executive, or if necessary, the Corporate CPL Committee. In the event of a serious accident attributable to a product that is likely to recur, we inform customers of the danger and request that they cease using such products, promptly report to the competent authorities, and establish countermeasures as soon as possible.
Furthermore, we are developing an information system to enable swift communication with quality assurance divisions and top management regarding information on product accidents obtained by repair and service staff as well as on how such incidents are being handled by Toshiba.
In FY2023, Toshiba disclosed 2 cases in which the causes unknown in the list of serious product accidents on our Japanese website*2.
- CPL Committee: CPL is an abbreviation combining CL (contractual liability) and PL (product liability). The CPL Committee of Group companies is chaired by its president, and promptly determines measures to deal with product accidents and quality issues.
- Accident report based on a Consumer Products Safety Act (Japanese)
Toshiba Group's Structure to Respond to Occurrence of Product Accidents
Preventing Occurrence and Recurrence of Serious Product Accidents
Toshiba Group is working to ensure product safety with 94% of manufacturing sites with a product development process conducting design reviews related to product safety (as of December 2021).
In addition, in 2011 we created the “Guidebook for Preventing Reoccurrence of Accidents (e-book),” which is a compilation of accident cases that have occurred in Toshiba Group. The information can be accessed by personnel in charge of quality and safety-related issues in the company via the intranet. A serious accident not only signals an alarm for the quality and safety of products, but also can provide precious insight into product development and assessment. We will promote the system of sharing information within the Group and strive to prevent reoccurrence of product accidents.
Guidebook for Preventing Reoccurrence of
Accidents (Japanese)
To Ensure Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Rules, etc. on Product Safety
The Chief Quality Executive plays a central role in ensuring thorough compliance with product safety-related laws, regulations and rules throughout the Group and also conducts periodic monitoring and audits. We provided e-learning to all related personnel in Japan (73,528 in FY2023 with participation rate of 99.99%) concerning the Electrical Appliances and Material Safety Law in Japan since the law has an important bearing on the Group’s products. By increasing understanding of the law we aim to prevent more accidents.
Toshiba Group is involved in standardization work of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) through activities at Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (JEMA), Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) and Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB). These activities allow Toshiba to keep abreast of the latest information and adhere to the standards specified by these organizations.
Sharing Information on and Response to Serious Product Accidents
Toshiba Group convenes a meeting for persons in charge of the Electrical Appliances and Material Safety Law who gather from Toshiba Group companies to prevent occurrence and recurrence of serious accidents through breaches of the law. The meeting serves as the basis for sharing product information from respective companies.
Information on serious accidents caused by procured items is also shared at meetings that aim to promote the quality of such items. The information is logged in a database as a means to enhance the quality of procured items. Product security liaison meetings are used to share examples of accidents and the latest information on product security obtained from such related organizations as Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center (JPCERT/CC). We are working to prevent accidents caused by product vulnerabilities.
Disclosure to Ensure Safe Use of Products
Although products are equipped with various safety features, they may not be sufficient to ensure complete safety if products are in use for very long periods of time or the operating environment or conditions are extreme.
To ensure safe use of products, Toshiba Group describes correct handling of products in users’ manuals and, if necessary, through alerts placed in newspapers and on the website, or by means of leaflets, educational materials, etc.
Further, in case of Toshiba brand products which businesses are transferred outside Toshiba Group such as home appliances and visual products, we also endeavor to promote information disclosure by sharing product accident information with the companies which businesses have been transferred.
Disclosure and Sharing of Information to Toshiba Product Users
Notices to ensure safe use of home appliances
Alerts concerning product safety and security, etc.
- Important announcement for customers (Japanese)
Inspection and labeling system for long-term use products
How to use elevator and escalator safely and comfortably
- Commitment to safety, security, comfort, and health (Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation) (Japanese)
Disclosure of Product Safety and Quality Information
In the event of a serious defect or accident resulting from a Toshiba product or service, we promptly report the details to the competent authorities in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations. Also, in order to notify customers of such accidents as quickly as possible, depending upon the severity of damage or frequency of occurrence, we disclose product accident information directly to our customers via newspapers, websites, etc. Through our corporate website, we disclose information on accidents involving our products as posted on the website of the Consumer Affairs Agency. We also proactively disclose information concerning serious accidents, even when it is unclear whether such accidents are attributable to Toshiba products or not.
Further, in case of Toshiba brand products which businesses are transferred outside Toshiba Group such as home appliances, we also endeavor to promote information disclosure by sharing product accident information with the companies which businesses have been transferred.
- Important announcement for customers (Japanese)
This page contains the following four announcements: “Important announcement regarding product safety,” “Important announcement regarding quality defects,” “Important announcement for customers,” and “Other announcements.”
In FY2023, there was one product safety recall announcement in the domestic market. We do not believe there will be any problems if you continue to use the product as is, but if you have any problems with radio interference or are concerned about the effects, please contact us and we will respond. The number of affected units is 84,496 across 11 models.
Initiatives for Enhancing Product Security
To ensure security for products, systems, and services, Toshiba Group works, in collaboration with its quality assurance divisions and procurement divisions, to ensure security for product development processes and other companies’ products used in its products under its product security management system.
We have devised plans to enhance its product security preparedness according to risk-based priorities, defining four focus areas for product security: maintenance and management of the PSIRT* framework, handling of vulnerability information, response to product security incidents, and secure development management. We are making a Toshiba Group-wide effort to prepare product security checklists that summarize the security requirements to be checked at each product development stage as well as guidelines and standard recommended tools corresponding to each of the checklists.
To ensure that our suppliers understand Toshiba Group’s approach to product security, we also distribute guidelines and hold cyber security seminars to help them provide secure products, systems, and services.
We have also established new guidelines to objectively determine the security risks of Toshiba Group's wide-ranging and diverse products, and are working on initiatives for enhancing product security through risk-based approaches in the supply chain that includes in-house product development and suppliers.
In terms of human resource development, for better understanding of product security and implementation thereof, we provide all Toshiba Group officers and employees with annual e-learning sessions on product security. We have also defined human resource types and responsibility levels in accordance with the work type and implemented specialist training based thereon. Furthermore, we have established and operate an in-house certification program for security personnel. Through these activities, we are developing human resources with product security expertise across all positions and divisions in order that these employees can improve security quality during product development, and identify and respond to vulnerabilities and incidents in a timely and appropriate manner during their daily work activities.
We also ask our suppliers to understand Toshiba Group’s approach to product security and cooperate with us in providing secure products, systems, and services by preparing guidelines.
Please refer to “Cyber Security Report” linked on the “Toshiba Cyber Security website” for details on our product security efforts.