About the big fire accident in Tochigi plant of Bridge Stone Company
(Oct.2w,2003)

1 Suicide of the first founder
On September 8, 2003 the big fire in the plant occurred. A week later a 47 years old employee who first founded the fire occurrence committed suicide. He was scheduled to be asked by the police about the scene of occurrence of the fire on the day. But he had not appeared at the police station and police officers looked for him and found him dead.
The death closed the door for disclosing the true cause of the accident.

Last week I visited a company of my clients that is located near the plant. At that time I heard rumors that the employee who was maintenance engineer, did the welding operation and sparks from the operation might the cause of the accident. In the plant there are rules that when someone want to do welding operation a procedure to get permission for safety is required. In his case it is said that he did not observe the procedure.
I think the procedure is not so flexible that it does not enable for an operator to do urgent repairs.

2. Corrective or Preventive action
The Tochigi plant has the several buildings and the buildings that had no fire accident had started a week later of the accident after checking by the fire station.
Is the action is corrective or preventive?

The fire stations of Tochigi Prefecture now are doing the check status of observing fire codes for main factories in the Prefecture.
Is the action is corrective or preventive?

Please refer to the article of The difference between corrective and preventive actions
(Sep.2w,2003)