Article 106. (State Assistance)
• (1) In additon to those measures prescribed in Article 19-3, paragraph (3) of Article 28-2, Article 57-5, Article 63, Article 71, and Article 71-4, the State shall endeavor in order to contribute to the prevention of industrial accidents, to take financial measures, and to give technical advice and other necessary assistance, with respect to the improvement of safety and health facilities, the implementation of safety and health improvement plans and other activities carried out by employers.
• (2) In granting the assistance under the preceding paragraph, the State shall give special consideration to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Article 107. (Assistance by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare)
• The Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare shall provide safety officers, health officers, safety and health promoters, health promoters, industrial physicians, consultants and others, who are to perform their duties to prevent industrial accidents, with the necessary information and assistance in order to improve their abilities, as well as to enhance workers' interest in the prevention of industrial accidents.
Article 108. (Promotion of Research and Development, etc.)
• The Government shall, for the purpose of promoting science and technology contributing to the prevention of industrial accidents, endeavor to promote research and development, to disseminate the results thereof and to take other necessary measures.
Article 108-2. (Epidemiological Survey, etc.)
• (1) The Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare may, when he/she finds it necessary in order to find the association of chemical substances, etc., to which employees are exposed or the work and the diseases of these said workers, make an epidemiological survey and other investigations (hereinafter in this Article referred to as “epidemiological survey, etc.”)
• (2) The Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare may entrust the implementation of the whole or part of the business of carrying out an epidemiological survey, etc., to one who has expert knowledge of epidemiological surveys, etc.
• (3) The Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare or one who was entrusted under the provisions of the preceding paragraph may, where they deem it necessary in order to carry out an epidemiological survey, etc., question the employer, the workers and other persons concerned, or request them to report on necessary matters or submit necessary documents.
• (4) One who was engaged in the business of carrying out an epidemiological survey, etc., whose implementation was entrusted by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare under the provisions of paragraph (2), shall not disclose the confidential information he or she has become aware of in connection with the execution; provided that this shall not apply where he or she is compelled to disclose the confidential information in order to prevent the impairment of workers' health