317 Overcoming chemical management challenges in oil and gas construction

Chemical management issues are pervasive within the oil and gas industry, leading to recurring challenges across various construction projects. Neglecting these challenges risks worker safety, environmental harm, and legal issues, underscoring the need for comprehensive mitigation strategies. This paper summarizes the findings and recommendations to address these challenges effectively. A total of seven site intervention was carried out through random selection, encompassing construction site spanning both downstream and upstream projects in Malaysia. Major issues revolve around ineffective chemical management in which chemicals are not being handled correctly, leading to chemical non-compliance and a failure to meet regulatory standards within the industry. The identified chemical findings include inadequate secondary containment and chemical labelling, unavailability of SDS, poorly designed chemical storage, and insufficient emergency preparedness i.e., spill kit, eye wash. To overcome these issues, proposed hierarchical mitigation strategies included the following: (1) prioritizing comprehensive training programs for all employees involved in chemical management; (2) investing in visual aids and communication tools to enhance awareness and understanding of chemical management best practices; (3) establishing a systematic approach to conduct periodic site visits and audits to maintain compliance; and (4) implementing competition-based incentives to encourage the adoption of effective chemical management practices across projects. These chemical issues are often underestimated, yet their pervasive nature highlights the critical importance of compliance. It is imperative to recognize the far-reaching impact of these issues and to take proactive measures to ensure compliance, ultimately safeguarding the operational efficiency.