Chemical Risk Assessment
In the oil and gas industry, chemical risk assessment is essential for safe and reliable operations. Drilling, production, processing and maintenance all involve chemicals that can pose significant health, environmental and operational risks if not properly controlled. Establishing a clear and consistent approach to assessing these risks helps companies prevent incidents, protect workers and maintain compliance across diverse global sites and regulatory frameworks.
What Is a Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment is a systematic process used to identify potential hazards, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm and determine the measures needed to control those risks. In the context of chemical safety and broader risk management, this involves understanding the hazardous properties of a substance, analysing how it is used and assessing the potential for worker exposure or accidental release.
Many organisations also use a risk assessment matrix to visualise the relationship between likelihood and consequence. This helps classify risks into categories such as low, medium or high and supports consistent decision-making across departments, sites and regions.
A risk assessment answers three key questions:
- What could go wrong?
- How likely is it to happen?
- What are the consequences?
Why Chemical Risk Assessment Matters
In high-risk environments, for example during surface treatment, well intervention or maintenance activities, inadequate control may lead to acute health effects, chronic exposure problems or severe incidents including fires and explosions.
A comprehensive risk assessment enables organisations to understand these hazards and put effective controls in place. For companies operating internationally, it also helps ensure alignment with regulatory frameworks such as:
- EU REACH Regulation
- UK COSHH Regulations
- OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard in the United States
- WHMIS in Canada
- Equivalent rules across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific
Most jurisdictions require employers to document chemical risk assessments in writing. While specific rules differ between countries, the principle is the same. Employers must identify hazardous substances, assess potential exposure and record how risks are controlled. Clear and consistent documentation supports internal communication, provides evidence of compliance during audits and forms the foundation for safe operating procedures.
Chemical Risk Assessment Step by Step
1. Maintain an accurate chemical inventory
An up-to-date chemical inventory with the latest safety data sheets (SDS) is the starting point. Ensure that the SDS complies with globally recognised formats such as GHS and contains reliable information about hazards and safe handling.
2. Identify the inherent hazards
Review SDS data to understand the chemical’s classification, health risks, environmental impacts and physical hazards such as flammability or reactivity.
3. Assess exposure
Evaluate how the substance is used, the quantities handled, possible exposure routes, the work environment, ventilation, existing control measures and the frequency and duration of tasks.
4. Determine the level of risk
Combine the hazard and exposure findings to estimate the overall risk and prioritise necessary actions.
5. Implement and improve control measures
Based on the risk outcome, establish suitable measures. These may include engineering controls, process changes, improved ventilation, automation, safer alternatives, or appropriate personal protective equipment. Ensure these measures are reflected in work instructions, toolbox talks, checklists and training routines.
6. Document, monitor and review
Record the entire process and revisit the assessment when new chemicals are introduced, processes change or equipment is modified. Regular reviews help ensure continuous compliance and improvement.
Digital Tools for Risk Assessments
Digital chemical management tools can make it significantly easier to organise chemical inventories, access SDS documents, streamline risk assessments and maintain proper documentation. For organisations operating across multiple regions, digital systems help standardise processes and ensure compliance with varied regulatory requirements. Integrated features such as automated updates, version control and embedded risk management workflows further strengthen the consistency and quality of assessments.
A robust chemical risk assessment helps companies manage hazardous substances safely, maintain compliance and reduce the likelihood of costly incidents. With structured controls, regular reviews and the support of digital tools, organisations can strengthen their risk management practices and ensure safer, more reliable operations.
