DSB-research report valuable for the joint improvement of safety at Chemelot

We strongly regret the reason for this research. The report is a valuable document. It gives additional insights by which we can improve our joint safety performances and safety organization. We have the ambition to become the safest, most sustainable site of West-Europe.

The research report ‘Chemistry in collaboration: risk management at the industrial complex Chemelot” has been received by Chemelot from the DSB (Dutch Safety Board[BS1] ). The reason for this research are multiple accidents in 2016.

The DSB report focused on four aspects:

1.       Control of the safety risks
How do companies at Chemelot control the safety risks of the chemical process installations at BRZO-companies*?

2.       Role and responsibility government parties
How do the government parties fill in their roles and responsibilities?

3.       Weak spots in the process safety during the accidents in 2016
To which weak spots in the control of the process safety point the accidents of 2016?

4.       Which improvements are possible in the (joint) control of process safety at Chemelot and the (dependent) environmental safety
In the DSB-report there are multiple critical points of attention and points of improvement, that are partially determined earlier in the own researches of the concerned BRZO-companies and Chemelot. These points are picked up: some are already executed, others are still in execution.

In the report the DSB gives suggestions to develop a joint safety policy with a clear ambition, in which the shared risks are described and an action plan is included in which safety for Chemelot as total is being improved. A recommendation endorsed and picked up by Chemelot.

Safety is a continuous improvement process. In response to the accidents, a few steps are made. Extra consults are organized to share experiences and to learn from each other. This has led to extra inspections and an extra risk-inventory is set up in plants.

We are aware of the added value for all Chemelot companies to share choices and considerations on a regular basis. In this way companies learn the most from each other and they help each other to improve the safety level.

The recommendations of the DSB make us even more aware of our role with respect to safety on site and we make a joint effort to improve these.

At Chemelot we make an effort every day to bring safety to the highest level and to improve continuously. Safety has our priority and we want to avoid incidents by mastering our risks.

Read the report here.

*BRZO-companies are companies in which big amounts of hazardous substances are found above a certain threshold value. These companies are covered by the Besluit Risico’s Zware Ongevallen 2015 (BRZO’s). At the Chemelot terrain there are 12 BRZO companies.