Chemical Industry Should Adapt to Advanced EHSS’ Standards, Techniques

In the chemical industry worldwide domain, environment, health, safety and security (EHSS) is a crucial and competitive cutting edge for companies looking to continue to grow and prosper, in the future, especially as more customers and investors around the world demand higher standards, in this field.

Therefore companies that are not paying enough attention to these global trends may lose their position and competitive advantage in the business environment, and they may be subjected to losing further growth opportunities.

Since the founding of SABIC; the environment, health, safety and security remain a core value in all of the company’s business and operations, according to the highest global standards that are subject to periodic review for development and continued operational excellence.

It was necessary for (SABIC) to build a strong culture within the company related to the environment, health, safety and security, beyond mere compliance with the rules, to focus on proactive work to continue to improve and contribute to the success and continuity of the company’s business.

Because successful businesses are characterized by safety in the first place; SABIC attaches utmost importance to managing the environment, health, safety and security more than ever before, to ensure the safety and security of its employees and facilities, as well as the protection and preservation of the environment, and the development of the communities, in which it operates, in order to achieve SABIC’s vision of becoming the preferred global company, in the field of chemicals.

One of the latest examples of SABIC’s excellence in the areas of environment, health, safety and security, is the company’s efforts during the past year, in which SABIC improved water disposal and reuse processes, to raise the level of utilization of treated wastewater recycling.

In addition to reducing emissions by installing new equipment and making modifications in various operational facilities around the world, recycling waste by providing separate waste bins in several company facilities and training employees and urging them to use them to increase recycling rates.

SABIC also launched the “Your Safety Matters” campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the environment, health, and safety, and raise the level of compliance with approved policies and regulations.

The role of digital transformation is also growing in terms of enhancing SABIC capabilities in the areas of environment, health, safety and security, as technology provides a deeper vision that contributes to the identification and management of risks more accurately, especially during a pandemic.

(SABIC) believes that the “automation” of its operations – automation means here use of self-control and automation systems in various stages of the manufacturing process – enabling it to better manage risks, as well as monitor results, track procedures for removing risks, and reduce violations.

“Automation” is one of the means that enables the company to achieve better performance, in terms of environment, health, safety and security, data analysis and the investment of artificial intelligence data.

Therefore, enhancing the level of “automation” supports SABIC’s efforts to better manage risks.

Because the pandemic has changed the nature of the workplace, the work itself, and the way it is performed, these new changes will affect the environment, health, safety and security aspect, and therefore the chemical industry must adopt flexibility to adapt to the new reality.

Despite growing economic challenges; (SABIC) has succeeded in raising the levels of environmental, health, safety and security efficiency, improved communication and information exchange processes, and strengthened initiatives for people development, digital transformation, and operations and risk management.

As a result of SABIC continuing to develop its crisis management model, the company was able to deal with the effects of the pandemic through rapid response, improving the crisis management structure, monitoring the effects on employees and the work environment, ensuring business continuity, and developing technical applications that help employees adapt to the new situation and ensure preparedness to face other threats such as cyber security risks, and comprehend the lessons learned from the pandemic and integrate them into the company’s crisis management plans.

SABIC believes that it is time for the chemical industry to adapt to advanced environmental, health, safety and security models and technologies, to ensure better preparedness to respond to such situations, in the future, and to keep pace with the initiative companies, in this field.