PETALING JAYA: It was about 5pm on Monday when a massive gas explosion rocked a chemical recycling factory at Sungai Kapar Indah in Klang after a leak occurred during a chemical transfer from a container. A tanker was destroyed.

Just eight hours later, a huge fire raged through a gas storage factory at Taman Aman Perdana not far away, leaving three foreign workers seriously injured.

The two incidents have raised questions about the handling of industrial gases in the medical and manufacturing sectors.

Despite the presence of comprehensive laws governing the use of industrial gases, stakeholders say there could be insufficient safety and preventive steps being taken by end users.

Another problem is that these users are governed by multiple government agencies, with overlapping enforcement of regulations, which may trigger jurisdictional disputes.

The Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia Department (DOSH) director-general Mohd Hatta Zakaria (pic) said the regulation of industrial gas in the country was highly comprehensive with laws tailored to address specific risks – from handling and storage to preventing accidents.

The industry, he said, was governed mainly by nine agencies (see chart) based on specialisation.

However, Mohd Hatta felt there was no duplication of enforcement as their responsibilities are clearly divided.

“The division of roles ensures comprehensive management of the various facets of industrial gas. While DOSH oversees certains aspects, other agencies take charge of areas like gas emissions, safe transportation and emergencies.

“There is comprehensive oversight at every stage of a chemical life cycle,” he told The Star.

Mohd Hatta said DOSH governs substances that pose major industrial accident risks, their usage, storage, exposure limits, risk assessments and labelling.

He said it was also compulsory for all hazardous chemicals to be registered under the Chemical Management System (CIMS) managed by DOSH.

The most common infringements, he said, are improper documentation, labelling or relabelling; manipulation of gas quantities and gas leaks in industrial settings.He said there were also cases where mandatory safety data sheets are absent, leaving workers unaware of the danger the substance poses.

Mohd Hatta said DOSH had also seen cases where the quantity of gas is manipulated by distributors who alter the declared amount.

He said gas leaks especially involving ammonia and chlorine have also occurred in processing industries.

Often, they are caused by equipment failure, lack of routine maintenance, non-compliance with safe operating procedures and human error or negligence. These breaches pose significant risks to workers and the environment.

DOSH advocates self-regulation whereby employers and employees are responsible for the risks in their premises.

“This is why we always urge employers to focus on training their staff, especially on safety and prevention,” he said.

Fire Department fire safety division director Datu Khirudin Drahman@Hussaini said other than responding to gas leaks and fires, the department was also tasked with carrying out inspections and issuing supporting documents for the licensing of businesses involved in the storage and use of gases and hazardous substances.

He said the department inspects multiple essential safety requirements.

Among them are distancing between a storage or work area from public road, residential areas and other premises; ventilation systems to prevent dangerous gases from accumulating within an enclosure and gas leak detection devices.

“There are various codes of practice specifically for compressed gases and cryogenic fluid, their storage, handling, transportation and installation of fuel gas piping systems,” he said.

Checks with Sirim QAS International, the national standard compliance and industrial research agency, showed that industrial gas tank fittings such as regulators, valves and hoses which often are the main source of gas leaks are not subjected to its scrutiny unlike similar parts used in domestic gas cylinders.

Sirim QAS product certification and inspection department head Miswary Mat Yaacob said that while Sirim has the expertise to carry out standard compliance certifications on industrial gas tank fittings, it is not tasked to do so.

However, he said under the Energy Commission, Sirim is designated to carry out certifications on domestic gas cookers and electrical appliances.

“It is important for such parts to be inspected for standard compliance as those of inferior quality may pose a safety hazard and trigger mishaps. Sirim is prepared to carry out certifications on these parts used by the industrial gas industry and raise the overall standards of the industry in terms of safety,” said Miswary.