Case Studies on Safety Management Practices at Offshore Platforms in Malaysia

Abstract

This paper presents a qualitative exploratory study to investigate safety management practices across multiple offshore platforms in Malaysian oil and gas sector. The study identifies unsafe acts and behaviours that contribute to offshore accidents and examines current approaches to safety management implementation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 5 offshore personnel from different platforms comprising experienced technicians and supervisors with 5 to 25 years of service and certified to operate in offshore environments. All interviews were qualitatively analysed to extract recurring patterns related to behavioural safety and procedural compliance. Findings reveal that improper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) remains the most common unsafe behaviour despite existing safety protocols, daily toolbox meetings, and routine risk assessment activities. This indicates persistent behavioural non-compliance and enforcement gaps within the current Safety Management System. Additionally, limited structured competency development and inconsistent monitoring were identified as constraints affecting overall safety performance. The findings provide oil and gas organizations with actionable insights to reinforce compliance culture, reduce operational risks, and support continuous improvement in safety management offshore.