Welcome Address by Mr Lim Keng Yang at ChemPact: Community of Practice for the Chemical Industries

29 Jan 2026 Speeches

WELCOME ADDRESS BY 
MR LIM KENG YANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE WSH COUNCIL (CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES) COMMITTEE, 
AT CHEMPACT: COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES ON 27 JANUARY 2026

Fellow leaders, partners from SCIC and ASPRI, and management of the chemical industries, 
Ladies & gentlemen, 

Introduction

  1. Good afternoon, I am so glad to see so many of you here, and I am honoured to be among so many leaders from the Chemical Industries. On behalf of the WSH Council (Chemical Industries) Committee, I warmly welcome all of you to ChemPact:  Community of Practice for the Chemical Industries. My appreciation also goes to SCIC and ASPRI for co-organising this event with us, and to the Ministry of Manpower for their continued support.  This marks the third edition of ChemPact, and the continued support from SCIC and ASPRI reflects their strong and unwavering commitment to advancing WSH excellence in the Chemical Industries.

    I want to start by thanking each and everyone in the Chemical value chain for operating safely in 2025 – we did not have any fatal injury last year and in fact over the last 3 years!  

    Safety is a journey and we are progressing well but must continue to feel vulnerable. 

    A Changing Energy & Chemicals Landscape
  2. This edition of ChemPact takes place at a pivotal moment for Singapore’s Energy and Chemicals landscape. The oil and gas sector is undergoing major shifts, including business consolidation and structural changes driven by the global energy transition. In addition, we will need to be prepared to adopt low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and other alternative energies. These transitions bring new technologies, new operational risks, and new capability requirements. And with it, comes potentially new safety issues that we cannot neglect. In this evolving environment, safety and innovation are not just necessary - they are strategic differentiators that determine business resilience and competitiveness.

    Good WSH Is Good for Business
  3. We firmly believe that good WSH is good for business. Strong safety performance builds trust, demonstrates operational reliability, and strengthens talent attraction and retention. Companies with strong WSH records stand out amid tightening supply chains. Today, WSH excellence goes beyond compliance - it is a powerful business advantage. This is clearly demonstrated by organisations such as ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. having ISO45001 certification and UTOC Engineering Pte. Ltd. having bizSAFE Star Certification. Programmes like bizSAFE and WSH equivalent credentials lead to improved WSH outcomes, enhanced productivity and open up more business opportunities.  We will hear more from their presentations later on how having excellent WSH standards have propel their businesses forward. And hopefully, you will be convinced that good WSH is good business. 

  4. As mentioned, I am encouraged by the strong safety and health culture within the Chemical Industries. With strong WSH ownership by plant owners and value-chain partners, the industry has successfully kept injury rates low. Let us sustain this momentum, and show why investing in high safety standards truly pays. 

    Safety Through Innovation – The Future of the Chemical Industries
  5. As processes become more complex, innovation in safety is essential. Digitalisation, automation, robotics, and engineering controls are no longer optional – they are critical to improving both safety and productivity. The Chemical Industries have long led in WSH innovation, and I encourage more companies to adopt technology and innovative solutions to stay ahead as new business models and hazards emerge.

    Connecting to the Innovation Projects Showcase
  6. This is why I am pleased that today’s ChemPact features our Innovation Projects Showcase, highlighting practical industry-developed solutions - from lifting verification systems and digital behavioural safety tools to engineered enhancements for coke-handling operations. These projects show how safety and productivity can advance together. I encourage you to visit the showcase and consider how these solutions can be adapted to your own operations.  

    Launch of the WSH Indicators for the Chemical Industries – A Tool for Stronger Performance
  7. Beyond adopting new WSH innovations, we must continually strengthen our existing work processes. Meaningful metrics are essential for tracking performance in a dynamic operating environment. In this regard, I am pleased to announce the launch of the WSH Indicators for the Chemical Industries - developed with reference to national and industry publications, and tailored for plant owners as well as process construction and maintenance companies. These indicators will help companies identify gaps early and strengthen systems in a targeted way. I strongly encourage companies to adopt and customise them as part of your data-driven safety journey. An analogy I have for this is that I see these indicators as similar to your health check-up. Blood pressures, cholesterol, blood sugar. In the same way, this is like the safety and health check-up for your company. 

    Collective WSH Leadership : Strengthening the WSH Ecosystem
  8. Ultimately, WSH excellence is a collective responsibility. It calls for strong leadership and ownership not only from plant owners, but across the entire value chain, including process construction and maintenance partners. 

    Closing
  9. To conclude, I thank all of you for your continued commitment to raising WSH standards in our industry. Let us continue to champion the message that safety strengthens businesses. I wish everyone a meaningful and engaging afternoon, and encourage you to visit the Innovation Projects Showcase.

    Thank you.