Equinor Enhances Safety Following Mongstad Chemical Probe

Overview of the Incident

Equinor has completed an internal investigation into a chemical exposure incident at its Mongstad refinery in Norway. The findings revealed multiple safety and risk management failures, prompting the company to implement corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The incident occurred on October 29, 2025, when personnel were exposed to benzene during maintenance work on a measuring instrument. Initially expected to last only 30 minutes, the task extended for over five hours without a reassessment of the risks involved, leading to prolonged exposure. Two workers reported discomfort, with one requiring a brief absence from work.

Root Causes Identified

The investigation highlighted a combination of operational, procedural, and organizational shortcomings. Workers were exposed to elevated levels of benzene while using respiratory protection that was not adequate for prolonged exposure. Additionally, heightened activity levels during the refinery’s restart phase following maintenance contributed to time pressure and insufficient planning.

A critical issue identified was the lack of an updated risk assessment when the job deviated significantly from its original scope and duration. Other gaps included poor preparation of the assigned team, unclear planning, and the handling of naphtha—known to emit benzene—in open containers without proper protective equipment.

Corrective Measures Implemented

In response, Equinor has introduced several measures aimed at strengthening chemical safety and operational oversight at Mongstad. These include:

• Replacing naphtha with glycol in measuring instruments to eliminate benzene emissions
• Increasing availability and compliance with respiratory protection
• Enhancing training on benzene exposure and gas detection
• Assigning a dedicated safety engineer to improve oversight of the chemical work environment

The company has also emphasized stricter adherence to its updated respiratory protection protocols introduced in February 2025.

Regulatory Response

The incident has been reported to Norway’s Ocean Industry Authority, which has launched its own investigation and referred the case to police authorities. The regulator has intensified scrutiny across the sector in recent years as awareness of benzene exposure risks has grown, prompting tighter exposure limits and stricter compliance requirements.

Significance of the Mongstad Refinery

Mongstad is one of Europe’s largest oil refineries and a critical asset in Equinor’s downstream portfolio. The findings highlight ongoing challenges in managing safety during high-intensity operational phases such as post-maintenance ramp-ups—a known risk period across the refining industry.

Equinor’s investigation underscores how operational pressure, inadequate risk reassessment, and gaps in protective measures combined to expose workers to hazardous chemicals, prompting the company to overhaul safety protocols at one of its key refining hubs.