The Oil and Gas (O&G) industry is by its nature a high riskindustry. The industries’ products, hydrocarbons produced andtransported, supply the world market with substantial amounts offuel and raw product for a number of industrial activities.Therefore the O&G industry handles large quantities offlammable and hazardous substances in the high energy environmentencountered subsurface with high pressure and temperaturescenarios, explosion prone environment, electrical hazard, fallinghazards, and mechanical structure failure. In some cases the risksituation is complicated by a highly toxic gaseous by- product -hydrogen sulfide (H2S). These high energy situations and severeforces call for highly developed Health, Safety and Environment(HSE) Management Systems and Cultures. Despite the high-performancerisk control approach the O&G industry has implemented, theindustry has seen a number of major accidents with extensiveconsequences. A major accident involving hydrocarbons puts at stakethe lives of personnel working at the site, the life and health ofpopulations in neighbouring communities. Based on yourunderstanding and what you study in the course answer the followingquestions: a. How chemical hazard is considered as major risk tooil and gas industry and what are the causes of it? (risks – 2.5marks, causes – 2.5 marks)