SPILL KITS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What is a spill kit?
  • 
    A spill kit is an essential tool designed to manage and clean up spills in various industrial and workplace environments. These kits are tailored to contain specific types of spills, ensuring a quick and efficient response to prevent environmental contamination and safety hazards. Spill kits are essential for:
    

    • ◦           Containing spills: Prevents the spread of hazardous substances, minimising environmental damage and health risks.

    • ◦           Controlling spills: Stabilises the situation by stopping further leakage or spillage.

    • ◦           Cleaning up spills: Facilitates the removal and proper disposal of spilled substances.
  
  
  • What size spill kit do I need?
    • 
      Determine the ‘likely’ spill from your largest liquid container or holding tank e.g. If your largest liquid container is a 205L oil drum, you should have at least one 240L spill kit.
      
      It is also worthwhile considering bunded storage for liquids. These help to act as a secondary containment solution in the event of a failure, making clean up easier and helping to satisfy environmental compliance obligations.

• How do you use a spill kit?
  • 
    

    • 1. ASSESS - Assess the risk. Who or what is in immediate danger?

    • 2. IDENTIFY - Identify the type and source of the chemical spilled. Are there any added risks particular to the type of chemical spilled, such as fire or combustion? Use a spill identification chart to ensure that the correct spill kit and absorbent material is used. If you do not know what has been spilled, then assume the worst and choose a spill kit accordingly. If hazardous chemicals, such as aggressive acids and bases, are present at the worksite, then use a Hazchem spill kit; if they are not present then a general-purpose spill kit will suffice.

    • 3. PROTECT - Protect yourself by wearing appropriate PPE. This could include gloves, masks, eyewear, boots, ventilators and coveralls. If you do not know what has been spilled, assume the worst and protect yourself accordingly.

    • 4. CONTAIN - Contain the spill and seal the drains using booms. Preventing the spill from spreading any further will limit the breadth of its impact.

    • 5. CONTROL - Control the source of the spill by closing valves, rotating punctured drums, plugging leaks, using the appropriate spill kit components to help contain the spill such as booms. Where it is possible and safe to do so.

    • 6. CLEAN UP - Clean up the spill using the appropriate spill kit and absorbent materials, such as pads, pillows, and floor sweeps.

    • 7. DISPOSE - Dispose of used absorbents and spilled chemicals in accordance with local laws.

    • 8. DECONTAMINATE - Decontaminate all tools and reusable materials properly before they are used again.

    • 9. RESTOCK - Restock any materials and safety equipment that was used in the cleanup operation.

     It’s important to note that businesses have a legal obligation to comply with local legislation around notifying the appropriate authorities.
    Depending on the nature of the spill, immediate action (such as calling 000 for a fire or another authority about an immediate threat to human life may be required), or an action that takes place later in the spill response process.

    
    The exact spill response you need to undertake will depend on your risk assessment and spill response plan, the type of spill you are containing, and the spill kit you select.

• Where should a spill kit be located?
  • 
    Spill kits can be positioned indoors or outdoors, including in vehicles. We recommend your kit be placed in an easily accessible location near areas where spills are likely to occur. You should always refer to your spill response plan and any specified locations.

• What are the Main Types of Spill Kits?
  • 
    Pratt offers three types of colour-coded spill kits, containing different types of absorbent materials:
    
    

    • General Purpose Spill Kits (Universal)
      Colour-coded grey and containing grey absorbents. They are ideal for all liquid spills, with the exception of aggressive acids or alkalis.

    
    

    • Oil & Fuel Only Spill Kits
      Colour-coded white and containing white absorbents. They are designed to recover oils and fuels only, in and around water without absorbing the water. If the spill kit will be used for spills on soil rather than hard surfaces or concrete surfaces, choose a kit which includes ground and floor absorbents.

    
    

    • Hazchem Spill Kits
      Colour-coded yellow and containing yellow absorbents. They are designed for acids, alkalis, coolants, paints and oils and fuels and are made from inert material which will not react with any absorbed liquids.

• What are the Spill Kits Components?
  • 
    Spill kits contain items required for cleaning up a spill, such as absorbent pads, booms, pillows, gloves and disposable bags.
    Different items are used for different purposes:
    
    

    • Absorbent booms are flexible socks (or tubes) ideal for providing a barrier to contain a spill before it spreads or pollutes the environment and waterways.

    
    

    • Absorbent pads are usually used on smaller spills that pose a risk to the workplace, but they can also be used to wipe tools or surfaces affected by a spill.

    
    

    • Absorbent pillows quickly soak up large amounts of liquid and can be squeezed out and reused. They soak up spills and leaks that are too large for an absorbent pad and are ideal for tight spaces, such as under leaky drums.

    
    

    • Floor sweeps are made from a range of materials like cellulose, coir pith and zeolite. This granulated product can be spread over large areas or used by the handful to soak up major and minor spills. They can be used indoors and outdoors on any surface, including concrete, bitumen and dirt.

    
    

    • Dustpan and brush for cleaning up spill waste, such as floor sweeps.

    
    

    • Contaminated waste bags for containing waste before safely disposing of it.