No matter how much we try to avoid spillages within the workplace or in public areas, unfortunately they can still happen! Common spills involve substances such as diesel, oil, solvents and cleaning chemicals. While small, in-house spills might be easy to clean up quickly, some fluids can be toxic when ingested or exposed to skin and can be very hazardous to the environment.

Of course, the best scenarios are those where no spills ever occur in the first place but if you do have a spill, it’s always better to be well prepared for them and the provision of suitable spill kits will be an enormous help in cleaning up and solving potential health and slip hazards.

All spill kits must be designed to protect employees and the public from the hazards of a spill while at the same time addressing four main areas:

1. Spill control. This could be as simple as putting the bung back in a drum.
2. Containment. Stop the spill from spreading. In the used oil spill scenario, contain the spill using a sorbent sock.
3. Clean-up. In the simplest terms, the clean-up involves removing the spilled substance.
4. Disposal. All spilled substances and the materials used to clean them should be placed in appropriate containers, labelled, dated and then evaluated for proper disposal.

What’s in a spill kit?  
A spill kit is a well-organised set of equipment that has been specifically designed to deal with cleaning up dangerous substances. It enables you to efficiently clean the spill in the safest way possible. Spill kits come in many different forms and can be suitable for different types of spills. For ideas on what should be in a spill kit, consult your health and safety manager at your workplace or speak to a competent supplier.

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