Spill Kit is an important part of any DOSH risk assessment to have an efficient emergency response plan. This will detail what should be done in the event of an accident, including leaks and spillages, involving any hazardous substances. Spill kits enable you to efficiently clean the spill or leak in the safest way possible.
Dealing with these incidents quickly and effectively will protect workers, premises and the wider environment from harm. Spills can pose a deadly threat in the workplace; not only can spills create a slipping hazard, but they can also be harmful to breathe in or come into contact with.
Spill kits are used in a variety of different workplaces and industries. These include:
- Warehouses.
- Workshops.
- Auto repair and maintenance garages and workshops.
- Laboratories.
- Hospitals, clinics, ambulances and other medical and care establishments.
- Emergency services such as police and fire service.
- Commercial kitchens and restaurants.
- Transport companies.
- Oil, gas and mining sectors.
- The armed forces.
- Manufacturers.
- Construction.
- Farms.
- Shipping, docks and marinas.
- Local councils and public sector amenities.
Anyone working with hazardous substances will be likely to need a spill kit; for example, fluids are required to create products, lubricate machines, cool parts and to perform a variety of other tasks in a variety of workplaces. It is inevitable that spills will happen, but with effective preparation and the correct equipment they can be controlled and costly accidents can be avoided.
The purpose of a spill kit is to contain and clean up a spill as quickly and efficiently as possible; this is not only for the safety of workers and others but also for the protection of the environment.
The most beneficial component of a spill kit is that they are pre-packaged with all the materials that will be needed in the spill clean-up procedure as identified in the risk assessment.
Where can a spill kit be found?
The items of a spill kit should be stored in a container large enough for the spill and made out of an appropriate material to store the contents. Spill kits should be stored as close to the area where the liquid(s) the kit is designed to clean up is kept. For example, a medical facility should store blood-borne spill kits in the laboratory that tests blood.
Examples of places to keep spill kits include but are not limited to:
- Most laboratory areas.
- Areas in medical and care facilities.
- Fuel pumps.
- Commercial garage facilities.
- Outdoor storage tanks.
- Industrial and commercial kitchens.
- Waste collection areas.
- Vehicles carrying hazardous substances.
You need to identify your spill risk areas. Specifically, where they are, the risk type and quantities of hazardous materials. It may be difficult to know where to put spill kits. If this is the case, then the facility should be mapped out with the location, the types of liquids as well as quantity, and the potential spills that can occur. Use this as your starting point for placing kits around the workplace.
There are several different designs of spill kits available that can be beneficial in different situations. For example, there are spill kits that can be hung up on the wall for easy storage, spill kits housed in a wheeled bin for easy transportation, or kits in a duffel bag designed for drivers on the road.
What are the different types of spill kits?
Being ready for an accident or emergency will be a major part of your COSHH risk assessment. Identifying potential hazards in your workplace will give you a good understanding of what type of substances might need to be cleared up and whether spills or leaks are likely to be small or large scale. Using this information, you can decide what type and how much spill control material you need. Using a spill kit relevant to your site will ensure you have sufficient stock of the correct items.
Categories of spill kits include:
- Biohazard and Laboratory.
- Oil and Fuel.
- Chemical.
- Maintenance and Universal.
- Specialised Spill Response Kits.
– Spill kits for vehicles.
– Mini spill kits.
– Mobile spill kits.
Your workplace risk assessment will determine which type and how many spill kits you will need.