Have you been told that you require a spill kit for your site? Maybe you’ve introduced a new chemical class to your workplace and you’re not sure if your current spill kit is suitable? Perhaps you’d just like some clarification about what the purpose of a spill kit is? If you’re new to the subject of hazardous chemical spillage — or you’d like to know how to better manage leaks and spills — this blog is for you. We’ll explain the basic purpose of a spill kit and what points you should consider when buying a kit for your business. This blog will also explain how to choose, use and maintain your spill kit, so it continues to provide superior protection against the hazards associated with leaks and spills.
Why Do You Need To Buy A Spill Kit?
Under WHS Regulations, any business that uses, handles, generates or stores hazardous chemicals must have an effective spill containment and management system in place. This means that if there is an accidental release of a hazardous substance, then you will have the controls in place to ensure that it does not become a major problem for your organisation – as well as the wider community and the surrounding natural environment.
Chemical spills can cause a vast range of hazards, with the type and severity of the hazard dependent on the class of chemical that you’re cleaning up.
The quantity of the chemicals that you’re carrying, the level of training that your staff have been provided with, as well as the secondary containment measures that you have in place, will all influence how damaging a chemical spill will be to your organisation.
To provide a safe and compliant spill clean-up, you will have to have a good understanding of the chemical hazards present in your workplace.
When looking at the containment and management of hazardous chemical spills in your workplace, you should first conduct a risk assessment of all the substances that you hold onsite. You should also consider the ways in which a leak or spill could occur, as well as what areas of your business (and surrounding areas) could possibly be affected by a spill. You must also consider how further hazards could occur, such as flammable liquid spills igniting if they meet an ignition source — or incompatible substances causing a further hazard.
Your spill kits are the first line of defence against an uncontrolled chemical spill. The kit is the equipment, materials and decontamination solution that will prevent the spill from adversely affecting your staff, property and the natural environment.
What Types Of Kits Are Available?
All Australian businesses require spill kits if they’re keeping any type of hazardous chemical onsite. Some types of spill kits are also useful for cleaning up general spills, such as flood water or non-hazardous liquids.
You can select ready-made spill kits to suit your requirements, or you can create your own spill kits with specific materials and equipment that are compatible with your chemicals.
There are a variety of ready-made spill kits to suit the needs of your organisation.
Some of the most common types of chemical spill kits include:
- For general spill clean-ups – general purpose spill kits may be used for a wide variety of non-hazardous spills, however, these kits may require further customisation to suit the requirements of your onsite chemicals.
- Hazardous chemical spillage – this type of spill requires a HAZCHEM or chemical spill kit which may include booms, absorbents, floor sweeps, nitrile gloves, waste disposal bags and a wheelie bin for soiled materials and chemical waste.
- Hydrocarbon leaks and spills – to manage oil or fuel spills, you must ensure that the materials are compatible, so further hazards don’t occur. A hydrocarbon kit would be specifically designed to soak up these particular types of substances without creating further hazards (such as static electricity or chemical reactions).
- Chemical spills at sea – leaks and spills don’t just occur in workshops and factories, they can also occur on marine vessels or in the water itself. Marine spill kits are the appropriate kit to combat hazardous chemical spills that happen in or on the water.
REMEMBER: Refer to your Safety Data Sheet, as well as the relevant Australian Standard, to determine the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for your spill kits. Each chemical class will require specific protective measures to reduce the risk of human harm through inhalation or contact with the skin and eyes.
Spill Kit Considerations
As we mentioned earlier in the blog, your organisation requires the right equipment if it is to successfully contain and manage a hazardous chemical leak or spill.
Your spill kit should be:
- Compatible with the chemical that you’ll be cleaning up
- Absorbency suitable for the largest likely spill
- Clearly marked with label or sign saying ‘Spill Kit’
- Placed in a highly visible and easily accessible location
- Complete with all necessary equipment and materials
- Well-maintained and regularly inspected to ensure condition
- Equipped with clear instructions on its use
Do You Require A Risk Assessment?
Just like any control measure to contain or manage hazardous chemicals, your spill kits should be bought after an onsite risk assessment is conducted.
To reduce the impact of an accidental release, you should perform a risk assessment to ensure that you’re fully equipped to handle a spill incident.
REMEMBER: To properly manage a chemical leak or spill in your workplace, you will need a comprehensive understanding of all the hazards associated with your site. When performing a spill risk assessment, make sure you refer to the individual Safety Data Sheets (SDS), as well as the register of hazardous chemicals, the hazardous chemical manifest (if applicable) and the relevant Australian Standard.
Is Spill Kit Training Necessary?
While spill kits should come complete with a general instruction card, staff must be trained and supervised to ensure that they can quickly and confidently deal with a chemical leak or spill.
A formal staff training program should be implemented so that all relevant staff and supervisors know how to:
- Reduce the hazards associated with a chemical spill
- Secure the area from unauthorised personnel
- Notify emergency services, if required
- Contain the spilled substances
- Clean-up the chemicals and any resulting effluent
- Place the waste in containers and/or bags so that there are no further leaks
- Dispose of the spilled chemicals and effluent in a compliant manner
- Accurately report the spillage incident
IMPORTANT: Under WHS Regulations, all Australian businesses are obliged to provide training, information, instruction or supervision to protect people from risks to their health and safety while they’re in the workplace. Chemical spill training should be part of your overall chemical safety training program. However, the containment and management of the spill should only be handled by nominated staff who have the experience and knowledge to manage the incident.
Where To Place Your Spill Kits
It’s recommended that spill kits are placed within 30 metres of the work area where there is a potential spill risk.
Make sure your spill kits are clearly visible, with well-maintained signage directing staff to the spill kit locations. Your staff will require ongoing training and supervision so they can correctly identify, access and use the spill kit in the event of an accidental chemical release.
Your spill kits are the essential tools which enable your staff to quickly contain and manage hazardous chemical spills in the workplace.
Using The Spill Kit
The purpose of your spill kit is to reduce risk to people, property and the environment during a spillage incident.
Your kit is an assortment of materials and equipment that will facilitate the containment, clean-up and disposal of the spilled chemicals and any resulting effluent.
The basic steps that you should follow during a spill include:
- Securing the area - ensuring the area is free from pedestrian traffic and unathorised personnel. Make sure that there are no ignition sources present and that incompatible substances are segregated from the spill site.
- Assessing the impact of the spill – minor chemical spills may be handled by your inhouse team, however, major chemical spills will require emergency procedures and the notification of local emergency services and relevant authorities.
- Containment – using booms and other containment systems, staff should immediately act to contain the spill so that it does not spread throughout the workplace or enter drainage or sewer systems.
- Clean-up – Using shovels, brooms, scoops or other equipment, nominated staff should commence the clean-up of spilled chemicals. Absorbent materials, such as absorbent pads or floor sweep, should be utilised to soak up the substance.
- Neutralisation - Your spill kit may also contain products, such as neutralisers, which are necessary for neutralising acids or acidic water in the spill zone.
- Decontamination – Most chemical spills require a decontamination of the spill site to ensure that there is no harmful residue left over from the clean-up process. Refer to your SDS to determine your decontamination requirements.
- Waste disposal – Once you have contained the spilled chemicals in containers, and all soiled items are secured in additional waste disposal bags, you should place them all in a wheely bin and take them to the waste disposal area. Hazardous chemicals must be handled by an authorised waste management company, as they still pose a risk after they’ve been cleaned-up.
- Reporting and re-assessing – Any incident involving a hazardous chemical must be reported and assessed to minimise the likelihood of the event happening again. As well as filing a detailed report on the spillage, you should also discuss how to improve spill containment and management in your next staff meeting.
Keeping Your Business Safe During A Chemical Leak or Spill
Thanks for reading our blog and learning more about chemical spill kits. As you can see, choosing, maintaining and installing your spill kit is a key risk minimisation measure that will help protect your operations from hazards including human harm, fire, explosion, chemical reactions and environmental contamination. By working together with your staff, you can create a strong spill response plan and reduce chemical risk in your workplace.
If you’d like to learn more about maintaining your spill kit, why not access a copy of our free checklist? Our spill kit checklist will help you keep on top of your compliance obligations by giving you simple and clear instructions to follow when conducting your regular spill kit inspections. Click on the image below to access your copy today.
