When it comes to ensuring worker and environment safety, spill kits are an essential item. Spills can occur any time when oil or water-based chemicals are being stored, transported or used. With this in mind, here is everything you need to know about spill kits, and whether or not you need them.
When Should You Use a General Spill Kit?
The most commonly used spill kit is a general spill kit, and it is used to clean up hydrocarbon and water-based product spills, such as coolants and the like. Many industries such as mines, mining support and factories use general spill kits.
General spill kits can also be used for cleaning up blood or bodily fluids in medical facilities, and they contain absorbent materials suitable for spills in restaurants, warehouses, and commercial buildings.
When Shouldn’t You Use a General Spill Kit?
Though spill kits are generally very effective against oil spills and water-based products, they are not suitable for hazardous chemicals, strong acids or bases. These chemicals require an absorbent material that is not hydrocarbons or water-based products. Additionally, these hazardous chemicals require a different set of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to handle spills. It’s wise to remember to use proper safety equipment when approaching chemical spills.
Types of Spill Kits
Hazchem spill kits are used for chemical spills in places such as labs, refineries, and workshops.
Oil and fuel spill kits are useful for oil and hydrocarbon spills, seen commonly in a marina, mining, and automotive industries.
It is important to be aware of what hazards your workplace has and have the right spill kits on hand to handle such issues.
Training for Spill Kit Use
Placing spill kits near potential sources of spills is the first step in effectively cleaning up spills. The next step is to train staff to ensure they are taking the right steps to reduce their impact on the environment and for their own safety. The better the initial response is to a spill, the less it will spread.
Spill Station is known to provide incredible training in spill response in a thorough and easy-to-understand program that can easily aid staff in everything they need to know about managing spills, from the response kit, isolation, prevention, PPE and more.
Benefits of General Spill Kits
Putting spill kits in general near possible sources of spills is one way to demonstrate a proactive approach to hazardous spills. Employee training and certification demonstrate the company’s commitment to responding to spills and managing them diligently.
The Work Safe enforcers have increased fines for companies that cannot demonstrate this kind of accountability for their environment. Avoid fines, increase your safety and do your due diligence with the use of spill kits.
Contact Spill Station for Your Spill Kit Needs!
If you work in a hazardous environment, where vapours, leaks and spills can occur, a spill kit, flammable cabinet and PPE are all things you need. To do safety properly, and follow Australian standards, look to Spill Station, Australia’s leading safety provider.
