Spill Kit and Absorbents

The cleanup materials, PPE, and absorbent are not the same. Training is necessary to ensure workers understand these differences and the limits of their spill kits, especially if certain chemicals may be involved in the spill situation. It’s important to make sure the spill kits you have on hand are equipped to handle potential incidents and review the datasheets.

Spill Cleanup Best Practices

Keeping a spill kit with absorbents and all other accessories is the best idea. In many companies, they are conducting spill cleanup and training about safety precautions. That is the best practice to handle the spills in the future. It’s important to be prepared for a spill to happen at any time, and workers need to understand the proper procedures so spills can be effectively and safely handled.

Apart from the procedures and spill kit equipment, employees should also know the potential dangers of all materials they’re working with, actions to take when initial steps don’t seem to be effective, and how to correctly dispose of everything in the end. Improper disposal can compromise public health or environmental health.

First, a facility should be assessed to pinpoint any areas that may be particularly susceptible to spills, whether this involves a simple, harmless substance such as water, or a hazardous chemical. Evaluate work areas were drips, leaks, or transportation of substances tend to occur. Appropriate spill kits should be specially stocked in these at-risk areas.

They should be there to calculate the amount and type of liquid that will likely be cleaned up. This ranges from plastic bins to chemical drums that go from one gallon to 90 gallons. Common spill kits include universal spill kits, portable spill kits, and HazMat emergency spill kits.

Once the spill is handled properly, the next best practice is to keep a stock of spill kits. Replenish socks, pads, and other absorbent materials frequently. It’s ideal to keep track of necessary kits and materials and order more when there is depletion. If the individual contents of a spill kit are used, they should be replaced as soon as possible. This way, your facility is always prepared.