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Choosing the right Spill Control
When a spill happens in your workplace, every second counts. You need reliable, effective solutions that can quickly contain and clean up potentially dangerous liquid spills before they cause significant damage to your environment, equipment, or personnel. Our comprehensive spill control range gives you the tools and confidence to respond immediately, whether you're dealing with fuel, oil, chemicals, or other hazardous liquids. From compact shoulder packs to large, wheeled response kits, we've engineered solutions for every scenario you might encounter.
Our spill control products are designed to meet stringent industry standards, helping you protect not just your immediate workspace, but also preventing potential environmental contamination. Whether you're working in manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, or any industry where liquid spills are a risk, you'll find our chemical spill control and oil spill kits provide rapid, effective containment and cleanup. Our range includes everything from absorbent pads and socks to specialised spill kit cabinets that keep your emergency response tools organised and immediately accessible.
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Spill Control FAQs
Am I legally required to have spill control equipment on site?
There is no single regulation that says "you must own a spill kit", but several place the duty on you in practice. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Water Resources Act 1991 make it an offence to allow pollutants to enter controlled waters, with unlimited fines. COSHH requires you to plan for accidental release of hazardous substances. If you store oil above ground in quantities over 200 litres at a commercial site, the Oil Storage Regulations also apply.
In practice, if you store or handle oil, fuel or chemicals, you are expected to be able to contain a spill before it reaches a drain.
What is the difference between oil-only, chemical and general purpose absorbents?
Oil-only absorbents (usually white) are hydrophobic — they take up hydrocarbons while repelling water, so they work on water as well as hard standing. Chemical absorbents (usually yellow) are made from materials that resist aggressive liquids including acids, alkalis and solvents. General purpose or maintenance absorbents (usually grey) take up almost any liquid including water, coolant and oil.
Using the wrong type is a common and expensive mistake — general purpose pads on a fuel spill in water will simply sink.
How big a spill kit do I need?
Size the kit to the largest realistic single release, not the total volume stored. For most sites that means the capacity of the biggest drum, IBC or delivery hose in use. A 25-litre kit suits vehicle and small machinery use; 90 to 120 litres covers drum handling and refuelling points; 240 litres and above suits IBC storage and tanker delivery areas.
Many sites hold a larger static kit plus small vehicle kits, rather than one central kit that is too far away to be useful.
Where should spill kits be kept?
As close to the risk as is practical, and where they will stay dry and visible. Refuelling points, drum and IBC stores, workshop bays and delivery areas are the usual locations. Kits kept in a locked store that nobody can access out of hours are effectively no kit at all.
Cabinets and wheeled bins keep contents clean and stop the kit being quietly raided for general workshop rags — which is the most common reason a kit is empty when it is finally needed.
What do I do with used absorbents?
Used absorbents that have taken up oil or chemicals are classified as hazardous waste. They must be stored in sealed, labelled containers and collected by a licensed waste carrier, with a consignment note retained. They cannot go into general waste.
Factor disposal into your planning: a large spill can generate a surprising volume of contaminated material, and having nowhere compliant to put it slows the clean-up considerably.
Do drain covers and mats actually work?
Yes, if they are deployed quickly and the drain is reasonably flat and clean. A polyurethane or rubber drain mat forms a seal under its own weight and buys time to contain the spill upstream. They are one of the highest-value items in any kit because stopping a spill entering surface water drainage is usually the difference between a clean-up and a pollution incident.
They need checking periodically — mats stored folded or in sunlight degrade and stop sealing properly.