When would you need a spill kit?
Use general spill kits to clean hydrocarbon and water-based product spills. Spills can happen at any time when oil or water-based chemicals are being stored, used, or transported.
How big does a spill kit need to be?
Spill kits can range in size but typical spill kit sizes are 20L, 60L, 120L, 240L, 600L and 1000L. The size of your spill kit will be governed by the size of the spill you are likely to encounter, as well as other site conditions.
Can anyone use a spill kit?
In most jurisdictions around the nation spill kits are a legal requirement and form part of the safety and environmental procedures when handling dangerous liquids. It is possible that your business could be fined for not abiding by these legal requirements.
Where should spill kits be located?
Spill kits are ineffective if they are kept in remote corners or hidden away in a closet, or if an employee does not know where they are located. Spill kits should be stored as close to the area where the liquid(s) the kit is designed to clean up are kept.
How should spill kits be maintained?
Check that the supplies are in good working condition, within their use-by date and without signs of wear and tear particularly absorbents and containment barriers. Replace any open packages. Also, check that all spill kits are stored in an easily accessible location for immediate response to a spillage.
What Colour are spill kits?
Chemical spill kits are colour-coded red and contain pink absorbents. They are designed for acids, bases, coolants, paints and oils and fuels and are made from inert material which will not react with any absorbed liquids.
How do you measure a spill kit?
What is the volume of your worst-case scenario spill? Determine the largest amount of liquid that could be spilled from a single container or holding tank. If your liquids are stored in drums, this would likely be the contents of an entire drum, normally either 30 or 55 gallons.
Is there an Australian standard for spill control kits?
Australian standard for spill control kits launched. An industry standard for spill kit colouring and labelling in Australia has been launched by the AusSpill Association (AA) to provide industry and consumers with easier and safer identification. The new standard is already being adopted by AA members and will gradually be phased in by late 2017.
What should be included in a spill management kit?
The kit includes sections on legal obligations, site management, incident management and spill response.
Who is responsible for enforcing spill containment laws in NSW?
These laws are enforced by the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW and local councils. The DECC and local councils have the power to issue notices and fines for failure to comply with legislation.
Why are there so many chemical spills in NSW?
The activity is also undertaken by non scheduled premises across NSW, with potential impacts on air, water and land. A number of major environmental incidents have been attributed to poor chemical management practices.