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Spill Kits: What UK Businesses Need to Know About Staying Safe, Compliant and Prepared

Why Spill Kits Matter

Spills happen - whether it’s oil in a loading bay, chemicals in a lab, or a coolant leak on the shop floor. And when they do, you need to act fast. That’s where spill kits come in.

Spill kits are ready-to-go packages of absorbents and clean-up tools designed to contain and remove liquid spills quickly. They're essential for:

  • Protecting people from slip and chemical hazards
  • Preventing environmental contamination
  • Staying compliant with UK regulations

They’re also a smart way to avoid damage, downtime, and costly clean-up bills. Whether you're working in construction, manufacturing, food processing or logistics —spill preparedness is part of doing business responsibly.

What’s in a Spill Kit?

While sizes and formats vary, most spill kits include:

  • Absorbents – pads, socks, booms or granules
  • Disposal bags – for used materials
  • Instructions – so responders know exactly what to do

Some kits also include tools like drain covers, scoops or leak-sealing putty. The aim is to help you contain the spill, clean it up safely, and dispose of the waste properly - all in one grab-and-go solution.

Types of Spill Kits

Choosing the right spill kit starts with knowing your risks. There are three main types:

Oil Spill Kits (Oil-Only)

Designed to absorb oil-based liquids like fuel, diesel, and lubricants — and they repel water, so they’re perfect for outdoor or wet environments.

Ideal for: transport, construction plant, fuel handling, and marine sites.

Chemical Spill Kits

Tackle spills involving acids, alkalis, and hazardous chemicals. These kits contain chemically resistant absorbents and can include additional PPE when specified.

Ideal for: labs, chemical processing, and industrial cleaning teams.

Universal Spill Kits (General Purpose)

Handle everyday spills like coolants, food-grade liquids, oils and water-based fluids. Grey absorbents, simple and versatile.

Ideal for: manufacturing, workshops, warehouses, and maintenance teams.

Key Components – What to Look For

Absorbents

The core of any spill kit. Look for:

  • Pads & rolls for surface coverage
  • Socks & booms to contain spread
  • Pillows for pooling spills
  • Granules for throw-down flexibility

Quantity and quality matter. The best kits are stocked to deal with real-world spill volumes — not just the minimum required.

PPE: Right Kit, Right Risk

While PPE is vital to spill response, it shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all.

Gloves and goggles aren’t included as standard – and with good reason. Including PPE by default may give a false sense of readiness or introduce gear that’s unsuitable for your actual risks.

The best approach:

  • Carry out a site-specific risk assessment
  • Identify the appropriate level of PPE for each spill type
  • Store the correct gear alongside your spill kit

Where needed, kits can be customised to include chemical-resistant gloves, face protection, coveralls, or respirators — all matched to your site’s risks.

Tools & Extras

Look for practical additions like:

These aren’t always included by default but can make a huge difference in spill control effectiveness.

Storage

From small bags to wheeled bins - choose a spill kit that suits your space and mobility needs. Clear labelling is a must.

Instructions

Good kits come with clear, pictogram-led guidance - essential when stress levels are high and decisions need to be made fast.

Best Practice: Use, Placement & Maintenance

Put kits where they’re needed

Near tanks, fuelling areas, loading bays, chemical stores, and anywhere spills are likely. Visibility matters - use wall-mounted stations or spill signage to help everyone locate them quickly.

Train your team

Make sure employees know:

  • Which type of spill kit to use
  • Where to find it
  • How to respond quickly and safely

Regular toolbox talks or drills help embed this knowledge.

Act fast, follow steps

When a spill happens, you need to act quickly - but safely. Here’s a straightforward guide based on the user instructions we include with every SafetyBuyer spill kit:

  1. Safety First
    Assess the risk before taking any action. If there’s uncertainty about the spill contents or if the volume is significant, call for help and do not proceed alone.
  2. Isolate the Area Stop the source if it’s safe to do so (e.g. close a valve, upright a drum) Protect nearby drains with socks or covers Cordon off the area to keep others safe Eliminate ignition sources and stay upwind of any vapours
  3. Contain the Spill
    Use spill socks or booms to surround the spill and prevent it from spreading further.
  4. Absorb the Liquid
    Apply absorbent pads, sheets, pillows or granules to soak up the spilt material. Use white (oil-only) absorbents for oils and fuels — they float on water Use yellow (chemical) absorbents for aggressive or hazardous substances Use grey (maintenance) absorbents for general-purpose spills
  5. Clean the Area
    Once the spill is fully absorbed and materials are bagged, clean the area to remove any remaining residue and prevent slip risks.
  6. Dispose of Waste Safely
    All used absorbents must be disposed of in accordance with current legislation. They take on the properties of the liquid they’ve absorbed and may now be classed as hazardous waste. If unsure, check with your waste contractor or local authority - and never dispose of contaminated waste in general bins.
  7. Report & Replenish
    Log the incident and notify your team leader or H&S manager. Then reorder any used items so your kit is ready for the next emergency.

Inspect regularly

Check spill kits monthly. Replace missing items, log inspections, and restock after any use. A kit that’s been raided for ‘just one pad’ might let you down in a real emergency.

Your Legal & Moral Duty

If you handle or store liquids that could harm people or the environment, spill preparedness is more than good practice - it’s a legal obligation.

Relevant UK legislation includes:

  • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
    Requires employers to protect the health and safety of workers and others - including managing risks from leaks and spills.
  • COSHH Regulations
    Call for risk assessments, control measures, and emergency plans for hazardous substances. Spill kits are a fundamental part of that.
  • Environmental Protection Act 1990
    Places a duty of care on businesses to prevent pollution and manage hazardous waste responsibly. A poorly handled spill could result in prosecution and clean-up costs.
  • Oil Storage Regulations (England)
    Businesses storing 200 litres or more of oil must have secondary containment and clear spill response plans in place.

While these regulations may not name spill kits specifically, they do expect practical, proactive controls to be in place. Having the right spill kits on site is widely seen as best practice and may be critical to demonstrating compliance during an inspection.

And beyond legal obligations, there’s the moral duty - to protect your team, site visitors, contractors, and the local environment. A spill kit in the right place shows you're serious about safety and responsibility.

Beyond Spill Kits: Making Safety Visible, Practical and Personal

Having spill kits on site is only part of the picture - they need to be easy to find, easy to use, and part of a clearly communicated safety culture.

That’s where visual management makes the difference.

At SafetyBuyer, we offer a range of Spill Stations, COSHH Safety Stations, and branded site boards that don’t help identify your spill kits - they support faster response, reinforce safe behaviours, and bring organisation to high-risk areas.

Need to tailor a solution? No problem. Our custom spill kits and refills are built around your specific risks and working environment. We’ll work with you to get the right mix of contents, containers and visual tools - so you’re confident you’ve covered the ground.

With UK-manufactured absorbents, generous kit contents, and fast delivery, we help you stay compliant, reduce downtime, and create a safer place to work.

No gimmicks. No corners cut. Just reliable, high-performing spill control - backed by expert advice and service that puts you first.

Let’s Make Your Site Spill-Ready

Call us on 0800 043 0161
Email sales@safetybuyer.com
Or explore the full range of spill kits and visual management solutions

This article is for informational purposes only. We recommend consulting relevant regulatory guidance and a qualified professional before making any decisions or taking action based on this content