A burst hydraulic hose, a tipped drum or a leaking fuel bowser can put oil into a drain within minutes. Once it reaches a river, you’re looking at a pollution incident, a clean-up bill and possible prosecution. A spill kit in the right place, and staff who know how to use it, costs far less than dealing with the aftermath.
This guide covers which spill kit you need, where to keep it, what to do when something leaks, and how to deal with the waste afterwards.
Do you legally need a spill kit?
If your business stores 201 litres or more of oil in a container in England or Wales, the oil storage rules apply. Containers need secondary containment, such as a bund that holds 110% of the tank’s capacity. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
The regulations don’t name spill kits directly. However, the Environment Agency’s pollution prevention guidance (GPP 22, Dealing with spills) expects businesses to have spill equipment and trained staff. And under environmental law you’re responsible for any pollution you cause, whether or not you had a kit. In practice, insurers, main contractors and site inspections all expect to see one.
Which type of spill kit?
| Kit type | Usual colour | Absorbs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil only | White | Oil and fuel, but repels water | Outdoor areas, yards, forecourts, spills near water |
| General purpose (maintenance) | Grey | Oils, coolants, water-based liquids | Workshops, garages, factories |
| Chemical | Yellow | Acids, alkalis and aggressive chemicals | Labs, chemical stores, cleaning stores |
Colour coding is an industry convention rather than a legal requirement, but it helps staff grab the right kit quickly.
What size do you need?
Size the kit to the largest spill you could realistically have. If you store oil in 205 litre drums, a kit that absorbs 50 litres won’t be enough. A common approach is:
- vehicle and plant kits for every machine and van, sized for a hose failure
- larger static kits at fuel tanks, drum stores and refuelling points, sized for the biggest container there
- drain covers next to every gully or drain near where oil is stored or used
What should be in the kit?
- absorbent pads for small spills and drips
- absorbent socks or booms to surround a spill and stop it spreading
- absorbent pillows for larger volumes
- a drain cover or drain seal mat
- disposal bags and ties
- gloves and other protective equipment
- clear instructions and the pollution hotline number
Keep the kit in a clearly marked container where people can reach it quickly, protected from weather and damage. Check it regularly and refill it after every use.
What to do when oil is spilled
- Stop the source if it’s safe to do so: turn off a pump, stand a drum upright, close a valve.
- Protect the drains. Cover nearby gullies with drain mats before the oil reaches them.
- Contain it. Surround the spill with socks or booms.
- Absorb it. Use pads and pillows, working from the outside in.
- Bag the used absorbents and label them.
- Report it. If oil has reached a drain, watercourse or the ground, call the environmental incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 straight away.
Never wash oil into a drain with water or detergent. It only moves the problem somewhere harder to clean up.
Disposing of used absorbents
Pads, socks and granules soaked in oil are hazardous waste, usually coded 15 02 02*. Contaminated soil or gravel from a spill may be hazardous too. That means:
- keeping used absorbents in a sealed, labelled container, separate from general waste
- using a carrier licensed for hazardous waste
- a hazardous waste consignment note for each collection
Used absorbents must never go in a general waste skip. Our oil and fuel disposal service collects used spill kit waste along with waste oil, filters and oily rags.
Train your staff
A spill kit only works if people know it’s there and how to use it. Include spill response in site inductions, run a short practice drill once or twice a year, and make sure everyone knows the hotline number. For garages and workshops, our guide to garage and MOT centre waste covers the other waste streams you’ll be dealing with.
Need spill waste collected?
Select A Skip arranges compliant collection of oily waste, used absorbents and contaminated soil across the UK, with all the paperwork. See our hazardous waste services, get a quote or call 01743 341 000.
Sources: GOV.UK, Storing oil at a home or business; NetRegs, GPP 22 Dealing with spills.