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When your workplace is looking into using spill kits, there are a lot of common questions that arise. This isn’t surprising, workplace safety is quite a complicated subject, and guidance is often needed.

But why should we give you the answers?  

Spill Station is the leading supplier of spill kits in Australia, and we offer everything from risk assessments to workplace training to help you wrap your head around safety precautions that should be ready in your workplace, and how to remain compliant over time. 

Let’s Educate You:

Why should you use a spill kit? 

It’s simple, to keep your workers and the environment safe. If a hazardous liquid spills into your workplace and you don’t have the appropriate safety precautions in place, the spill will shut down work, result in a call to emergency services, and can possibly harm workers, cause slips and falls, destroy machinery and harm the environment. Just stay safe and use a spill kit! 

What happens if you don’t have a spill kit? 

In Australia, spill kits are considered a legal requirement if your business handles, stores or moves hazardous liquids. So you must have the equipment you need to respond effectively and safely to spills. If you fail to adhere to these laws, you can be fined or even face jail time, with serious brand reputation repercussions. In our opinion, it’s just not worth the risk. 

Do staff need training or can they use the instructions?

If you don’t train your staff, they can’t handle a spill effectively. You may think that the instruction card is enough, but it’s really not. If you train your staff they can implement the kit without delays in an emergency situation. If you need help with this, contact Spill Station, not only do we have the best spill kits in Australia, we can also train you to use them. 

Are your staff safe when using a spill kit? 

Each spill kit, regardless of type, will contain PPE, otherwise known as  personal protective equipment. This is because the kit will be used for cleaning a hazard and keeping your staff safe is vital. The actual specifications of the PPE will depend on the type of spill kit you’re using, but you can often find things such as eye and face protection, overalls and more. 

How many spill kits do you need? 

The amount of spill kits you’ll need will depend on the type of chemicals you carry, their quantity and location. By assessing all these factors, you can approximate how to best keep everyone safe. This will take a safety risk assessment to determine, and it’s something else we can help with at Spill Station. 

Do spill kits need maintenance?

Spill kits (like all safety measures) will need to be maintained correctly. The easiest way to do this is to simply restock each spill kit right after it’s been used. This will make sure there are no gaps in your kit, and it’s ready to be used again. The kit should also be checked frequently for cracks or problems in the exterior also. If you need help with spill kit maintenance and inspections, once again, we can help with that at Spill Station.

The overall purpose of a flammable cabinet is to protect the items within the cabinet, in the event that the space around it is no longer stable. Whether that be a fire, ignition sources or even mishandling or misplacing the items. The cabinets are essentially a fireproof method in which you can keep your workplace safe and your hazardous chemicals apart.

Consider the Construction

Flammable liquid cabinets often have a double wall made of corrosion resistant steel, this is an insulator that protects it from external heat. It also has galvanised steel cabinet shelves as well as a leak proof sump where liquids can safety pool in the event of a leak. 

The doors also feature a soft close with safety latches and lockable handles for as much as safety as possible, and to keep unwanted hands away from hazards. One of the most useful features it has, or at least the ones offered by Spill Station has are adjustable feet, so you don’t need to level the floors before use.

Visible Labels Matter

As per the Australian Standards, all flammable storage cabinets have a bold red sign that warns of flammable materials, for easy identification. The cabinet is also made in a bright yellow colour so they cannot easily be hidden or placed out of sight. 

Additionally, Spill Station’s flammable cabinets carry an additional label that reminds people nearby not to smoke within 3 metres of the cabinet. This is a strict guideline that dictates that ignition sources such as sparks, cigarettes and the like must be kept away from the cabinets and where they are stored, to reduce risk. 

By labelling the cabinet correctly, you can ensure that staff, visitors and emergency service workers are all aware of the cabinet’s placement, what they contain and the dangers of introducing ignition sources nearby. 

Position The Cabinets Correctly

To make sure the flammable liquids stored in your workplace pose minimal risk to workers, workspaces and the environment, they must be strategically placed. Some of the guidelines are as follows:

• Flammable liquid storage cabinets that have a capacity above 850L must be placed further away than 3 metres to any wall shared with another room, unless the wall is made of concrete or masonry and is 3 metres taller than the cabinet. 
• Flammable cabinets with a greater capacity than 850L should only be installed in factories and workshops, not hospitals, residential buildings and the like. 
• Cabinets with a greater capacity than 850L shouldn’t be placed on upstairs levels, or any floors without access to the street or ground level. 

It’s also vital to keep these storage rules in mind.

• You can only place 850L per 250 square metres on ground floors.
• You can only place 250L per 250 metres squared on any other floor. 
• In all cases, these total quantities must be separated by at least 10 metres. 

By following all these rules, you can help make sure your workplace is kept safe. If you want compliance ready flammable cabinets, you can’t look past Spill Station’s range of flammable cabinets.