Spill Kit Services are Vital To Keep Your Workplace Safe
All workplaces should be regularly checking their spill kits and regularly auditing their spill response. This applies for every type of spill kit from general spill kits, all the way to oil spill kits.
The frequency of these inspections depends entirely on if the spill kit is sealed or unsealed, and this is because unsealed kits can often be misused in workplaces and used for general cleaning instead of emergencies, which means you need to inspect them more often and refill them more often.
To make life easier for you, spill kits offer tamper proof stickers, to make sure you can easily see which kits need to be checked and which don’t. However, with that said it’s a good idea to break the seal to run a regular spill kit service. This is often to make sure nothing has expired, and as long as you record the date the seal was broken, you are remaining compliant.
How Do You Check Spill Containment Kits?
Most companies have spill kit checklists on hand to follow as you make an inspection, and you can always print one for each kit on site. This documentation must have everything from the quantity of each item and space to note its condition. This way you can accurately replace anything that needs to be done.
But in the event that you still want guidance on what to look for, the following should be kept in mind:
Check The Outside
The first thing to do is identify if there are leaks, cracks or holes on the outside. Make sure the lid is secure, and the container is dry, clean and free of contaminants. If the kit has a seal, It should be intact and not be tampered with. Also make sure the kit’s identification label is where it should be, without peeling. If a container is damaged, the items it’s carrying may also be damaged or lost.
Check The Inside
Check each individual item within the spill kit. You want to check that nothing is discoloured, there’s no odour or degradation of materials. Look at the expiry date for things like repair tools and chemical neutralizers. If you find anything that shouldn’t be in there, remove it.
Remember that over time gloves and waste bags can lose integrity and be ineffective, so keep an eye out for that as well.
Make Sure the Kit is Visible & Signed
Make sure the kit is still unobstructed, clearly in view and well signed. By making sure things are easy to find, and not covered by boxes or brooms, you can remain compliant.
This doesn’t just go for wheelie bin kits, this also goes for mobile kits in cars or under workbenches and outdoor kits also.
Take Any Actions You Need
If you see something wrong with the kit, it’s important that it should be recorded and fixed as soon as possible. If you find this difficult to undertake alone, Spill Station can help you with our auditing services.
Why refill a spill kit?
If your spill kits are always at capacity and ready to be used, you’re ready in the event of any hazards that may arise. This means you can be confident that your workplace can continue operations in a safe and easy manner, even if an incident occurs. This will also give you peace of mind, knowing everyone is safe in the workplace.
How often should a spill kit service be done?
For the most part, spill kit service frequency depends on the usage of your spill kits. For many workplaces, quarterly servicing is enough, but if you see a high risk of incidents in your workplace, you may want to consider monthly or every two months.
What happens if I don’t refill my spill kit?
If you don’t maintain your spill kit often, you usually don’t know there’s parts for the spill kit missing until it’s too late. This is very dangerous for your workers and workplace itself, and can lead to stress, injury, fines and non-compliance. In addition, your workplace may have to halt production for a long time, until the right people are called to fix the spill.
Do my workers need training?
The very first step in spill kit maintenance is the correct training of your workers. If you’re unsure of how to go about this yourself, Spill Station can help you understand what workers need to know and how to train them, or even train them on your behalf.
What are the basics of spill kit refills?
Here’s what you can do to keep things safe in your workplace.
- Make spill kit maintenance part of your schedule: by keeping this as part of an overall routine, you can make sure the checks are done regularly.
- Perform a spill kit contents check: this is where you check that your spill kit isn’t missing any components. Usually these are listed on a laminated card inside the spill kit, but generally include absorbents, safety wear and containment products.
- Make sure all parts are in working order: you need to make sure to check all your spill kit parts are free of wear or use. If you can make sure the seals of each product are unopened. If anything is opened it usually needs to be checked for the right quantity.
- Replace worn components: if you notice anything missing, degraded or you’re missing some quantities, the lost or incorrect aspects must be immediately replaced. By doing this, you can make sure everything is ready to be used if a spill occurs.
- Make sure spill kits are properly places: spill kits are for rapid responses; this means that they need to be placed for ease of access and to be easily seen.
- Check for rubbish: ensure that you check that the spill kit has not been mistaken for a bin as they look similar to waste bins. This can result in spill kit parts being obstructed by trash, so check the spill kits for any objects that block access to your spill kit and its parts.