If oil is one of the main liquids you work with in your facility it is important to be prepared to deal with spills when they occur
. If oil spillages get the chance to spread they have the potential to cause damage to the environment and stock, as well as create a slip and fall hazard for employees. We all need to work together to protect our natural resources and protect them against tragedies like the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The best defence against dangerous oil leaks is too have the appropriate spill equipment available to contain and clean up them up, an oil response kit provides a complete solution for this. Oil-only spill kits absorb oils and oil-based liquids but not water and include oil-only absorbent mats, socks and pillows as well as accessories to help you dispose of used absorbents safely. The following tips will help you select the best oil spillage response kit for your facility.
Determine the maximum amount of oil that is likely to spill
Oil spills kits are available in a variety of different sizes ranging from as little as 7 litres to 476 litres to deal with different volumes of spill. Selecting the right size of kit should be determined based on your worst case scenario spill. One large kit could be chosen to deal with the entire spill that may happen or multiple smaller ones could be combined to absorb the same amount. Choosing multiple smaller kits allows you to gain flexibility and mobility as they are easier to transport to a spill, whilst choosing one large kit means all your absorbents will be in the one place if the worst happens.
Identify the best container for your facility
Different sizes of kit come in different containers, all of which suit different facilities. The best way to choose the right kit is to choose a container that works in your facility. Things to consider when choosing a container include the physical limitations of your staff and the ground they must cover to get to an oil spill in your facility. Oil spill kits available range from small grab bags which are easy to just pick up and go to a spill, wall mountable spill kits which allow you to create a spill kit station, to large portable kits in carts or wheelie bin containers. It is good practice to have an oil spill kit in every spill prone area in your facility, however this may not always be necessary as you could choose to have one or two kits dotted around which can be easily transported to a spill area instead.