Spill Cleanup

Spills in the workplace have the potential to be catastrophic. An uncontained spill can cause damage to the environment, damage to equipment and property, and is a slip and fall hazard. Whether it's a chemical spill, an oil spill, or just a spill of water, facilities must be adequately prepared with the right spill kits and containment supplies to address the spill immediately.

It's important to have both a prevention and response plan in place for spills. To reduce the risk of a spill, storage containers of liquid should be kept on secure shelving with heavier containers (typically for chemicals) are placed near the floor. A common cause of oil spills in the workplace is faulty or unmaintained equipment. Small leaks or machines slowly dripping can make for a major hazard -- maintenance is key to preventing spills.

The amount of damage a spill will have on your facility will largely depend on the few minutes following the spill. Employers have the responsibility to develop an effective containment and cleanup response plan beginning with a hazard assessment. During this walk-through, spill hazards will need to be identified along with the type of fluid and potential size of the spill. One of the most critical responsibilities a safety manager has is the responsibility to select a spill kit. Spill kits and stations are stocked with everything needed to respond to an emergency spill like drain covers, socks, sorbents, and PPE, all designed to tackle a specific fluid.

Creative Safety Supply is dedicated to providing the spill response resources and supplies safety managers need.

Getting Started

• Have a question about spill cleanup? Check out our spill containment Q&A hub.
• Need cleanup supplies? Shop our spill kits, sorbents, and containment centers.
• Want to learn more about safety regulations? Explore our OSHA resources.