The Importance of Secondary Spill Containment

In your workplace, everything from the largest machinery to the most precise pieces of spill containment has its place and purpose. But what happens when a substance spills or leaks and your primary spill control equipment is not available?

Secondary spill containment is a crucial element in ensuring both environmental protection and workplace safety. In this article, we’ll delve into the importance of essential containment tools like drip trays and bunds. We’ll reveal what the British regulations are for these types of spill containment as well as their pivotal role in safeguarding our surroundings.

Should I Have Secondary Spill Containment?

The British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends secondary spill containment, “as a second line of defence for preventing, controlling or mitigating major hazards events”. Their legislation states that any workplace that handles liquids and chemicals should have all their containers sufficiently bunded.

In terms of properties, secondary containment should be impermeable to liquid with no cracks or gaps and be able to materially withstand the type of fluids it will be dealing with. This is especially important for handling items that contain a hazardous substance as if the primary spill containment fails, you have another block against a hazardous spill.

What Types of Secondary Spill Containment Should I Have?

There are two key types of secondary spill containment available at Spill Shop, which are suited to workplaces handling chemicals, oil and fuel and general-purpose workplace spill equipment.

Bunds

Bunds are barriers or containment systems typically used around storage tanks or drum storage areas to prevent the spread of spilt liquids in case of leaks or spills. 

They are designed to be positioned on the floor while any storage tanks should be placed on top, any excess liquid spills or leaks from containers will be caught in the bund.

According to HSE, “the bund must hold 110% of the capacity of the largest container or 25% of the total capacity stored.” Whichever is the greater value is the value you should choose for your bund.

At Spill Shop, we have multiple sizes of bunds that are all designed to withstand oils and chemicals, from popular 205L bunds to smaller bunds under 100L and even IBC bunds that can protect against up to 1100L. Made from strong and compatible Polyethylene, our bunds provide precise protection against spills, ensuring your workplace meets the standards set by the HSE.

Drip Trays

Drip trays are shallow plastic or rubberised plastic containers that are used under single drums, machinery or drip risk areas, catching any drips before they reach the working floor space. This prevents not only spills from spreading but eliminates the risk of slipping accidents.

At Spill Shop, our drip trays are made from hard-wearing and sturdy plastic to offer durability, resilience, and optimum spillage protection. Our online store provides a variety of sizes available, allowing you to meet and exceed these regulatory requirements.

Spill Shop is the UK’s leading destination for secondary spill containment. Our high-quality bunds and drip trays are compliant secondary containment products that allow your workplace to store liquids and chemicals worry-free. Browse through our range of bunds and drip trays, or for more information, reach out to us via our contacts page today.