In industrial facilities, spills of oil, chemicals or other hazardous liquids are a routine risk that must be managed with utmost care. How a site responds to a spillage can significantly impact safety, environmental compliance, and operational downtime. Traditionally, many UK workplaces have relied on improvised clean up techniques – using materials like sand, sawdust, rags or mops – to handle spills. However, purpose-built spill kits have become more popular as a systematic solution. This article examines spill kits vs. traditional clean up methods to determine the best spill clean up method for effective spill response. We will compare their usefulness, weigh the pros and cons of each approach, and discuss how to pick the right solution for a given industrial scenario.

Examining Traditional Clean-Up Methods

Traditional spill clean up methods use general-purpose materials and tools that are not specifically designed to respond to hazardous spills. In practice, this can involve spreading absorbent granules over a spill, using paper towels to soak up liquids or deploying a mop and bucket to contain and remove spilt fluids. Then, clean up crews often sweep up the saturated absorbent with a broom and shovel for disposal.

Inexpensive and readily available, these methods have been used as a crutch for years, but they often do the job less effectively and safely than modern techniques. Plus, these methods are incredibly labour-intensive and slow, and there is no way to completely trap a spill in a contained area to reduce its spread. For contaminated substances, this method is very harmful, as mops and rags can spread contamination around if not used carefully.

How Do Spill Kits Differ from Traditional Methods?

As detailed in our complete guide to spill kits, they are a comprehensive collection of all the materials you need to respond to spills of specific types and sizes of spills. These kits are designed to be stored on-site and contain absorbent pads, socks, booms, disposable bags and personal protective equipment (PPE), depending on the spill kit type. Find our full collection on our dedicated spill kit page.

Weighing Up Spill Kits vs. Traditional clean up Methods

Here are the main factors that should be considered when assessing the effectiveness of spill kits versus traditional clean up methods:

Initial Cost: Traditional clean up methods incur minimal expense, as many items are already to hand in most workshops and warehouses. Spill kits are specialised products that can vary wildly in cost depending on the capacity and contents required.
Secondary Cost: Spill kits save money in the long run. Faster clean up minimises downtime, and the premises can resume operations sooner. Better containment reduces the risk of widespread damage or regulatory fines from environmental breaches. Think of it as a protective investment that considers the full lifecycle of spill management.
Familiarity: Traditional clean up methods require no special training, as most staff are familiar with basic cleaning tools. Spill kits contain equipment such as booms and absorbent pads which work best when trained how to be used effectively.
Immediate Availability: Traditional clean up methods naturally use equipment and materials that are readily available. However, spill kits can be placed in a known location for quick deployment, whether it be on the wall or in a storage cupboard. When placed in a spill-likely area, they can be quickly deployed as all equipment is in one place.
Efficiency: Spill kits enable a fast reaction – all necessary equipment is in one place, so staff can immediately start deploying when a spill occurs. This rapid response can contain a spill at its source, preventing its spread. Traditional clean up methods require more effort and time to achieve the same result.
Labour Intensity: Spill kits work smarter, not harder. Absorbent booms encircle the spill so there is no chasing down spill residue, and our pads are far more absorbent than rags or paper towels. Conversely, mopping and sweeping can not only be cumbersome, but also require multiple cycles of the same procedure.
clean up Completion: Spill kits are designed to leave as little residue behind as possible. Pads and socks pick up liquid cleanly, and any remaining liquid can be wiped with the absorbent pads and placed in the provided disposal bags. Traditional clean up methods may not absorb completely and often leave behind a film of oil, fuel or chemical that needs further scrubbing to prevent a hazardous slick spot in future.
Waste Volume Capacity: Spill kits come in a range of sizes, up to large station kits that include 300 absorbent pads. Because of the lower absorbency of traditional clean up methods, they require larger quantities of material. It is not uncommon to use an entire 20kg bag of granules on a moderate spill, whereas spill kits soak up far more with far less material.
Range of Options: Spill kits suit the individual needs of businesses, including specialised chemical and oil & fuel spill kits to vehicle spill kits in compact bags for on-the-go use. Having the right kit improves the efficiency and safety of the response, whereas traditional clean up methods are not recommended for hazardous substances.
Storage: Spill kits require dedicated storage space in the facility, particularly if they are large kits, such as those in a large wheeled bin. However, they can be stored close to potential spill sources for speedy deployment, and all equipment is ready in one place. While traditional clean up methods can be tucked away under a shelf or behind a door, getting all equipment in one place can involve multiple trips to multiple locations, slowing down the process.
Compliance: Spill kits support regulatory compliance. Having appropriate kits readily available is often seen as part of best practices for environmental health and safety. Using the right type of kit for a given substance (oil & fuel or chemical) helps ensure that the spill is handled in accordance with guidelines (for example, oil spill kits will absorb oil but not water, making them ideal for outdoor use where rainwater is present, whereas a generic method like sand could allow oil to runoff with water). By containing spills more reliably (with absorbent booms and even drain covers), spill kits help prevent environmental contamination, aligning with the duty to prevent pollution. Traditional clean up methods, on the other hand, do not include safety measures and may fail to contain a spill adequately. Liquid can seep into cracks or reach drains before the materials fully absorb it, which can result in the workplace violating environmental regulations by allowing oil or chemicals to enter the water system.

Picking the Right Spill Kit for the Job

When selecting the correct spill kit for potential situations, you must identify the spill risks in your premises, consider the volume of resources you may need in the near future and find a specific location for the kit that is in close proximity to hazardous zones and does not obstruct others.

For more information on how to choose the correct kit for your premises, read our guide to every spill kit available at SpillShop. If you don’t see a spill kit that meets your needs, we make custom spill kits on request. Simply contact us using the phone number on our site or the contact page link below.

Conclusion

While traditional spill clean up methods can be a serviceable stopgap, equipping your facility with appropriate spill kits is widely regarded as the best spill clean up method for industrial environments today. Their proactive use exemplifies modern best practices in spill management, safeguarding both people and the environment when accidents occur.

Choose SpillShop for Quality Spillage Control

At SpillShop, we are dedicated to workplace safety through our extensive range of spill control products. Our spill kits are a high-quality, effective solution to ensure your operations remain safe, environmentally responsible, and compliant with all relevant regulations. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can help you prepare your workplace for any situation.

Businesses that handle oils, chemicals or other hazardous liquids are expected to have proper spill response measures in place, and this includes not just effective equipment, but trained personnel. Multiple UK regulations – from the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (2002) to various environmental protection laws such as the Control of Pollution (England) Oil Storage Regulations (2001) – explicitly or implicitly require employers to prepare for spills and ensure staff know how to respond. Failing to do so can put employees at risk and leave the organisation liable under health, safety and environmental legislation.

A well-stocked spill kit is only as effective as the people using it, which is why spill kit training is indispensable for any business that stores or uses hazardous substances. In this guide, we will cover why spill kit training is important and the various training exercises you should employ to get your workers up to speed.

Why Spill Kit Training is Essential

Employers have a legal duty to train their staff in emergency spill response procedures. UK regulations and guidelines (including HSE recommendations) mandate preparedness for accidental releases of dangerous substances. For example, the COSHH Regulations 2002 require training for employees who work with hazardous materials, and other regulations like the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) cover major chemical risks. Spill kit training helps organisations remain compliant with both legal requirements and industry standards, averting the hefty fines and sanctions that can result from mishandling a spill.

Beyond legal compliance, there are practical reasons why spill kit training is essential. Untrained employees are more likely to manage spillage situations poorly, leading to lost time, increased clean-up delays and greater danger to those present. A well-trained team will be able to deal with the situation calmly and effectively, avoiding further risk and returning the premises to normal operations far more quickly.

What Spill Kit Training Should Cover

A comprehensive spill kit training programme should cover all facets of spill response so that employees are prepared for any incident. For a full breakdown of the spill response plan of action, consult our guide to using a spill control kit.

Key elements that employees must learn include:

Risk assessments: Any training conducted should first consider a premises risk assessment. To learn how to assess the risks of your workplace, read our guide to risk assessment.
Identifying Spills and Associated Hazards: Training should enable staff to quickly assess any spill event. This means identifying the substance that has been spilt (oil, solvent, acid, etc.), the volume of the spill and the level of risk it poses. All from a safe distance.
Initial Response Steps: Trainees should learn the step-by-step actions to take once a spill is detected. The first priority is to stop the source of the spill if it is still active, but only if this can be done without harm. For instance, this might involve righting an overturned container or closing a valve to halt a leak. Next, employees must know how to contain the spread of the liquid promptly.
Use of PPE: Any spill response can expose staff to hazardous substances, so proper PPE usage is a core element of spill kit training. Employees should understand which PPE is needed for each situation, including chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, face shields, overalls or any other necessary PPE. Protecting oneself is non-negotiable, and ensure that they learn how to check that PPE is in good condition. For more information on this, consult our guide to spill control drills.
Spill Cleanup: Staff should practice the proper technique for using absorbent pads and pillows to soak up liquids once a spill is contained. They are also instructed on handling any chemical neutralisers or special absorbents if these are part of the spill kit.
Spill Disposal: Trainees learn how to collect and remove used absorbent materials and any contaminated debris into the disposal bags provided in the kit, sealing them correctly and labelling them if necessary.
Reporting: Employees must be trained in the reporting procedures that follow any spill incident. Consult our aforementioned spill control guide linked in the “Use of PPE” section.

Spill Kit Training Exercises

Conducting regular, hands-on spill kit training exercises is a best practice for any organisation with spill risks. A spill response that has been rehearsed through drills will be carried out faster and more effectively than one being done for the first time in a real emergency. The following are examples of training exercises that businesses should implement.

Mock Spill Response Drills

Conduct staged spill scenarios with a non-hazardous liquid (such as coloured water or a non-toxic simulant) poured out to imitate a hazardous spill. Then, task employees to respond as if it were real – assessing the scene, alerting co-workers, donning appropriate PPE, deploying the spill kit materials, containing the spill and cleaning it up. They teach workers to remain calm and follow procedure under pressure. These drills should be timed and supervised, and observers can note whether correct actions are taken in the right order. Such exercises build muscle memory, so that in a genuine spill event, employees recall the practised steps rather than improvising.

Containment and Clean-up Simulations

Focused practice can be given on particular aspects of spill response, such as containing a spreading liquid. In a containment exercise, the team might practise using absorbent socks to encircle a spill or deploying a temporary dike to divert flow away from a sensitive area (like a drain or a piece of machinery). In a clean-up simulation, employees would practise the technique of layering absorbent pads to efficiently soak up a pooled liquid, or the proper method of sweeping up absorbent granules once they have absorbed a chemical. These targeted simulations help employees gain confidence in using all components of the spill kit correctly.

Emergency Debriefs and Reviews

After each drill or simulation, it is crucial to hold a debrief session. In this exercise, all participants and observers come together to review the response performance. The team should discuss what went well and identify any shortcomings. Perhaps the drill revealed that communication could be improved, or maybe certain equipment was hard to locate or use under stress. These debrief meetings turn the exercise into a learning opportunity, allowing you to refine your spill response plan and the employees to understand mistakes in a no-consequences setting. Trainers can also use this time to refresh key principles and answer questions. Documentation of drill outcomes and any improvements made should be kept, as this not only helps track progress but also serves as evidence of compliance with training requirements (useful during audits or inspections). Over time, regular practice and constructive feedback will cultivate a workforce that is confident and clinical in spill response.

Choose SpillShop for Quality Spill Kits

SpillShop is dedicated to helping businesses achieve excellence in spill preparedness. We offer not only a wide range of compliant, high-quality spill kits for every type of hazard, but also expert guidance on spill response training and best practices. Whether you need advice on selecting the right spill kit for your facility, our specialists are here to support you. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can help you prepare your workplace for any emergency.

Spill Kits vs. Traditional Clean Up Methods: Which Is Better?