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

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.