The Complete Guide to Spill Control and Containment

Spill control and containment means keeping liquids where they belong, stopping a leak fast when one happens, and cleaning it up and disposing of the waste the right way. For most sites that comes down to four things: know what you store and read its Safety Data Sheet (SDS), keep secondary containment under drums and leak-prone equipment, keep the right spill kit within reach, and know which federal, state and local rules apply to you.

The spill control cycle

Every spill program runs through six stages. Plan for all of them, not only the cleanup.

1. Prevent. Use sound, closed containers and inspect storage on a schedule.
2. Contain. Put secondary containment under drums, totes and machines.
3. Respond. Stop the source, protect drains and stop the spread.
4. Clean up. Absorb with sorbents matched to what spilled.
5. Dispose. Bag and label the waste, then follow the SDS.
6. Report and restock. Report the spill if the rules require it, fix what leaked and refill the kit.

Start with the Safety Data Sheet

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to have an SDS for each hazardous chemical they use and to keep those sheets readily accessible to workers on every shift. Three sections matter most for spills: Section 6 (accidental release measures) covers protective equipment, containment and cleanup; Section 8 covers exposure controls and personal protection; and Section 13 covers disposal.

Types of spills and how to approach each

Oil, fuel and other petroleum liquids

Use oil-only (white) sorbents on wet ground, outdoors or on water, because SpillTech oil-only sorbents absorb oils and repel water and its oil-only socks float. Indoors, where oil is mixed with coolant or water, universal (gray) sorbents absorb oils, coolants, solvents and water. An oil discharge that causes a sheen on water may be harmful under federal rules and must be reported to the National Response Center. See How to Clean Up an Oil Spill.

Chemicals: acids, bases, solvents and unknowns

Use hazmat (yellow) sorbents for aggressive chemicals such as acids and bases, or when you are not sure what spilled. For acids, caustics and common solvents, the SpillTech MPN-KIT multi-purpose neutralizing spill kit includes acid, base and HF neutralizer and absorber, a solvent absorber, goggles, gloves and aprons in a 3.5-gallon pail. If a release is beyond what workers in the area can safely absorb, neutralize or control, it is an emergency response under OSHA rules, not a routine cleanup.

Water and other non-hazardous liquids

Water on the floor is a slip hazard. OSHA's walking-working surfaces rule says floors must be kept clean and, to the extent feasible, dry, and surfaces must be kept free of hazards such as spills. Universal sorbents absorb water as well as oils.

Blood and other potentially infectious materials

Biohazard spills follow a different rule. Under OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard, contaminated work surfaces must be decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant as soon as feasible after a spill of blood or other potentially infectious materials, and covered employers must have an exposure control plan. Absorbents are not disinfectants. Follow your exposure control plan, and use a trained cleanup specialist when the plan calls for one.

Food and beverage spills

In retail food and food service, local, state, tribal and federal regulators use the FDA Food Code as a model for their own food safety rules, so your local health department sets the cleanup and sanitation requirements. For the slip hazard, the same OSHA floor rules apply as for water.

Matching the gear to the job

SpillTech describes the SpillPal as a portable alternative to hard poly pallets, with foam sidewalls that allow drive-overs. For sorbent forms, see Absorbent Pads vs. Socks vs. Pillows.

Polyethylene vs. steel containment

Most containment we carry is polyethylene. Here is what manufacturer specs and federal rules say; we left out points we could not source.

The deciding factor is compatibility with the liquid, so start with SDS Section 7 (handling and storage) and the manufacturer's compatibility information.

How to choose a containment and spill control setup

1. What liquids do you store? Pull each SDS; it points to the sorbent type and compatible materials.
2. How much, and in what containers? Under SPCC, bulk storage secondary containment must hold the entire capacity of the largest single container plus sufficient freeboard for precipitation.
3. Indoors or outdoors? Outdoors, plan for rain, UV and drains.
4. Fixed or mobile? Pallets suit fixed storage; pools and portable kits suit trucks and field work. See Trucker and Fleet Spill Kit Guide.
5. What is the worst likely spill? See How to Size a Spill Kit.
6. Who responds? Train them on the kit, the SDS and when to call for help.

Best practices for a spill-ready site

• Keep a stocked kit within reach of every area where liquids are stored, moved or dispensed. See What Goes in a Spill Kit.
• Label containers. Used oil containers and tanks must be labeled "Used Oil".
• Inspect storage areas, containment and kits on a set schedule, and fix leaks right away. See How Often to Inspect a Spill Kit.
• Train people at their initial assignment and when a new hazard is introduced.
• Restock after every use. See SpillTech Spill Kit Refill Cross-Reference.
• Plan the waste stream before you need it. See How to Dispose of Used Absorbents.

Regulations

Plain summaries, not legal advice. Check your federal, state and local regulations, because state and local rules can add to or be stricter than federal rules.

EPA Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC), 40 CFR 112

The SPCC rule aims to prevent oil from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines and to contain discharges; covered facilities develop and implement an SPCC Plan. It applies to non-transportation facilities that could reasonably be expected to discharge oil in harmful quantities to navigable waters or shorelines, with exemptions such as a facility whose aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity is 1,320 U.S. gallons or less, counting only containers of 55 gallons or more. Sources: 40 CFR 112 (eCFR), EPA SPCC overview.

RCRA hazardous waste, 40 CFR 262.11

A person who generates a solid waste must determine whether it is a hazardous waste, at the point the waste is generated. EPA describes hazardous waste as waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of harmful effects on health or the environment, and RCRA manages it from cradle to grave. Sources: 40 CFR 262.11 (eCFR), EPA RCRA, EPA hazardous waste basics.

Used oil management, 40 CFR 279

Used oil generators must keep containers in good condition and not leaking, label them "Used Oil", and respond to releases by stopping the release, containing it, cleaning it up and managing the material, and repairing or replacing leaking containers. Source: 40 CFR 279 (eCFR), 40 CFR 279.22.

OSHA Hazard Communication, 29 CFR 1910.1200

Chemical hazards must be classified and communicated through labels, SDSs and training. Employers must have an SDS for each hazardous chemical they use, keep it readily accessible on every shift, and train workers at initial assignment and when a new hazard is introduced. Sources: 29 CFR 1910.1200 (eCFR), OSHA Hazard Communication.

OSHA HAZWOPER, 29 CFR 1910.120

This standard covers emergency response to uncontrolled releases of hazardous substances. Incidental releases that can be absorbed, neutralized or otherwise controlled at the time of release by employees in the immediate area or by maintenance personnel are not emergency responses under the standard. Where it applies, salvage drums or containers and suitable absorbent must be kept where spills or leaks may occur. Source: 29 CFR 1910.120 (eCFR).

OSHA walking-working surfaces, 29 CFR 1910.22

Workplaces must be kept clean, orderly and sanitary, and floors kept clean and, to the extent feasible, dry. Walking-working surfaces must be kept free of hazards such as leaks and spills, inspected regularly and as necessary, and hazards corrected or guarded before use. Source: 29 CFR 1910.22 (eCFR).

DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations, 49 CFR 171-180

PHMSA regulates the safe movement of hazardous materials by all modes of transportation. The HMR apply to people who transport hazardous materials in commerce, cause them to be transported, or perform pre-transportation functions. Sources: PHMSA Hazardous Materials Regulations, 49 CFR 171.1, 49 CFR 173.3.

Bloodborne pathogens, 29 CFR 1910.1030

Applies to occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Contaminated surfaces must be decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant as soon as feasible after a spill, under the employer's exposure control plan. Sources: 29 CFR 1910.1030 (eCFR), OSHA bloodborne pathogens.

State and local rules

States run their own hazardous waste programs and can be more stringent than federal rules, and cities, counties, fire marshals and health departments add their own requirements for storage, reporting and cleanup. Find your state agency through EPA's list of state hazardous waste programs.

SpillTech lists its spill kits as helping facilities comply with 29 CFR 1910.120(j)(1), 29 CFR 1910.1450(e), 40 CFR 263.30(a), 40 CFR 263.31 and 49 CFR 173.3(c); its oil-only kits also list 33 CFR 154.1047(c)(2). WellKept Supply does not certify compliance. Your spill plan, your Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and your regulator decide what your site needs. Rules vary by location, so always check your federal, state and local regulations.

Guides in this series

• How to Size a Spill Kit
• Universal vs. Oil-Only vs. HazMat Spill Kits
• OverPack Drum vs. Wheeled vs. Bag Spill Kits
• Trucker and Fleet Spill Kit Guide
• SpillTech Spill Kit Refill Cross-Reference
• How to Clean Up an Oil Spill
• How to Dispose of Used Absorbents
• What Goes in a Spill Kit
• How Often to Inspect a Spill Kit
• Absorbent Pads vs. Socks vs. Pillows
• Spill kit finder

By industry

• Spill Kits for Auto Body and Repair Shops
• Spill Control for Machine Shops and Manufacturing Plants
• Spill Kits for Warehouses, Docks and Fleet Yards
• Spill Kits and Absorbents for Aircraft Hangars, FBOs and Maintenance Shops
• Spill Supplies for Private Hangars, Flight Schools and Small Airports

FAQ

Related

• All spill kits
• Absorbent pads and rolls
• Absorbent socks
• Drain covers and plugs

Not sure which kit fits your site? Try the spill kit finder.

WellKept Supply is a distributor. Some items ship directly from the manufacturer, and lead times vary by product.