How Do I Create A Spill Response Plan?

Think about how spills are handled in your business. Do you teach a proper procedure that workers follow or do employees just grab some paper towels and call it quits? If your answer is the latter, it’s time to rethink your strategy. Not only will preparing a proper spill response increase productivity and lower worker-related injuries and costs, but operating without knowing how to properly clean spills under today’s legal requirements puts your entire company and bottom line at risk as well. Don’t put your business and workers on the line – take action now to save yourself from major trouble later!

1. Prevent spills

The first step in creating a proper spill response plan is knowing how to prevent spills from occurring. Encourage your employees to keep their areas clean to reduce the risk of knocking over buckets or containers. When they finish using something, workers should take extra care to make sure lids are screwed correctly and tightly. Then, place containers away from work areas – such as in a closet or on a higher shelf. Preventing spills from occurring is the best weapon in a spill response plan. However despite your best efforts, spills do accidentally occur from time to time. In this instance, the next step would be evaluating the risk.

2.       Evaluate the risk

Many different types of substances can accidentally spill in the workplace. We divided them into two categories: Major Spill

• The spill can pose an immediate risk to the health of workers
• The spill is a fire hazard or explosion risk
• The spill involves a highly dangerous chemical

In these instances, calling emergency services and getting workers to safety is the first priority. Minor Spill

• The spill is in a manageable amount
• The spill does not pose an immediate risk to the health of workers

In the event of a minor spill, it is safe and recommended to proceed with your spill response plan.

3.       Commence cleaning using a spill kit

The spill kit in your possession should contain two important categories of equipment: personal protective equipment and equipment needed to small spills. Personal Protective Equipment

• Heavy duty gloves
• Safety goggles
• Apron

Cleaning equipment

• Absorbent pads or boom sticks to contain spills
• Spill absorbent product to clean spills correctly
• Plastic dust pan and broom to clean up used spill absorbent products
• Large container to dispose of used spill absorbent products

Choosing what spill absorbent to keep in your spill kit is a hard task. Business owners should look for an absorbent product that will do more good than harm to the situation. This comes into play when choosing between a familiar clay absorbent product or a more natural approach. Clay absorbent products, while popular, give off dangerous dust particles when opening the bag or pouring onto a spill. This dust could enter a worker’s lungs and cause illness or injuries to their internal organs. That is why we recommend choosing a natural spill absorbent such as SpillFix. Our products are made from an organic renewable resource, coconut husk. Because SpillFix manufactures create the absorbent from this renewable resource, workers can use the product without fear of harmful dust particles – and, as you can see, will have a much easier time cleaning the mess as well. In the end, businesses should always stay prepared for a spill in the workplace. Having a spill response plan ready will eliminate confusion on company policy and help keep workers safe from workplace accidents.