This guidance explains how spills cause pollution, how to prevent them and the steps to follow when one happens, from the spill kit to reporting.

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Further Reading

Further guidance on preventing and responding to spills:

• Environmental Spills: Prevention and Response
• Storage of Oils and Chemicals
• Environmental Management knowledge base

How to Download

These files are included in the alphaZ subscription. The training talk is also included in the ISO 14001 Toolkit and the integrated toolkits that include it.

Need Help Implementing?

If you'd like hands-on help setting up your spill kits, spill records and response arrangements, our remote support services provide direct expert input from our team, by the day, by project, or on an ongoing basis.

Spill Procedure Guidance

A general guidance document on spills for anyone who stores, uses or handles oils, chemicals or other polluting materials. It explains the environmental impact of a spill, the penalties for causing pollution, the everyday materials that can pollute, how spills are prevented and the steps to follow when one happens.

Topics Covered

• How spills cause harm - small quantities killing aquatic life, drains leading directly to watercourses and spills soaking into groundwater
• Pollution and penalties - causing pollution is an offence, with fines, imprisonment, notices, clean-up costs and damage to reputation
• Polluting materials - obvious pollutants such as oils, chemicals and sewage, and everyday ones such as drinks, food, detergents, paint and ink
• Environmental impacts - closed water supplies, damaged habitats and fisheries, contaminated land and groundwater, and effects that can take time to show
• Preventing spills - bunded storage, drip trays, and keeping containers and storage areas in good condition
• Dealing with spills - responding promptly, wearing PPE, stopping the leak if safe, using the spill kit, sealing drains and reporting every spill

Who Is It For?

Anyone who stores, uses or handles oil, chemicals or other polluting materials, and the line managers who receive spill reports.

Included in the ISO 14001 Toolkit

This guidance is supplied with the TT-6-05 Spill Procedure training talk, which is part of the ISO 14001 Toolkit and the integrated toolkits that include it.

Using the Guidance

Issue it at induction, brief it again after a spill or near miss, and keep a copy with each spill kit. Record who has received it, for example on the training matrix.

Steps to Take When a Spill Happens

The guidance sets out a clear order of actions. Never wash a spill down a drain, and respond promptly. Wear any PPE required, such as safety glasses and gloves, stop the leak if it is safe to do so, use the spill kit and cover or seal drains. Contaminated materials go as hazardous waste, and every spill or near miss is reported and recorded.

Adapting the Guidance

Edit the guidance to match your own arrangements - where your spill kits are kept, who spills are reported to and the spill records you complete.

Related Documents

Other documents that work alongside this guidance:

• PP-6-05 Environmental Spills Policy Procedure
• F-ENV7 Spill Record Form
• GG-6-03 Storing Oils and Chemicals
• GG-6-04 Environmental Emergency Response

Everyday Materials That Pollute

Pollution is not only about oils and chemicals. The guidance points out that drinks, food products, detergents, dairy products, paint and ink can also have a devastating effect on the environment.