Whether you are working indoors or outside, it is crucial to understand how to respond to an oil spill. To ensure a fast and effective response to spills of any size, every facility or project site must have a fully stocked oil spill kit on hand. In addition to ensuring that kits are stocked, it is important for employees and site personnel to understand how to use an oil spill kit effectively. As a leading provider of quality environmental products, the team at Western Equipment knows that handling an oil spill is often more complex than it seems, even if the spill is small. That is why we have provided some information to help you understand what should be in your oil spill kit and how to use these items properly.

Learn more about environmental products and how they are used for construction site cleanup.

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN AN OIL SPILL KIT?

Before using your oil spill kit, you will need to ensure that it is properly stocked. Oil spill kits should include the following items:

• Oil pads.
• Oil booms.
• Protective gloves.
• Goggles.
• Disposal bags with ties.
• An instruction sheet for new or inexperienced personnel.

5 STEPS TO USE YOUR OIL SPILL KIT

To ensure a fast and effective oil spill cleanup, it is important to have a clear procedure in place. The following steps can be applied to nearly any oil spill on a job site:

1. ASSESS THE SITUATION, EQUIP PPE, AND INFORM OTHERS

First, you will need to assess the spill and determine what equipment will be needed to contain and clean it. Before dealing with an oil spill, ensure that you are wearing gloves and goggles to protect yourself. Next, set up signs to warn other personnel of the spill.

2. CONTAIN THE SPILL

If possible, stop the source of the spill and then contain the spill using long oil booms or oil socks. For larger spills, it is a good idea to add a second oil boom around the spill about one foot from the first boom.

3. USE OIL PADS TO ABSORB THE SPILL

Once the spill has been contained with booms, you will need to use oil pads to absorb the spill. These absorbent pads should be left for at least 2-3 minutes or until they are fully saturated. If the pads become saturated before absorbing the spill, remove them and place them in a safe disposal bag/bin. Then, add new pads to absorb the rest of the oil.

4. PROPERLY DISPOSE OF USED BOOMS AND PADS

Dispose of all oil booms and pads once the oil has been fully absorbed. These products must be disposed of in the marked bags from the oil kit and secured using a tie from the kit. These bags can then be disposed of in compliance with local waste regulations.

5. CLEAN THE AREA AND RESTOCK YOUR KIT

Once the oil has been fully removed, clean the area to ensure that all surfaces are completely free of oil. You will then need to restock your oil spill kit to ensure that it is ready for a future spill.

To learn more about oil spill kits or to inquire about our environmental product solutions, get in touch with the team at Western Equipment. We can be reached through our online contact form and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our products.