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In any chemical spill situation (technically called a release or discharge), employees with proper training may be designated or expected to respond. The use of a spill kit during initial response may lessen the severity of releases and keep control over emergency situations. Using a kit may also limit damages to life, property, and the environment.
A spill kit is a set of readily available equipment and supplies designed for use in the event of a chemical release. The kit helps the responder to quickly confine, contain, control, and/or clean up the release. A kit’s supplies will vary depending on the release size and chemical type for which the kit is intended. Spill kits and spill stations may come in a duffel bag, pail, bin, drum, cart, cabinet, trailer, or other container.
When people think about secondary containment, things that come to mind include dikes, berms, retention ponds, drip pans, and other “passive” measures. However, using spill kits with sorbent materials like “kitty litter” is an example of “active” secondary containment. Active secondary containment includes measures that require deployment or other specific action before or after a release. These actions are also referred to as spill countermeasures.
OSHA, EPA, and DOT do not specifically require a spill kit, but:
Many secondary containment regulations call for passive, not active, methods. In fact, they may have specific size and design provisions. This means spill kits may not be a compliant means of secondary containment, but instead they may only supplement passive systems.
However, some secondary containment regulations may allow for active secondary containment, and where that is the case, it is up to the facility owner or operator to determine if a spill kit is the best way to meet those requirements.
Note that spill kits are not the answer for all leak and spill situations. That’s because spill kits often have limited absorption or containment capacity. Chemical storage can pose a spill risk during off-hour periods when personnel may not be onsite to act. Also, precipitation and cold temperatures may affect the performance of spill kit components.
In addition to reviewing the applicable regulations, a facility owner or operator may wish to seek out a professional engineer and related consensus standards for recommendations.