What Are OSHA’s Spill Kit Requirements and Regulations?

Are you following the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) spill kit requirements? Keep reading to make sure you’re compliant with OSHA regulations for containing non-hazardous and hazardous waste.

What Are OSHA’s Spill Response Plan Requirements?

Spill Regulation #1

All walking and working surfaces must be clean and dry at all times. When using liquid substances, drainage must be maintained and free of corrosion, leaks, and spills.

Spill Regulation #2

A workplace must have an emergency response plan for evacuation and training if an emergency occurs. Examples of an emergency include: 

  • Fires
  • Hazardous chemical releases
  • Natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and floods)

Spill Regulation #3

HAZWOPER is OSHA’s health and safety requirements for employees who engage with one or more of the following:

  • Hazardous waste cleanup
  • Responsibilities involving waste treatment
  • Hazardous material storage
  • Disposal of hazardous waste
  • Emergency response when hazardous waste is released

HAZWOPER strives to reduce the risk of worker injury and illness from exposure to hazardous substances. HAZWOPER requires employers to follow certain policies and procedures to protect workers from potential exposure to hazardous materials. These standards give employers all the information and training they need to support workplace health and safety during hazardous spill area response and cleanup.

Do you have all the materials you need for waste cleanup? Through the CLR Recycling Program, we provide you with absorbent materials and a laundering service that cleans your waste-infused materials, returning them as good as new. Contact us today to get started!

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Spill Regulation #4

When we think of spills, we typically think of substances that spread uncontrollably across tables, the ground, and other hard surfaces. However, it’s important to remember that spills can also be gas or vapor contaminants that affect the quality of the air we breathe. 

The most common contaminants in a workplace include dust, fumes, mists, aerosols, and fibers. Indoor air quality is covered under 29 CFR, Subpart Z of OSHA’s spill response plan, which outlines the maximum exposure a worker can be subjected to for various toxic and hazardous substances. Make sure your company is following these guidelines to avoid fines and liabilities.

Spill Regulation #5

RCRA is a public law that develops the framework for proper management and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. RCRA regulations are outlined in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The CFR is a collection of federal laws coded and enforced by federal agencies. Title 40—Protection of the Environment—contains all the regulations of governing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs.

Title 40 includes standards for the proper storage, containment, and management of both non-hazardous and hazardous waste:

  • 40 CFR Part 243 covers criteria for the storage and collection of non-hazardous waste
  • 40 CFR Part 265 goes over standards for the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials

Spill Regulation #6

The primary goal of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) is to help companies prevent the disposing of oil into bodies of water and shorelines. SPCC requires facilities to develop, implement, and maintain an oil spill prevention plan (SPCC plan). 

Before a facility is subject to the SPCC rule, it must meet the following criteria:

  • It must be a non-transportation-related spill
  • It must have an aggregate aboveground storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons or a buried storage capacity greater than 42,000 gallons
  • There must be a reasonable expectation of disposing material into a body of water
    • Every SPCC must be certified by a professional engineer (PE) unless the owner/operator is authorized and chooses to self-certify the SPCC Plan

Spill Regulation #7

Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) must develop an emergency response plan. This plan must be reviewed annually and supply information about chemicals used in the community.

Spill Regulation #8

The EPA FRP rule requires that certain facilities submit a response plan to prepare for a worst-case oil discharge or the threat of a discharge. An FRP shows that a facility is prepared to respond to a worst-case oil discharge.

What Materials Should You Have for Your Emergency Spill Response Plan?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Above all else, the protection of your employees should be the top priority. At the bare minimum, PPE kits for spills should include safety gloves, safety goggles, industrial absorbents, and bags to contain the spilled materials.

Oil Absorbents

There are many oil-absorbent materials to choose from, including oil absorbent mats, shop towels, and t-rags. Choosing an oil absorbent is dependent on the industry you work in, so make sure you pick a material that best aligns with your business operations. 

Follow Chemical Spill Regulations With Closed Loop Recycling

Closed Loop Recycling is a leading industrial laundering service. Our process of cleaning and recycling absorbents, wipers, and PPE helps keep your employees safe and our environment clean. 

When you give us your used absorbents, we extract the non-hazardous fluids from the material and recycle them for asphalt, low-grade heating oil, or cement kiln fuel. In return, the laundered absorbents are packaged for redistribution to facilities across the United States. 

Contact us today to ensure you’re following OSHA’s spill kit requirements and keeping your employees protected!