Inspection services

Spill control systems only work when they are inspected, maintained and used correctly. Serpro inspection services help UK industrial sites reduce spill risk, improve housekeeping, and demonstrate environmental compliance across day-to-day operations, planned maintenance, and audit preparation. If you store oils, fuels, chemicals or other liquids in drums, IBCs or tanks, structured inspections can prevent small leaks becoming reportable pollution incidents.

Question: Why do we need inspection services if we already have spill kits?

Solution: Spill kits are essential for response, but inspection services focus on prevention and readiness. A spill kit that has been used and not replenished, or a bund that has been compromised, increases the chance of a loss of containment escalating. Inspections verify that controls are in place and usable: bund integrity, containment capacity, drain protection availability, correct kit selection and positioning, and staff readiness.

On COMAH and COMAH-adjacent sites, inspection services also help support robust control of foreseeable releases from drum and IBC storage areas, decanting points and waste handling zones, where minor drips can turn into persistent contamination if not managed promptly.

Question: What do spill control inspection services typically cover?

Solution: A practical inspection programme should match your site layout, liquids stored, and risk profile. Typical coverage includes:

Drum and IBC storage checks: condition of containers, labelling, segregation, stacking/handling damage, and evidence of weeping or drips.
Bunding and containment: bund walls/floors, joints, penetrations, bund capacity concerns, and signs of stored liquid or rainwater that reduces effective containment.
Drip trays and work areas: correct sizing and placement under pumps, taps, filters, and decanting points; stability and housekeeping around frequent-use areas.
Spill kits and consumables: correct type (oil-only, chemical, general purpose), quantities, replenishment needs, and positioning near risk areas for fast response.
Drain protection: drain covers, blockers, mats and procedures to prevent spills reaching surface water drains during an incident.
Signage and access: clear spill response signage, unobstructed access to kits and isolation points, and safe walkways to avoid slip hazards.
Documentation support: inspection records, corrective actions, and evidence suitable for internal audits, ISO-style management systems, and regulator scrutiny.

Question: How do inspections support compliance and audit readiness?

Solution: Inspections provide documented evidence that spill control measures are in place and are being actively managed. This helps demonstrate due diligence for environmental protection and can support site expectations under the UK regulator framework for preventing pollution and protecting controlled waters. Practical records can show:

scheduled checks of containment and spill response equipment
identified defects and completed corrective actions
improved placement and selection of spill control products
training needs and response readiness for higher-risk areas

Where COMAH duties apply, inspections help reinforce good practice around liquid storage and handling controls, supporting safer operations and reducing escalation risk. For background on spill control within COMAH-adjacent drum storage contexts, see: Effective spill control in COMAH-adjacent drum storage.

Question: What problems are most commonly found during inspections?

Solution: Many spill incidents start with small, repeated losses of containment. Frequent findings include:

insufficient containment for the actual storage volume or configuration
bunds used as storage for waste, pallets or items that reduce capacity and access
rainwater in bunds reducing effective containment and masking leaks
drip trays missing under taps/decant points or incorrectly sized
spill kits incomplete after use, or the wrong kit type for the liquids present
unprotected drains close to handling areas, with no clear procedure for fast isolation
poor placement of kits and drain covers leading to delays in first response

Each issue is practical and fixable. The value of inspection services is that you get an action plan that prioritises higher-risk gaps first.

Question: How often should spill control and bunding inspections be carried out?

Solution: Frequency depends on risk, throughput and exposure. A workable approach is:

daily or shift checks in active decanting/production areas for drips, leaks and housekeeping
weekly inspections of spill kits, drip trays and drain protection readiness
monthly inspections of bunded storage areas, container condition and corrective actions
additional checks after heavy rain (for external bunds), maintenance works, or near-miss events

Inspection services can be used to establish the schedule, define what good looks like on your site, and ensure that checks remain consistent over time.

Question: What does an inspection visit look like in practice?

Solution: A site inspection typically includes a walkdown of liquid storage and use areas, a review of current spill response arrangements, and a focused look at the places where releases are most likely: delivery points, drum stores, IBC compounds, waste accumulation points, and maintenance workshops. Findings are recorded with clear corrective actions, priority ratings and product recommendations where appropriate. You can then improve readiness with targeted upgrades rather than guesswork.

Site examples: where inspection services deliver quick wins

Drum store near a storm drain: recommend nearby drain protection, reposition spill kits, and add drip trays at decant points to reduce migration risk.
External bunded area: introduce a routine to manage rainwater appropriately and confirm bund condition to maintain usable containment capacity.
Workshop with frequent oil handling: improve spill kit selection (oil-only), add bench or floor drip trays, and set restock triggers after any use.

Related spill management resources and products

Inspection services often identify improvements that can be implemented quickly using proven spill control equipment. Depending on your site needs, you may also review:

Question: How do we get started with inspection services?

Solution: Start by mapping where liquids are stored, transferred and disposed of, then identify which areas are most exposed (near drains, in external yards, or in high-throughput zones). Serpro can support a structured inspection approach that improves spill prevention, strengthens spill response readiness, and provides documented evidence for audits and environmental compliance expectations.

Citation: Serpro Blog, Effective spill control in COMAH-adjacent drum storage.