HSE Power Generation guidance

Power generation sites and CHP (combined heat and power) plants handle fuels, oils, coolants and process chemicals in areas where a single leak can create safety risks, environmental damage and expensive downtime. This page explains how HSE power generation expectations link to practical spill management: spill prevention, secondary containment (bunding), drip control, drain protection and compliant spill response.

Quick answer: The safest, most compliant approach is to prevent leaks where possible, contain foreseeable loss of containment at source (bunding, drip trays, IBC bunds), protect drains (drain covers, drain blockers) and prove readiness (spill kits, training, inspection and records). This aligns with HSE risk management duties and environmental protection expectations for preventing pollution.

Question: What does HSE power generation guidance mean for spill control?

Solution: Treat spill control as part of your site risk assessment and operational controls, not just emergency cleanup. In a typical generation or CHP environment, higher risk spill points include:

• Fuel receipt and transfer: road tanker offload, day tanks, pipework, valves and couplings.
• Lubrication systems: turbine and engine lube oil storage, filters, lines, sumps and coolers.
• Transformers and switchgear: insulating oil leaks, bund integrity and drain management.
• Chemical dosing and water treatment: acids/alkalis, biocides, dosing pumps and IBC storage.
• Generator hall and plant rooms: hydraulic oil, glycol and condensate systems.

HSE expectations are typically delivered through management of risk: identify credible spill scenarios, prevent where possible, and put containment and response in place so a release does not harm people, plant or the environment.

Question: How do we reduce spill risk without creating operational delays?

Solution: Use a layered approach that fits maintenance routines and refuelling schedules:

1. Prevent: improve hose management, fit dry-break couplings, label valves, implement checklists for tanker connections and isolate drains during transfers where appropriate.
2. Contain at source: install spill containment around tanks, pumps and IBCs and use drip trays under filters, sampling points and minor leak locations.
3. Protect drainage: deploy drain protection where spills could enter surface water drains, interceptors or soakaways.
4. Respond quickly: place spill kits at fuel transfer points, generator halls, transformer compounds and chemical stores, sized to the realistic worst-case spill for that area.
5. Assure: train staff, drill key scenarios, and keep inspection records for bunds, drain protection and spill kit stock levels.

Question: Which spills are most common in CHP and power generation, and what should we stock?

Solution: Stock spill response to match your fluids and the work area:

• Diesel, gas oil and lubricating oil: use oil-selective absorbents that repel water for outside transformer areas and bunded yards. Place absorbent socks around kerbs and drains during refuelling.
• Coolants and water-based fluids: use general purpose absorbents for glycol and mixed water-based leaks in plant rooms.
• Chemicals: use chemical spill kits for dosing chemicals and battery rooms where acids/alkalis may be present, and select compatible PPE and disposal routes.

Keep kits close to the hazard (point of use). A spill kit locked in a store at the other end of site is not operationally effective in an emergency.

Question: What does "bunding" mean in practice for power generation sites?

Solution: Bunding is secondary containment designed to hold leaks from tanks, IBCs and plant until the fluid can be recovered safely. In power generation, bunding is commonly used for:

• Bulk fuel tanks and day tanks.
• Transformer oil containment areas.
• IBC chemical storage and dosing skids.
• Waste oil and oily water storage.

Good bund management includes:

• Capacity: size containment to foreseeable loss of containment for the equipment stored.
• Integrity: inspect for cracks, failed sealant, damaged liners and poor penetrations.
• Drain control: do not leave bund valves open; manage rainwater appropriately and treat contaminated water as waste.
• Housekeeping: keep bunds clear so capacity is not reduced by debris or stored items.

Where permanent bunding is not practical, use portable bunded solutions or spill containment systems designed for maintenance tasks and temporary storage.

Question: How do we stop spills entering drains during transfers and maintenance?

Solution: Plan drain protection as a standard control for refuelling and high-risk work:

• Identify nearby drains in the work permit or job briefing.
• Deploy drain covers or drain blockers before connecting hoses.
• Use absorbent socks to create a quick perimeter around gullies and door thresholds.
• Keep a dedicated drain protection kit at tanker offload points and chemical offload bays.

This is particularly important on sites with surface water networks, oil separators, or direct discharge consents, where even small volumes can cause a pollution incident.

Question: What documentation supports compliance and demonstrates control?

Solution: Build spill control into everyday management systems. Typical evidence that supports HSE-aligned risk management and environmental compliance includes:

• Spill risk assessment identifying credible spill scenarios and control measures.
• Site spill response plan with roles, escalation and contact details.
• Bund inspection checklists, maintenance logs and defect close-out records.
• Spill kit inspection logs (stock levels, expiry dates, replenishment actions).
• Training records and drill reports for refuelling and chemical handling scenarios.
• Incident and near-miss reporting with corrective actions.

Where relevant, align controls with pollution prevention expectations and legal duties to prevent environmental harm. For background on UK pollution prevention expectations, see GOV.UK: Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC).

Question: What does a good power generation spill response look like on site?

Solution: A practical, high-performing setup is visible at the point of risk and easy to use under pressure. Example site arrangements:

• Tanker offload bay: oil-selective spill kit, drain covers, absorbent socks, drip trays for couplings, and a clear connection checklist.
• Generator hall: general purpose absorbents for mixed fluids, drip trays under filter changes, and a clearly marked spill station.
• Transformer compound: oil-selective absorbents, drain protection for yard drains, and routine checks of bund integrity.
• Chemical dosing: chemical spill kit, bunded IBC storage and dosing skid containment, plus compatible PPE.

Question: How do we choose the right spill products for a CHP or power generation site?

Solution: Choose products based on fluid type, location and credible spill volume:

• Spill kits: match to oil, chemical or general purpose needs. Position kits where spills occur, not where storage is convenient.
• Drip trays: use for routine maintenance, filter changes and minor weeps to prevent slippery surfaces and housekeeping issues.
• Spill containment and bunding: use for storage areas, dosing skids, pumps and any asset with a credible leak volume that could escape to drains.
• Drain protection: essential where drains are within the spill migration pathway, especially outdoors.

Browse Serpro ranges for operational spill control:

• Spill kits
• Drip trays
• Drain protection
• Spill containment and bunding

Question: What are the most common mistakes that undermine compliance?

Solution: Avoid these frequent issues seen across power generation and CHP sites:

• Bund drain valves left open, or rainwater management not controlled.
• Spill kits located too far from the hazard or not replenished after use.
• No drain protection available during tanker transfers or outdoor maintenance.
• Absorbents that do not match the fluid (for example, using general purpose where oil-selective is needed outdoors).
• Unclear responsibilities and no drill practice, leading to slow response.

Need help applying HSE expectations to your site?

If you want to improve spill control for power generation, CHP, standby generators or energy centres, Serpro can help you select the right spill kits, bunding, drip trays and drain protection for your site layout and risk profile. Start with the key product areas above and build a robust, audit-friendly spill management standard.

Citations: UK Government guidance on environmental permitting and pollution control: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pollution-prevention-and-control-ppc