Spill Control Resources

Encouraging proactive measures is essential for any operation dealing with waste oil. Implementing a comprehensive spill prevention plan not only safeguards the environment but also enhances the overall safety and efficiency of your operations. Regularly reviewing and updating your spill response procedures based on the latest regulations and best practices is vital.

This page brings together practical guidance, compliance references and Serpro links to help you plan, prevent and respond confidently when spills happen.

Quick internal links

• Spill Control (overview)
• Drain Protection
• Leak Diverter
• Spill Containment
• Spill Kits
• Waste Oil Spill Control (blog)
• Spill Management Best Practices (blog)

What “good” spill control looks like

Strong spill control is a mix of preparation and speed: reduce the likelihood of a spill, limit how far it can travel, and make clean-up straightforward. For most sites that handle oils, fuels, coolants or process liquids, the essentials are:

• Prevent leaks and overfills through inspections, maintenance and sensible storage layout.
• Contain likely release points with bunds, trays and targeted barriers so spills do not spread.
• Protect drains to stop pollutants entering the drainage system and watercourses.
• Respond with the right absorbents, PPE and a simple, well-practised procedure.
• Dispose of used absorbents and contaminated materials safely and in line with your waste controls.

UK compliance and guidance (external resources)

If you store oils on site, start with GOV.UK’s guidance on storing oil. It explains practical requirements such as suitable containers, siting, protection, and secondary containment (bunds/drip trays), and when business regulations apply.^[1][2]

• GOV.UK: Oil storage regulations for businesses (guidance) ^[1]
• GOV.UK: Storing oil at your home or business (overview) ^[3]
• GOV.UK: Storing oil at your business ^[2]
• The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 (legislation.gov.uk) ^[4]
• NetRegs: Requirements for your oil or fuel storage container ^[5]
• NetRegs: Above ground oil storage tanks (GPP 2) (PDF) ^[6]

Serpro spill control resources (practical next steps)

Use the links below to build a site-ready approach: stop leaks quickly, protect drains, and keep the right equipment close to the risk.

1) Contain at source

• Spill containment products for storage areas and transfer points.
• Spill control range to reduce spread and improve response time.

2) Protect drains and prevent pollution

• Drain protection for gullies, interceptors and sensitive drainage points.

3) Capture leaks from above

• Leak diverters for roof leaks, pipework, overhead plant and ceiling voids.

4) Prepare the right response kit

• Spill kits for rapid response across oils, fuels, coolants and general workplace liquids.

Recommended reading (Serpro blog)

If you are building or refreshing procedures, these articles are designed to be practical and easy to turn into a site checklist and response flow.

• Effective Spill Control for Waste Oil Operations
• The Complete Guide to Spill Management Best Practices
• Spill Control for Oil & Gas Depots: Preventing Fuel and Oil Leaks
• Spill Control for Offices & Commercial Facilities

Simple spill response structure (template)

Use this as a starting point for a one-page site procedure. Adapt it to your liquids, locations and team roles.

1. Make safe: isolate the area, stop work, identify slip/fire hazards, and use appropriate PPE.
2. Stop the source: close valves, upright containers, plug leaks (if safe), and prevent overflows.
3. Protect drains: deploy drain covers or temporary barriers immediately.
4. Contain and absorb: use socks/booms to ring-fence, then pads/rolls to lift remaining liquid.
5. Bag, label and segregate: keep contaminated materials controlled for safe disposal.
6. Report and improve: log the incident, restock used items, and update controls/training.

For external compliance checks, refer back to the GOV.UK oil storage guidance and the applicable regulations for your area and storage capacity.^[1][4]

References

1. GOV.UK – Oil storage regulations for businesses (guidance)
2. GOV.UK – Storing oil at your business
3. GOV.UK – Storing oil at your home or business (overview)
4. legislation.gov.uk – The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/2954)
5. NetRegs – Requirements for your oil or fuel storage container
6. NetRegs – Above ground oil storage tanks (GPP 2) (PDF)