Oil Spill Kits
Cooking oils (from deli, rotisserie, bakery, or customer breakages) create a high-slip surface even in small quantities. Oil can spread quickly under shoes and wheels, so response must be immediate and specific: isolate, apply oil-appropriate absorbents, remove residues with a degreasing cleaner, and verify the floor is no longer slick. Keep dedicated oil spill kits in departments where oils are handled to avoid delays and cross-contamination.
Why oil spills need a dedicated kit
Oil behaves differently to water-based spills. It can travel further than expected, cling to floor textures, and leave an invisible slick even after the visible spill is removed. A dedicated oil spill kit helps you respond fast with the right absorbents and cleaning steps, reducing slip risk, preventing tracking through aisles, and keeping operations moving.
Typical oil spill sources
- Cooking oil leaks, fryer drain-down, delivery handling, and container punctures
- Customer breakages (bottled oils, dressings, marinades)
- Plant rooms and workshops (hydraulic oil, lubricants, cutting fluids)
- Vehicle areas (fuel, diesel, engine oil)
What a good oil spill kit should include
For best results, choose oil-only (oil selective) absorbents designed for hydrocarbons. A well-balanced kit typically contains:
- Oil-only pads or rolls for rapid uptake and wiping
- Containment socks/booms to stop spread and protect walkways
- Disposal bags and ties for safe, tidy removal
- Basic PPE (for example gloves) to reduce skin contact
- A simple instruction card so anyone can act immediately
If you regularly handle food oils, keep a compatible degreasing cleaner alongside the kit to remove the final slick residue after absorbents have done their job.
Immediate response procedure for cooking oils and hydrocarbons
- Isolate the area quickly (stop foot traffic, block wheels/trolleys, and control the approach routes).
- Stop the source if it is safe to do so (upright a container, close a valve, move a leaking item into a tray).
- Contain the spread using socks/booms around the perimeter and at flow paths.
- Apply oil-only absorbents (pads/rolls) from the outside moving in, allowing time for uptake.
- Lift and remove saturated materials into disposal bags to prevent recontamination.
- Degrease the surface to remove the slippery residue (follow your site cleaning procedure and product instructions).
- Verify the floor is no longer slick before reopening the area, and re-check after a few minutes if traffic resumes.
Where to keep oil spill kits
Place dedicated kits where delays are most likely to occur:
- Deli, rotisserie, bakery, and goods-in areas handling oils
- Kitchen prep zones and wash-up areas
- Plant rooms, workshops, and maintenance stores
- Loading bays, service yards, and refuelling points
Keep kits visible, clearly labelled, and separate from general-purpose kits to avoid cross-contamination and ensure the right absorbents are used first time.
Choosing the right kit
Match capacity to your risk. Smaller kits are ideal for localised incidents (for example a dropped bottle or small fryer leak), while larger kits suit high-throughput areas, plant rooms, and loading bays. If spills could reach drains or thresholds, prioritise additional containment socks/booms.
Related products and guidance
- Oil and Fuel Spill Kits
- Oil Absorbents (pads, rolls, socks and more)
- Cleaning Chemicals
- Serpro's slip prevention guide
- Wet floor signage
- Best practice guidelines
- Spill management best practices