Spill Control Compliance in the UK: The Essentials for Businesses

Preventing spills isn’t just good practice—it’s a legal duty in the UK. If you store or handle oils, chemicals, coolants, fuels, or other potentially polluting substances, you must assess risks, put secondary containment in place, and train staff to respond effectively.

Key laws at a glance

• Oil storage rules (England & Wales): If you store 201 litres or more of oil at a business, you must meet specific storage and secondary containment requirements. Homes are in scope at 3,501 litres or more.
• Bund/drip tray capacity:
  • Single fixed tanks, IBCs, bowsers: bund must hold 110% of the container’s capacity.
  • Multiple containers: secondary containment must be the greater of 110% of the largest container or 25% of the total combined volume.
  • Drums on trays: tray must hold at least 25% of the drum (or of the total if the tray takes multiple drums).
• COSHH: You must assess and control risks from hazardous substances—your assessment should cover spill prevention, response, PPE, and safe disposal.
• COMAH (where applicable): Sites holding large quantities of dangerous substances must prevent/mitigate major accidents and have robust emergency arrangements.

What compliance looks like in practice

1. Do a spill risk assessment (COSHH) covering storage, transfer, and process areas. Identify your worst-case spill and how you’ll contain it.
2. Install secondary containment sized correctly (see capacities above). Keep fill/vent points and pipework protected and, where required, within the bund.
3. Write a spill response plan (who does what, when, and with which kit). Make it site-specific and keep it accessible.
4. Equip and train your team: stock suitable absorbents (pads, socks, booms), drain covers, neutralisers (where appropriate), and PPE. Run drills and refreshers.
5. Inspect and maintain tanks, bunds, valves, and hoses. Keep records of checks, training, and any incidents or near-misses.
6. Clean up and dispose correctly: treat used absorbents and contaminated materials as waste; use licensed carriers and keep duty-of-care paperwork.

Quick wins (often missed)

• Protecting tanks/pipework from impact (bollards/barriers) and overfill alarms where the tank isn’t visible during filling.
• Keeping delivery/transfer areas covered by a bund or deployable containment during offloads.
• Labelling and segregating incompatible substances to avoid cross-contamination during spills.

Need help choosing the right absorbents? Match your kit to the risk: Oil-only for hydrocarbons, Maintenance/Universal for mixed liquids (oils, coolants, water), and Chemical for corrosives and unknowns.