Spill kits

Spill kits

Special materials are available to absorb a number of different substances. They can be in granular form, ready to use and bought in convenient containers for storage. Disposal of used spill-absorbing material is dealt with in the ’Waste Management’ section.

Land contamination

Oil, fuels and solvents etc. can contaminate any soil that they are allowed to contact. Such materials should never be disposed of by pouring onto soil and every precaution must be taken to prevent spillage reaching soil. Waste materials stored on open ground could also leak, or have polluting substances washed off them that would contaminate the land. Always store these materials in suitable skips or other similarly robust containers.

Checklist

Always adhere to the following:

• Don’t pour or spill anything onto the soil or bare ground.
• Don’t store waste materials on bare ground, see ’Spillage prevention’ list in ’Additional Precautions Checklist’.

Legal compliance

Some sites may have a discharge consent for effluent discharge to the foul drain for a car wash etc. It is important to know what materials are allowed in the drain and to check the results of any monitoring carried out by the local Water authority.

Where paint-spraying operations are carried out, it may be necessary to apply to the Local Authority for an air emissions licence to operate the plant. If such a licence is in operation, additional precautions will be necessary to comply with the requirements, and the results of any air quality monitoring must be checked regularly.

Checklist

Always adhere to the following:

• Know what legal consents and licences apply to the operations.
• Check that the emissions and discharges comply with legal requirements.

Local issues

A number of environmental issues will be of particular concern to residents and other neighbours close to the site. The sensitivity of these issues will depend on the proximity of the site and the layout and amount of activity conducted at the site.

Noise is a major concern and therefore consideration should be given to the time spent carrying out noisy activities and the location of those activities that can cause excessive noise.

Car alarm testing, panel beating, hammering and other such noisy activities should, whenever possible, be carried out indoors with doors and windows shut, or as far away as possible from local residents and others who may be affected by the disturbance.

Running vehicle engines may be an outside activity which could cause nuisance to neighbours because of noise and smell.

Be sensitive with regards the time of day when these activities are performed, and minimise the time of the noisy operation, particularly in the early morning and late evening.

Another local concern will be the smell from the various materials used. Using less solvent, paint and petrol could help prevent this annoyance.

Local residents and other business users will also be concerned about traffic congestion, noise and exhaust fumes, be sensitive to these concerns and try to minimise inconvenience caused by deliveries, customers and servicing operations.

Checklist

Always adhere to the following:

• Identify where the neighbours who are likely to be affected are situated.
• Minimise noise, smell and traffic nuisance.
• Prevent litter by putting waste in the correct containers.
• Have waste skips emptied regularly.