Product Category: SPILL KITS

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Spill kits are pre-assembled emergency response packs containing absorbent pads, socks, cushions, and personal protective equipment to safely contain and clean up hazardous liquid spills in the workplace. SSI Environmental, based in Dublin 15, supplies a comprehensive range of oil spill kits, chemical spill kits, and universal spill kits in sizes from 20 litres to 1,000 litres, including wall-mounted, vehicle-mounted, and wheelie bin formats, for compliant spill management across Irish industrial, construction, and commercial sites.

• Loose sorbents for absorbing and neutralising hazardous liquids.
• Materials including pads, socks, booms, rolls, neutralisers and related response products.

What are Spill Kits?

Spill kits are used to clean up spills at work. They have special materials to soak up spills so they can be thrown away safely. Spill kits should be kept in places where liquids might leak or where work vehicles are used a lot.

A good spill kit should have:

• Absorbent cushions
• Absorbent socks
• Absorbent pads
• Trash bags for throwing away waste
• Gloves
• Goggles

There are different spill kits for different liquids. Make sure you get the right one for the liquid you are working with.

Chemical spill kits are used for strong acids and alkalis. They can soak up almost any chemical quickly. Oil spill kits can clean up oil from land and water. The kit soaks up the oil, leaving the rest of the liquid behind. This is great for cleaning up oil spills in water, like in marine accidents.

Bag Spill Kit

The Shoulder Bag Spill Kit helps you clean up spills fast. Each kit comes in a portable bag that you can carry with you. Inside the kit, you’ll find spill cushions, socks, pads, protective gear, and trash bags. Keep this kit in your factory or warehouse, or take it with you in your work vehicle for emergencies. It’s perfect for dealing with spills right away, especially if you don’t have plant nappies to help.

Spill Kits contain a set of equipment specifically designed to control, contain and clean up hazardous substances and is an essential piece of equipment when harmful substances are at risk of being spilled.

Dangerous substances include:

• Solvents
• Fuels
• Hazardous chemicals
• Oils
• Sewage
• Protein fluids
• Petroleum
• Gasses
• Corrosives

Whist all spill kits should contain general safety equipment such as safety goggles, disposable bags and gloves, specific materials within them vary depending on the potentially spilled substance. The types of equipment can be split into two categories, loose sorbents and materials.

Spill Kit Types: Which Kit for Which Hazard?

Which Spill Kit Do I Need? Type Selector Guide

SSI Spill Kit Range: Sizes and Configurations

Personal and Vehicle Kits (20 to 50L)

Compact kits for individual vehicles, plant operators, and lone workers. Held on-vehicle or in site cabins. Contents: sorbent pads, mini-socks, waste bag and tie, gloves, and disposal instructions. Available in oil-only or universal configuration.

Site Response Kits (100 to 200L)

Suited to mid-size commercial and construction sites. Typically bucket or carry-case format. Contents: sorbent pads and rolls, sorbent socks (drain and bund containment), PPE, hazard tape, waste bags, and site-specific IBC sheets. Standard issue for IPPC-licensed sites and contractor welfare areas.

Large-Site and Wheeled Kits (240 to 500L)

Wheeled bins for rapid deployment across large sites. Suited to fuel storage areas, vehicle maintenance compounds, distribution facilities, and sites holding significant volumes of hazardous material. Contents: full sorbent roll, pad stack, socks, and PPE. Can be configured to oil-only, chemical, or universal specification.

IBC and Station Kits (500 to 1,100L)

For sites holding large volumes of liquids (IBC storage, bulk fuel tanks, chemical stores). High-capacity sorbent packs, compatible with bunded storage areas. Often specified as part of an EPA-compliant site emergency plan.

Spill Kit Size Guide: Volume Selector

SSI Spill Kits: Product Range Overview

Spill Kit Contents: Standard Inclusions

Loose Sorbents

Loose sorbents are used to both absorb and neutralise hazardous liquids so they can be easily disposed of with minimum risk to anyone involved. There are also multiple different types of loose sorbents all of which specialise in different substances. Browse SSI Environmental's loose sorbents category for product options.

The main ones are as followed:

• DiamixMineral based granules which are used to absorb oil, grease, water, solvents, chemicals and other liquids on solid surfaces. They also neutralises flammable, toxic and explosive substances so they can be disposed of safely.
• Quick Eco GelAbsorb slurry solids and creates a gel like substance which can be disposed of in any standard waste bin within minutes.
• Safety SorbentOften used as an anti-slip agent, it quickly absorbs liquids making them easy to clean up.
• Green StuffAbsorbs any chemical excluding cyanide solutions, decomposable peroxides, and concentrated nitric acid.

Materials

Other resources used to clear up hazardous substances are categorised as materials. These products achieve their purpose in multiple different ways. Browse SSI Environmental's materials category for pads, socks, booms and related spill response products.

The main ones are as followed:

• Micro-fibre: material used to absorb oil so it can easily be disposed of.
• Oil and chemical pads, socks and rolls: made to absorb large quantities of oil.
• Oil booms: a floating barrier used to contain oil spills which occur in water. They reduce the risk of pollution and collect the oil into one place facilitating the clean-up process.
• Universal chemical neutraliser: neutralises acids so they are safe to clean up.
• Bio-tube: absorb oil and digest it, converting it to carbon dioxide and water.

There are different sizes and types of spill kits available depending on the substance spilled. For more information and to select the relevant spill kit for your needs see the links below.

SSI Environmental: 25 Years as Ireland's Spill-Response Specialist

• Site-specific kit design: we assess the liquids held on site, the drainage layout, and the scale of the risk, then specify the correct type, size, and quantity of kits.
• Spill-response training: on-site training for your team in correct response protocols including containment, absorption, disposal and incident reporting.
• EPA / IPPC compliance support: we help sites understand their legal duty to hold spill response and how kit specification feeds into site emergency plans.
• Refills and replenishment: used kits must be replenished; SSI provides refill packs matched to the original kit specification.
• Portfolio of complex sites: motorway construction, windfarm installations, river and infrastructure projects, large industrial facilities across Ireland.

Why Irish Workplaces Must Have Spill Kits

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006), Irish employers have a legal duty to manage the storage and handling of hazardous substances safely. Spill kits are a required element of any workplace COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) risk assessment where oils, fuels, solvents, or chemicals are used or stored.

Failure to have adequate spill response equipment on site in Ireland can result in:

• HSA (Health and Safety Authority) enforcement notices and fines for workplace safety violations
• EPA prosecution under the Water Pollution Acts for spills that reach drains or watercourses
• Worker injury due to slip hazards created by uncontained spills
• Costly environmental remediation and soil treatment where petroleum products contaminate ground

What Does Irish Law Require for Spill Kits?

Irish environmental law does not specify a minimum kit size by name, but several legal instruments require sites to hold adequate spill response capability:

• EPA Act 1992 (as amended): any discharge of a pollutant to a watercourse, groundwater, or sewer is an offence. Having no spill response is not a defence.
• IPPC Licence Conditions (EPA): IPPC-licensed facilities are required to maintain site emergency plans, which must include spill response provisions. Kit type and quantity must be appropriate to the substances held.
• IFI / Water Framework Directive: Inland Fisheries Ireland can prosecute for any discharge affecting fisheries, including accidental spills of fuel, oil, or chemical where no response was in place.
• Construction regulations: sites working near watercourses (under IFI and EPA Construction Guidelines) must have fuel and chemical spill response on-site at all times during works.

SSI's team can advise on the spill response obligation relevant to your site type and licence. We provide written kit specifications that can be included in site emergency plans and presented to inspectors.

How to Use a Spill Kit: Step-by-Step

1. Protect yourself first: put on the gloves and safety goggles from the kit before approaching the spill.
2. Stop the source: isolate or cap the leaking container or machinery if safe to do so.
3. Contain the spill: deploy spill socks around the perimeter to stop the liquid spreading towards drains.
4. Absorb the liquid: lay absorbent pads from the centre of the spill outward to soak up the liquid.
5. Dispose safely: place saturated pads, socks, and PPE into the spill kit’s heavy-duty disposal bags and seal.
6. Dispose of waste: arrange collection by a licenced hazardous waste contractor in compliance with Irish EPA waste regulations.
7. Replenish the kit: replace used consumables immediately so the kit is ready for the next incident.

Spill Kit Refills and Replenishment

A used spill kit is a non-functional spill kit. Once sorbents are used, they must be disposed of as hazardous waste (through a licenced waste contractor) and the kit replenished before the next incident.

SSI provides matched refill packs for all kits we supply, same sorbent type, same contents specification, same disposal bags. Refill delivery can be scheduled alongside annual training to ensure your site is always compliant.

Yes. SSI Environmental supplies all spill kit consumables individually, including absorbent pads, socks, disposal bags, gloves, and goggles. This avoids the need to replace an entire kit after a small incident. Contact SSI for bulk refill pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions: Spill Kits Ireland

• What should a spill kit contain in Ireland?

  A compliant spill kit for Irish workplaces should include absorbent pads, socks (booms), cushions or pillows, heavy-duty disposal bags, nitrile or chemical-resistant gloves, and safety goggles. Oil-specific kits also include oil-only absorbent material (white) that repels water, important for outdoor use.
• Are spill kits a legal requirement in Ireland?

  Yes. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers must manage hazardous substances safely, which includes maintaining spill response capability. Businesses storing oil, chemicals, or fuels also have obligations under EPA licensing and the Water Pollution Acts. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) can issue improvement notices for workplaces without adequate spill response procedures.
• What size spill kit do I need for my Irish workplace?

  Size is determined by the largest foreseeable spill volume on your site. A general rule of thumb: 20 to 40L bag kits suit vehicles and small spills; 200L wheelie bin kits suit workshops and manufacturing bays; 1000L kits are required near IBC tanks or bulk liquid storage. SSI Environmental can advise on the right size. Contact us on 01 866 5676.
• What is the difference between an oil spill kit and a chemical spill kit?

  Oil spill kits (white absorbents) are hydrophobic. They absorb oil and repel water, making them ideal for outdoor use and drains. Chemical spill kits (yellow absorbents) absorb a wider range of substances including water-based chemicals, acids, and alkalis but do not repel water. Universal kits (grey) absorb both oil and water-based liquids.
• How often should spill kits be inspected in Ireland?

  SSI Environmental recommends monthly visual inspection of spill kits to verify completeness of contents and check for damage or expired items. Post-incident, the kit should be replenished immediately. Include spill kit inspection in your routine EHS audit schedule.
• Can I buy replacement parts for my spill kit?

  Yes. SSI Environmental supplies all spill kit consumables individually, including absorbent pads, socks, disposal bags, gloves, and goggles. This avoids the need to replace an entire kit after a small incident. Contact SSI for bulk refill pricing.
• What size spill kit do I need for my site?

  The minimum rule of thumb is that your kit capacity should be able to absorb the maximum foreseeable single spill from any container on your site, not the total volume stored, but the largest single failure scenario. For a site with a 1,000-litre fuel tank, a 1,100-litre kit is appropriate. For sites with multiple smaller risks, SSI will specify multiple positioned kits rather than a single large one. Contact SSI for a site-specific assessment.
• Do I need a chemical spill kit or a universal kit?

  If your site holds acids, bases, oxidisers, solvents, or any substance that could cause a chemical reaction or exposure risk on contact, a chemical kit with compatible PPE is required. Universal kits are not designed for chemical hazmat response and may not provide adequate protection. SSI can identify the correct specification for your substances.
• How often should a spill kit be replenished?

  Immediately after any use. Additionally, an annual check of kit contents is good practice. Sorbents degrade over time and should be replaced if wet, compressed, or beyond their shelf life. SSI provides annual service packs.
• Can I buy just refills for my existing kit?

  Yes. SSI supplies refill packs matched to any existing kit specification, including kits not originally purchased from SSI. Contact us with the kit capacity and sorbent type.