The Importance of a Site Audit in Planning for Spill Kits | Ecospill
A key element of successful spill management in the workplace is performing a site audit. It should be the starting point for any spill management planning.
Whether your business deals with few or many liquids, you should conduct site audits. Audits are best done by an experienced employee or an outsourced specialist site-auditor.
In this article, we discuss the ins and outs of site audits. We also explain how they assist in the effective management of spills in the workplace.
CONDUCTING A SITE AUDIT
One of the best ways to ensure you meet your obligations, in the case of a workplace spill, is by conducting a site audit. A site audit consists of a few different steps. It provides a good overview of your business’s spill kit requirements and training needs.
Below are the elements of a comprehensive site audit:
THE USE OF A SITE AUDIT CHECKLIST
A good site audit will take a step-by-step approach and make use of a checklist. The checklist can be modified to suit your business. This ensures that you can identify and assess everything specific to your business.
CLASSIFICATION OF ONSITE LIQUIDS
This part of the process covers the identification of all liquids kept on site. It also looks at the methods of storage. With different liquids come different environmental obligations and spill responses. So, it’s important to be aware of what is on-site and how to deal with it in the case of a spill.
IDENTIFICATION OF SPILL AREAS & RECEPTORS
In your workplace, there will be areas that are more prone to spill incidents than others. Part of a site audit is to identify where these areas are. And, to assess any points where spillages can enter the environment (drains, watercourses).
ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS
The assessment of risk factors aims to determine the cause of spills in each spill area in your workplace. Without assessing the potential risks, it’s difficult to put effective preventative measures in place.
REVIEW OF SPILL MANAGEMENT PLAN
If your workplace currently has a spill management plan in place, it will be reviewed during a site audit. This helps fill in any gaps in your current plan. These gaps can include stocked equipment and level of staff spill response training. It also accommodates for any new information or requirements. As your business changes and evolves, your spill response management should too.
Should your workplace not have a spill response plan in place, the site audit report will form the framework for it.
RESEARCH & PROBLEM SOLVING
This step involves summarising the audit findings. And then finding ways to solve any present issues and to meet compliance.
IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLUTIONS
Once the site audit is complete, it’s time to put the solutions in place. This can involve purchasing of spill kits and other required bits of equipment. But also the creation or editing of a spill management plan and staff training.
SITE AUDIT FOLLOW UP
And finally, a comprehensive site audit will consist of a follow-up. The follow-up measures the success of the solutions put in place. It allows for any necessary changes to be made. And it promotes the long-term smooth running of your business’s spill management.
HOW IT BENEFITS SPILL MANAGEMENT PLANNING
At Ecospill, we provide site audits and surveying for all our clients. Because of this, we get to see the benefits it passes onto businesses in their spill management planning, first-hand.
HIGHLIGHTS UNIDENTIFIED RISKS
One of the most beneficial parts of the site audit process is the identification of hidden risks. This is especially true when recruiting a specialist site-auditor. Their expertise allows them to identify and solve major problems that might otherwise go unnoticed.
ALLOWS FOR EDUCATED SPILL KIT PURCHASES
Site audits allow for the educated purchase of spill kits. Not only does this assist in effective workplace spill response. It can also save your business a lot of money. There is a broad range of spill kits and other spill response equipment available. Without conducting a site audit, it is difficult to know which ones are right for your workplace.
DELIVERS EFFECTIVE REMEDIATION METHODS
Completion of a site audit identifies the specific requirements of your workplace. This delivers tailored remediation methods. And forms the basis of your spill management and response plan. So, it is an important part of the planning process and worth investing in.
FINAL WORDS
Site audits are an integral part of the success of workplace spill management.
At Ecospill, we can help identify your problem areas. We can recommend spill response training, spill kits, and remediation methods to keep your workplace clean and safe.
For more information on how we can help your business, please get in contact with us!