Spill Prevention and Control

The Spill Prevention and Control eLearning course provides learners with an understanding of how workplace spills can be prevented and the principles for responding safely and effectively when a spill occurs.

The course explores common causes of spills, the potential risks to people, property and the environment and the importance of appropriate storage, handling and containment measures. Learners will consider how to recognise different spill hazards, take appropriate initial action, use spill control materials where trained to do so and report and escalate incidents appropriately.

Who Should Attend?

• Employees who handle, store or work around liquids or hazardous substances.
• Agricultural, industrial and manufacturing personnel.
• Warehouse and logistics employees.
• Engineering, maintenance and workshop personnel.
• Employees working with fuels, oils, chemicals or other potentially polluting substances.
• Managers and supervisors responsible for spill prevention and response arrangements.
• Anyone requiring an understanding of workplace spill prevention and control.

What You Will Learn

• Common causes of workplace spills.
• Understanding the potential consequences of spills.
• Recognising risks to employees, other people and the environment.
• Identifying substances that may present a spill risk.
• Understanding the importance of preventing spills before they occur.
• Safe principles for storing liquids and hazardous substances.
• Maintaining containers in suitable condition.
• Ensuring containers are appropriately closed and secured.
• Recognising the importance of appropriate labelling.
• Using suitable secondary containment where required.
• Preventing damage to containers during handling and storage.
• Maintaining good workplace housekeeping.
• Identifying potential leaks and defects before they result in a spill.
• Reporting damaged containers, leaks and other concerns promptly.
• Understanding the importance of spill response planning.
• Recognising different types of spill response equipment.
• Understanding the purpose of spill kits, absorbents and containment materials.
• Selecting spill response materials appropriate to the substance where trained to do so.
• Assessing the immediate risks before approaching a spill.
• Protecting yourself and others from exposure.
• Using appropriate personal protective equipment where required.
• Preventing access to an affected area where necessary.
• Stopping the source of a spill where this can be done safely.
• Containing a spill to prevent it spreading.
• Protecting drains and watercourses where appropriate and safe to do so.
• Recognising when a spill should not be tackled personally.
• Understanding when specialist or emergency assistance is required.
• Disposing of contaminated materials appropriately.
• Reporting and recording spill incidents.
• Following workplace emergency and environmental procedures.
• Reviewing incidents to help prevent recurrence.
• Contributing to effective spill prevention and control within the workplace.

Course Delivery

This course is delivered as self-directed eLearning through the ELMO learning platform.

Learners can work through the course at their own pace and can move backwards and forwards through the learning content as required. The course does not need to be completed in one sitting, allowing learners to leave and return to their training where necessary.

Interactive activities may be included throughout the course to reinforce key learning points.

Assessment

Knowledge and understanding are checked through online assessment activities. Depending on the course content, these may include multiple-choice questions, matching exercises, drag-and-drop activities and image-based questions.

A minimum score of 70% is required to successfully complete the course.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the course and assessment requirements, learners will receive a UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Accredited Certificate of Training.

This is an awareness-based eLearning course and does not replace workplace-specific spill response plans, COSHH assessments, environmental risk assessments, emergency procedures or practical training in the use of specialist spill response equipment where required.

Course Duration

The course is self-directed and learners can progress through the content at their own pace. Completion time may therefore vary depending on the individual learner.