A spill kit is only as good as the match between its absorbent and the liquid on your floor. An oil-only kit is built for petroleum and repels water; a universal kit is built for mixed or unknown liquids; a HazMat kit is the one you stock where chemicals are handled. ERE lists two SpilKleen kits, a 45 gallon drum kit and a 250 litre wheeled kit, each in all three configurations. This guide shows what is in them, what the CCOHS minimum list says they are missing, and how to choose.
In this guide
- Which spill kit type do you need: oil-only, universal or HazMat?
- What is the difference between the 45 gallon and the 250 litre kit?
- What is in each kit, and what does CCOHS say is missing?
- What are oil absorbent pads, and which format do you need?
- When do you use granular absorbent instead of pads?
- Where should a spill kit live, and what about drum storage?
- When must a spill be reported in Canada?
- How do you choose a spill kit, step by step?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which Spill Kit Type Do You Need: Oil-Only, Universal or HazMat?
Choose by the liquids on site, not by the size of the room. The three configurations of both SpilKleen kits share the same part-number pattern: SPK-CSK for oil only, SPK-CSKU for universal and SPK-CSKH for HazMat. What changes between them is the absorbent, so the first job is a list of what you actually store and use.
| Type | Built for | Do not rely on it for |
|---|---|---|
| Oil only | Hydrocarbons: hydraulic oil, diesel, lube, fuel. The oil-only meltblown polypropylene absorbs petroleum liquids and repels water, and the record describes it as suited to land or water response. | Water-based liquids and chemicals, which it will not pick up |
| Universal (general purpose) | Mixed or changing liquids in one area, such as a maintenance shop or warehouse | Aggressive chemicals you have not checked against the safety data sheet |
| HazMat | Chemical storage and process areas where the SDS names acids, bases or solvents | Specialty cases such as mercury or hydrofluoric acid, which CCOHS says may need their own kits |
One caution on our own records: the product pages name the three configurations but do not publish how the absorbent differs between Universal and HazMat. Send us your chemical list and the safety data sheets and we will confirm the configuration before you order. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety is explicit that absorbents must be compatible with the spilled chemical, and that an oxidizer must not be soaked up with a combustible material such as sawdust (CCOHS, Spill Response - Chemicals).
What Is the Difference Between the 45 Gallon and the 250 Litre Kit?
The 45 gallon kit is a drum you stage at a point of use; the 250 litre kit is a wheeled cart you bring to the spill. The two sizes are not labelled on the same basis, which trips up buyers comparing them.
| 45 Gallon Spill Kit | 250 Liter Mobile Spill Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| What the number means | Size of the overpack drum the kit ships in | Stated sorbent capacity of the kit, in litres |
| Container | Sealed 45 gallon drum | Wheeled cart, 30 x 29 x 42 in. |
| Part numbers | SPK-CSK-F45 (oil only), SPK-CSKU-F45 (universal), SPK-CSKH-F45 (HazMat) | SPK-CSK-F250M (oil only), SPK-CSKU-F250M (universal), SPK-CSKH-F250M (HazMat) |
| Sorbent pads | 50 | 100 |
| Socks | 5 of 3 x 48 in. | 4 of 3 x 120 in. |
| Booms | 3 of 5 x 120 in. | None listed |
| Pillows | None listed | 4 of 18 x 18 in. |
| Granular absorbent | 1 bag | 1 bag of SpeediKleen |
| Drain cover | 1 neoprene, 36 x 36 in. | 1, 36 x 36 in. |
| Disposal bags | 5 | 3 |
| PPE | 2 Tyvek suits, 2 goggles, 2 pairs nitrile gloves | 2 goggles, 2 pairs nitrile gloves |
| Other | Retractable shovel | None listed |
For scale, our arithmetic: 250 litres is about 66 US gallons, and a 45 US gallon drum holds about 170 litres. That is a comparison of containers, not of absorbing power, because the 45 gallon record gives no absorbency figure. Do not buy on the headline numbers. Compare the contents lists against the spills you can realistically have.
What Is in Each Kit, and What Does CCOHS Say Is Missing?
CCOHS lists the minimum items a spill kit should include: personal protective equipment for the chemicals present, absorbent material, a neutralizing material, shovel and scoops, heavy-duty waste bags, labels for hazardous waste, caution tape to isolate the area, first aid supplies where appropriate, tools such as tongs for broken glass, and a communication device (CCOHS). The table is our comparison of that list against the contents in the two product records.
| CCOHS minimum item | 45 Gallon kit | 250 Litre kit |
|---|---|---|
| PPE | Listed (suits, goggles, gloves) | Listed (goggles, gloves) |
| Absorbent | Listed | Listed |
| Neutralizing material | Not listed | Not listed |
| Shovel or scoop | Listed (retractable shovel) | Not listed |
| Waste bags | Listed | Listed |
| Waste labels | Not listed | Not listed |
| Caution tape | Not listed | Not listed |
| First aid supplies | Not listed | Not listed |
That is not a defect in the kits. They are first-response absorbent packages, and the gaps are the items your own procedure decides: which neutralizer suits your acids or bases, which labels your waste hauler requires, where the first aid station is. Stock them beside the kit. Also check the gloves: CCOHS notes that not all protective equipment is compatible with all chemicals, and nitrile is not the answer to every one. Our chemical-resistant gloves guide explains how to read the EN 374 codes against your SDS.
What Are Oil Absorbent Pads, and Which Format Do You Need?
Oil absorbent pads are bonded sheets of meltblown polypropylene that wick petroleum and leave water behind. The SpilKleen oil-only range is made of pure meltblown fibres; the record states they absorb up to 25 times their weight in hydrocarbon, and the pads are bonded and perforated so you can tear them to size. Use the format that fits the spill geometry.
| Format | Part numbers (from the record) | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Pads, 15 x 18 in. | SPK-P100 heavyweight (100/case), SPK-EP100 mediumweight (100/case), SPK-P200 lightweight (200/case) | Drips under machinery, bench and floor wipe-up |
| Rolls | SPK-R144 (30 x 150 in.), SPK-SR144S (15 x 150 in.) | Aisles and walkways where you tear off what you need |
| Booms | SPK-B510 (5 x 10 in.), SPK-B810 (8 x 10 in.) | Containing a spreading liquid, including on water |
| Socks | SPK-MOPO3048 (3 x 48 in.), SPK-MOPO10120 (3 x 120 in.) | Diking around a leak, drain or equipment base |
| Pillows | SPK-SP818-20, SPK-SP1818-10, SPK-SAKPIL-10 | Absorbing under a leaking fitting or in a confined spot |
Those are oil-only products. They are the right refill for an oil-only kit and the wrong one for a chemical kit. For pads used on a sump or oily water, the PIG sump skimming socks are a separate absorbent, and the broader absorbents collection holds the rest.
When Do You Use Granular Absorbent Instead of Pads?
Use granular absorbent on a flat floor spill where you want to cover the area and sweep it up, and on uneven or rough surfaces where a pad will not make full contact. Two granular products are in the ERE catalogue as stand-alone refills for the bag included in the kits.
- SpeediKleen Premium All Purpose Oil Absorbent: diatomaceous earth, supplied in a 20 lb leak-resistant, moisture-proof polybag. The supplier states 50% more absorbency per pound than clay alternatives, and it handles water, oil and grease.
- Multi-Zorb: volcanic shale granular in a 20 lb, 1.5 cubic foot bag. The record states it absorbs 10 US gallons per bag and is slip-resistant, non-toxic and non-combustible.
Granulars are loose, so they need a broom, a scoop and a labelled waste container, and the used material is waste. CCOHS says to store used absorbent and the spilled chemical together in labelled disposal containers made of a compatible material, and not to mix incompatible wastes. Disposal itself follows your provincial rules for the material that was spilled.
Where Should a Spill Kit Live, and What About Drum Storage?
Keep the kit near where the chemicals are used, in a clearly marked place, with every worker knowing where it is and how to use it. That is the CCOHS position, and it adds that kits must be well-stocked at all times, so assign someone to check the seals and replace what was used.
Where you store drums, secondary containment keeps a leak from becoming a spill. The 2 Drum Hardcover and Spill Pallet stores up to two 55 gallon drums indoors or outdoors under a roll-top cover. The record gives exterior dimensions of 60 x 36 x 72 in., interior dimensions of 50 x 29 x 51 in., and a weight of 210 lb (95.5 kg), with an optional drain. See the spill pallets collection, and for sampling liquids from drums safely, our drum and tank sampling guide.
When Must a Spill Be Reported in Canada?
It depends on the substance, the quantity and the province, so decide in advance and write it into your spill procedure. CCOHS tells employers to determine which spills must be reported to local authorities, especially when a spill has reached drains or the environment.
In Quebec, Urgence-Environnement answers around the clock at 1-866-694-5454 and takes statements on the accidental presence of a contaminant in the environment (Gouvernement du Québec, Urgence-Environnement). For the other provinces and territories, Environment and Climate Change Canada publishes a list of 24-hour contacts and notes you may also have to notify other agencies under federal or provincial rules (Canada.ca, Report an environmental emergency). A kit does not discharge the duty to report; it only limits what you have to report.
For oil on a process line, containment at the source is the better fix. See how industrial oil skimmers and oil-water separators keep hydrocarbons out of drains in the first place.
How Do You Choose a Spill Kit, Step by Step?
- List the liquids. Pull the SDS for every liquid stored or used in the area.
- Sort them. Petroleum only, mixed, or chemical. That sets oil-only, universal or HazMat.
- Size the worst realistic spill. A leaking hydraulic line on one machine is a pad-and-sock job; a drum tipped on a dock needs the larger kit.
- Choose drum or cart. Drum for fixed points of use; wheeled cart for large floors or several areas.
- Check the contents against the CCOHS minimum. Add a neutralizer, labels, caution tape and first aid where your procedure needs them.
- Check PPE compatibility. Gloves, suits and goggles must suit your chemicals, not just be present.
- Mark it, train on it, restock it. Put it near the hazard, show every worker, and replace what is used the same day.
Need help choosing a spill kit?
ERE Inc. has been Canada's environmental equipment specialist for 30+ years. Send us the liquids on your site and we will match the kit and refills.
→ Request a Quote | 1-888-287-EREC | Browse Spill Kits | sales@ereinc.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an oil-only, universal and HazMat spill kit?
Oil-only kits absorb petroleum and repel water. Universal kits handle mixed or unknown liquids. HazMat kits are for chemical areas. Match the type to the liquids on your safety data sheets.
What does the 45 gallon spill kit include?
50 sorbent pads, 3 booms, 5 socks, a bag of granular absorbent, a neoprene drain cover, 5 disposal bags, a retractable shovel, 2 pairs of goggles, 2 pairs of nitrile gloves and 2 Tyvek suits.
What does the 250 litre mobile spill kit include?
A wheeled cart with 100 sorbent pads, 4 socks, 4 pillows, a bag of SpeediKleen, a drain cover, 3 disposal bags, 2 pairs of goggles and 2 pairs of nitrile gloves.
What should a spill kit contain according to CCOHS?
PPE, absorbent, neutralizing material, shovel and scoops, waste bags, hazardous waste labels, caution tape, first aid supplies where appropriate, and a communication device. Add what the kit does not include.
Can I use an oil-only kit on a chemical spill?
No. Oil-only absorbents are made for petroleum and repel water, so they are not the right choice for water-based liquids or chemicals. Use a universal or HazMat kit that suits the SDS.
Do I have to report a spill in Canada?
Possibly. It depends on the substance, quantity and province. In Quebec, call Urgence-Environnement at 1-866-694-5454. Build the reporting rules for your site into your spill procedure.
Related articles
- Chemical-Resistant Gloves: How to Read EN 374 Codes
- Drum and Tank Liquid Sampling Equipment
- Industrial Oil Skimmers: 5 Types Compared
- Oil-Water Separators: The Complete Industrial Guide
Lire en français : Trousse de déversement : guide des modèles huile seulement, universel et matières dangereuses au Canada