How to Avoid Fuel Spillages Onsite 

Fuel spills are costly. They pose a real threat to your company’s bottom line, reputation, and the environment and may make your workplace unsafe. It’s important to prevent fuel spills to avoid hefty fines and save time.

In our guide, we’ve compiled a handful of tips to help reduce fuel spills on-site and what to do if one does occur.

Fuel leak causes

Without robust processes in place, fuel can spill from your tanks due to a number of reasons. Some common causes of fuel leaks include:

• General wear and tear – Depending on their durability, tanks can be damaged due to bumps and poor maintenance. 
• Refuelling your tank with the wrong fuel – In some cases, using the wrong fuel can lead to leaks.
• Driving on uneven terrain – Delivering fuel in vehicles on uneven terrain can cause leaks if the tank isn’t secure.

Investing in the right fuel storage equipment, thoroughly understanding safety compliance, and being ready to respond to avoid fuel spillages is essential. 

Fuel leak costs

No matter the size, a spill can lead to significant fuel leak costs. Even on a small scale, distributors who find a customer’s containment pit filled with rainwater and a sheen of diesel on top can face a clean-up bill of over £750. And a small spill in a traditional round tank pan can cost £100 to pump out.

Clearing up a substantial spill can cost thousands of pounds on larger sites, especially in environmentally sensitive areas. It may involve total site shutdowns until environmental health and safety specialists are satisfied. 

What to do to avoid fuel spillages on site

A lot of the time, the causes of fuel leaks can be avoided. You can keep your teams safe while working onsite with a few extra safety procedures.

Leaks and spills can disrupt projects, so we’ve designed robust fuel tanks bunded for extra protection. Check out our tips below to prevent spillages, and feel free to contact our team for more information on how our tanks can help.

Carry out fuel tank maintenance

It is important to ensure that your tank is in top condition to meet compliance standards and prevent fuel spillages. Fuel leaks in tanks can result from poor maintenance. Ensure that the fuel tank, including pumps, is debris-free, and regularly remove any liquid build-up in the secondary inner tank. Remember that anything removed from the tank should be considered hazardous waste, so employees must be adequately trained and provided with PPE for these tasks.

Check for any bumps or scrapes, and inspect hinges on cabinet doors for stiffness. Keep pumps and accessories securely locked away and protected from the elements. For more information on fuel tank maintenance, visit our website.

Follow refuelling safety procedures

Safety is a priority in the construction industry, so there should already be basic health and safety procedures on your customers’ sites. However, becoming complacent is easy, and some measures may slip further down the to-do list. There are several checks you can do to help with fuel spill control.

The safety markings on your tank may not seem like the first step in preventing fuel spillages, but clearly labelling the tank’s contents and the capacity means avoiding any overfill. Customers should monitor their fuel storage to know when exactly to refill.

Ensure only staff with a good understanding of safety compliance handle fuel. Refuelling should only take place in a remote area of the site, away from any fire hazards. This will help (if it does happen) contain fuel spillages in a safe location.

Use fuel spill containment equipment

Remember to use the proper fuel containment equipment to prevent fuel spills. Drip trays are an option, but using a bunded tank ensures that fuel is completely contained without the risk of leaks or spills. Bunded tanks are especially convenient for businesses storing fuel onsite, especially in challenging or remote environments. They require more site preparation, clean-up, and maintenance.

Western Global’s bunded tanks securely lock fuel inside, even during transportation from one place to another. They can be forklifted straight onto the site while full of fuel, ready to be used immediately upon arrival.  

Western Global fuel tanks for spill containment

Our number one priority is helping you store fuel safely. Customers rely on our products to minimise environmental impact and avoid fuel leaks in the UK’s most challenging and severe environments. Our products are easy to maintain. Our TransCube Global range have removable inner tanks for effortless cleaning and lockable equipment cabinets to keep pumps, metres, and hoses safe from the elements.

Our TransCube tank can be craned into position without damage or risk of a fuel spill. Through clever engineering and our use of galvanised steel, we have reduced the risk of corrosion, ensuring a longer and safer lifespan for the tanks.  

How should you manage a fuel spillage on site?

Even the safest sites can experience fuel spillages. A spill can create safety and environmental hazards, so it’s important to have a response plan to prevent contamination or injury.

Key procedures for dealing with fuel spills include:

• Notify relevant authorities, such as site managers or coordinators and the Environment Agency (EA), as soon as possible.
• Employees need to be equipped with PPE before dealing with the spill.
• Contain the spill and, if possible, stop the fuel leak. Employees should know which liquids they can safely manage based on their training and which ones they should not touch.
• If the spill cannot be contained, identify any high-risk areas of the site – such as waterways or drains.

Fuel spillages can have serious consequences, so following the correct procedures and implementing safety measures will help minimise risk. Storing fuel in a double-walled tank will reduce leaks and spills, ensuring the safety of everyone onsite.

Preventing fuel spillages with Western Global

We help our fuel distribution and rental customers mitigate risks and provide them with the solutions they need to attract new customers and provide peace of mind to existing ones. Our safe and secure fuel tanks are available for fast dispatch across the UK and meet or exceed all regulations.

Find out more about our fuel storage tanks, such as the TransCube, or contact our team.