IN ANSWER to the growing need for environmental responsibility in the workplace, together with more stringent OSH and local body requirements regarding spills, waste and the handling of bi-products, Pirtek has launched a range of Spill Kits and spill products.
Pirtek Spill Kits provide a self-contained easy to use solution for emergency on-the-spot response to a range of workplace spillages. The range includes general purpose, hydrocarbon and hazardous chemical kits, together with supplementary pads, socks and booms.
Colour coding of the pads, socks and pillows ensures easy identification of the appropriate absorption products for the type of spill – for example, Hazchem is colour coded yellow, Oil-only white.
“Our core business is providing 24/7 mobile on site hose repairs for a vast array of fluids in varying locations,” says Pirtek New Zealand GM Jim Gavegan. “During the course of this work we often see situations where there is potential for spills to pollute or contaminate the environment.
“Our kits have been designed to provide a practical solution to most spill problems. They have been on the market in Australia for several years, and proven very popular as cost effective, simple, easy to store spill response safety mechanisms. Like ourselves, many of our customers are mobile and work outside normal business hours so our range also includes smaller portable vehicle/truck kits which are selling well.
“The General Purpose kits are ideal for use in industrial plant environments and should be standard equipment in industrial vehicles. They are suitable for the clean up and containment of all petroleum hydrocarbon products, solvents, water-based and non-aggressive liquids,” adds Gavegan.
Pirtek General Purpose Kits range from handy 32-litre vehicle kits up to large 200-litre wheelie bin kits. Each kit includes a variety of absorbents for quick containment, absorption and cleanup of accidental spills.
Pirtek’s Hydrocarbon kits are specifically designed as Oil-only Spill Kits and ensure highly effective containment and clean-up of petroleum based liquids. These kits include white only absorbent pads, socks, pillows and booms which float on water even when fully saturated.
The third product in the Pirtek Spill Kit lineup is the Hazchem spill kits, suitable for the effective cleanup and containment of hazardous liquids. These can be used for liquids that are either aggressive or unknown. In these kits, the pads, sock and pillows are treated to absorb and be non-reactive to acids and caustics and also non-aggressive chemicals, insecticides, petroleum based liquids and water.

Drain wardens
Nothing but rainwater should go down stormwater drains and into the waterways which is why Pirtek has developed their Drain Wardens. These are a combination skirt filter and replaceable oil-only absorbent sock which fit into storm water drains to prevent oils, silt, and sediment rubbish from entering stormwater drains. Drain Wardens have a 600mm centre catchment basin and come in either 1.2 metre or 2.4 metre skirt sizes which can be trimmed to fit the grate on the drain.
The final weapon in Pirtek’s spill response brigade is the Bio-Sorb natural cellulose absorbent materials.
Bio-Sorb Premium is recommended for use on all hard surfaces to absorb petrol, oil and diesel. It is fully biodegradable and safe on all surfaces. The product is spread over the spill and swept back and forth until the surface is clean. No washdown is required.
Bio-Sorb Zeolite is a coarser material designed for use on petrochemical and most chemical spills to both absorb the spill and suppress any odours and gases. It too is natural and ecologically safe and the larger size granules are not affected by windy conditions.

Five step spill response guide
Pirtek has developed this quick guide to what to do in case of a spill:
1. Safety – assess the spill and make sure it is safe to approach.
 Ensure someone is with you to help and always carry material
 safety data sheets for all liquids you stock or transport.
2.  Stop the spill – this may simply mean righting a drum,
 stopping a drip or plugging a hole.
3. Contain and if possible recover the spill – use what is at
 hand to contain the spill by making a dam around the spilt
 liquid; ideally absorbent socks or booms from your spill kit.
 Once contained, use absorbent to mop up the spill.
4. Collect and dispose – collect the used socks and absorbents
 and place in the waste disposal bag provided in the kit.
 Tie the bag and dispose of in accordance with site
 procedures and local council requirements, depending on
 the nature of the spill.
5. Report to management about the spill, how it was
 contained, disposal method and if site is now clean. Re-
 order spill kit products.