Who is responsible for spill management in your workplace?
As an organisation who’s one of their activities is chemical (WA Chemwatch agents) we understand the process of having a good spill management process in place. The responsibility for spill management in a workplace ultimately lies with the employer, who is legally obligated to ensure a safe environment by providing appropriate spill kits, training, and processes. This duty includes managing the risks of hazardous chemicals, and officers of the company are also responsible for exercising due diligence to ensure these safety measures are in place.
Workers, in turn, must follow procedures/training and use the provided safety equipment when a spill occurs. Communicate/report all spills and ensure the spill is cleaned up while not exposing themselves to undue risk.
Employer responsibilities
- Legal duty: Under legislation like the Work Health and Safety Act, the employer (or a person with management or control of the workplace) has a primary duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of workers and others are not put at risk.
- Risk management: This includes eliminating or minimizing risks from hazardous chemicals and preparing for spills.
- Provision of resources: Employers are responsible for providing and maintaining the right spill kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), and any necessary automated systems.
- Training: Employers must ensure workers are adequately trained on spill response procedures, specific to the chemicals they work with.
- Oversight: Officers of the company, such as directors, have a duty to exercise due diligence to ensure the organisations complies with safety regulations.
Worker responsibilities
- Follow procedures: Workers are responsible for following all safety procedures for spill prevention and clean up.
- Use safety equipment: Workers must use the correct PPE and spill kits provided by their employer when a spill occurs.
- Participate in training: Workers are expected to participate in training and adhere to the procedures taught.
- Report all spills: Workers must ensure all chemical spills, no matter how small are reported to management.
If you have any queries regarding spill management in your workplace, we may be able to help.
https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2025-09/fact_sheet_lip_spill_management.pdf