Fuel Spill Response Policy and Procedure

Suits any Queensland business that stores, transfers or uses petrol, diesel or other fuel, including depots, workshops, farms, transport yards and sites. It gives workers a clear first-minutes response and managers the duties behind it.

What Is Included In Our Fuel Spill Response Policy and Procedure?

• Policy statement with an approval sign-off
• Minor spill and major spill working terms, with no volumes
• Duties by role, from managers to delivery drivers
• Prevention: lowest practicable quantity, spill kits, refuelling and age 16 rule
• First minutes: stop the source, remove ignition sources, get people clear, call Triple Zero (000)
• Containing and cleaning up, protecting drains and waterways
• Fuel on skin, in eyes or breathed in
• Notifiable incident test for a spill and other reports to check
• Records, training and review
• Where the hazardous chemicals rules do and do not apply to vehicle fuel

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld): s 19 (primary duty of care), s 26A (approved codes of practice), s 28 (duties of workers), ss 35 to 39 (notifiable incidents, including s 37(a) uncontrolled escape, spillage or leakage, s 38 notice and record, and s 39 preserving the site), ss 47 and 49 (consultation)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 34 to 38 (hazards and risk control), s 39 (information, training and instruction), s 43 (emergency plan), s 44 (personal protective equipment), ss 51 to 53 (hazardous atmospheres, ignition sources, flammable and combustible substances at the lowest practicable quantity), s 213 (maintenance of plant)
• The same Regulation, Part 7.1 (hazardous chemicals): s 328 (where the Part applies, including s 328(4)(b) for fuel in a container fitted to a vehicle, mobile plant or other device), s 336 (age 16 for supplying flammable gas or liquid into another person’s container or vehicle), s 344 (safety data sheets), s 355 (ignition sources in a hazardous area), s 357 (containing and managing spills), s 360 (emergency equipment), s 361 (emergency plans above a manifest quantity)
• Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Dangerous Goods) Regulation 2018 (Qld): s 115 (meaning of bulk transfer) and s 118(3) (stop a bulk transfer of dangerous goods when they leak, spill or escape). Diesel and other combustible liquids may not be classified as dangerous goods for transport, so check the SDS
• Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld): s 133 (employer’s duty to report an injury)
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021 (Qld), an approved code of practice: ignition sources (section 3.4), containing spills (section 4.2), emergency equipment (section 6.2) and appendix I (fire and explosion risks). Under s 26A of the WHS Act a business must follow an approved code or manage the risk in a way that gives an equivalent or higher standard
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021 (Qld), an approved code of practice: section 3.3 (eye wash and shower equipment)
• Environmental and waste laws apply to fuel spills and fuel waste. They are not covered by this document and no sections are cited, so get advice on them
• This document is general information for Queensland workplaces and is not legal advice

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (8 pages), A4 portrait
• Business details and document control typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• Purpose, scope and a policy statement with an approval sign-off
• Definitions, and responsibilities for each role
• A step-by-step procedure that says who does what
• Records, training, monitoring and review, related documents and a revision history

Review it and adjust it to suit your business, your sites and the way your team works, and talk it through with your workers. If you have any trouble downloading this template, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading.