Yes, relevant laws and regulations are divided into four parts. According to the Hazardous Substances Act B.E. 2535, those who use, store, or produce hazardous substances must have accident prevention measures, with the Department of Industrial Works and the Pollution Control Department being the relevant agencies. The Factory Act B.E. 2535 stipulates that factories must have measures to prevent environmental and safety impacts. If your factory falls under a category requiring a permit, there may be conditions in the permit requiring spill control equipment. According to occupational safety laws (Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Act B.E. 2554), business establishments are required to provide equipment for preventing and responding to accidents involving chemicals or hazardous liquids. Following the guidelines of the Department of Industrial Works / Pollution Control Department / Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, it is recommended to have protective equipment kits or spill containment systems, especially at points where chemicals are stored or used. Failure to have spill control equipment may be considered negligence if an accident occurs, potentially leading to fines or legal action.

Additionally, coordinating with government agencies for further advice and verifying compliance with standards will help ensure correct legal practice.

The Code of Practice for Pollution Control and the Code of Practice for the Storage of Flammable Liquids, published by the Singapore Standards Council, provide recommendations and guidelines for safe and effective spill management and control.

These guidelines cover the provision of Secondary Containment and preventive measures to reduce the risk of water contamination, including the control and containment of accidental hazardous substance leaks, as well as the provision of spillage catchment areas and spill containment systems for flammable liquids.

For more information, you can download supporting documents in the Information & Resources section on our website.

A chemical spill is considered both a Safety issue and an Environmental issue if not properly managed when an accidental leak occurs.

Spilled chemicals can cause slip or trip risks, which may lead to injury. It also increases the risk of exposure to toxic or hazardous substances if appropriate measures are not in place to handle the effects of those substances.

Furthermore, if a spill is not correctly controlled or cleaned up, chemicals may contaminate the soil or flow into drains and natural water sources, causing severe environmental impacts.

Therefore, it is essential to have effective prevention measures and spill management systems to protect both worker health and the environment when handling chemicals or hazardous substances.

For more information, you can download supporting documents in the Information & Resources section on our website.

Failure to correctly plan or manage hazardous substance spills may violate laws and regulations set by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) of Singapore, which carry strict penalties. Examples include:

1. Penalties for discharging toxic or hazardous substances into domestic water sources.

• First offense: A fine not exceeding SGD 50,000 or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.
• Second or subsequent offense: Imprisonment from 1 month to 12 months and a fine not exceeding SGD 100,000.

2. Offenses related to Hazardous Substances

Any person who intentionally or negligently places others at the workplace at risk of exposure to hazardous substances will face the following penalties:

• A fine not exceeding SGD 20,000.
• Or imprisonment for up to 2 years
• Or both.

3. General Penalties

If an offense is committed under the Act for which no specific penalty is provided, the offender shall be liable to:

Individuals

• A fine not exceeding SGD 200,000
• Or imprisonment for up to 2 years
• Or both.

Corporate Entities

• A fine not exceeding SGD 500,000

4. Offenses by employers, self-employed persons, or responsible parties

Those who violate requirements under regulations 3(1), 4(1), 4(2), 4(4), 5, 6, or 7 will face the following penalties:

• First offense: A fine not exceeding SGD 10,000
• Second or subsequent offense: A fine not exceeding SGD 20,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both.

Effective spill response planning and management not only help ensure legal compliance but also effectively reduce risks to life, health, property, and environmental impact.

You should have Absorbents with sufficient capacity to handle 100% of all chemicals and liquids stored or used on-site. Additionally, you should have both appropriate Sorbents and Secondary Containment systems to comply with safety requirements and standards.

According to the SS 532:2016 – Code of Practice for the Storage of Flammable Liquids standard, it is specified that:

The capacity of the spill containment compound must not be less than:

• 100% of the largest container and
• 25% of the total storage volume for storage quantities not exceeding 10,000 liters.
• If storing more than 10,000 liters, add an additional capacity of 10% of the volume exceeding 10,000 liters.

The selection of appropriate spill control equipment and secondary containment systems should consider the type of chemicals, storage volume, and application characteristics to ensure alignment with safety requirements and legal compliance.

For more information or advice tailored to your organization’s needs, please contact our team for a consultation and solutions specifically designed for your business.