Of course there is no replacement for the correct equipment. Spill pallets and spill berms should be on hand and in service as a primary defense against spill hazards.

The primary tool that a risk administrator can set up against the issues presented by spills is in the proper supervision of work and storeroom spaces where spills are most likely to happen. Shipping corridors must also be given the similar sort of awareness. If a spilled material can be carefully channeled into secure short-term or disaster holding spaces that are separated from sparks, open flames, electrical circuits or employees then there is no requirement for staff to do anything other than shut down their equipment and vacate the zone in the event of a spill.

Exterior storage tanks, be they for oil, gasoline or other kinds of chemical storage containers are often targets for overfilling or corrosion, both of which can cause spills. The use of diking encompassing these tanks as a way to concentrate spills and thwart the spreading of possibly flammable, caustic or otherwise hazardous liquids is recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and in some instances may actually be mandated by law, depending on the size of the tank being used. The necessity for these types of dikes and barriers can also be connected to the quantity of vehicular traffic in the storage area itself. Make sure that OSHA policies do not clearly forbid the fitting of dikes around the container, as they do for those controlling specific materials such as liquefied petroleum gas.

In addition to dikes and barriers, OSHA also suggests the use of diatomaceous earth when controlling spills. Dispersal of this chalk-like substance is a demonstrated means of sopping up potentially hazardous liquids. If employees can carefully introduce diatomaceous earth by means of proscribed steps as an element of an emergency response plan that does not put them in any danger, then this may well be a respectable option for controlling a leak.

There are also agents existing which can be dispersed in the direction of a spill through pressurized applicators that allow workers to keep their distance. These specialized materials can not only obstruct the progress of a dispersing substance, but also reduce the effects of any vapors or even totally solidify the substance in question. At their most efficient, these materials not only solidify a material, but also chemically modify its flashpoint so that it can be safely disposed of once the hazard is over. Fast-acting materials can even be used to create unplanned blockers as they can cause the primary edge of a spill to quickly lose its fluidity.