If you work with oils, chemicals, or any kind of liquid that could leak from machinery or storage containers, you’ve probably dealt with the mess that follows. A slow drip from a hydraulic line, a drum that seeps from the bottom, a generator that leaks diesel overnight. These are the kinds of things that create stained floors, safety hazards, and environmental problems. A drip tray is one of the simplest and most practical tools you can use to catch those leaks before they turn into a bigger issue.

How They Work

A drip tray sits underneath equipment, drums, or containers and catches any liquid that drips, leaks, or spills. Most are made from polyethylene, a tough, chemical-resistant plastic that won’t corrode or react with the liquids it collects. They come in all sorts of sizes, from small trays that fit under a single machine to large platforms that can hold multiple 210-litre drums.

The idea is straightforward: put the tray under anything that might leak, and the liquid gets caught instead of ending up on the floor. Once the tray fills up, you empty it and dispose of the contents properly. It’s not complicated, but it makes a massive difference.

Where to Use Drip Trays

Drip trays have a wide range of uses across different work environments — workshops, factories, warehouses, farms, and construction sites. Here are some common situations where they come in handy:

Under generators and compressors that tend to leak oil or diesel over time. Beneath hydraulic presses, lathes, and other machinery with fluid lines. Below drums and IBCs during storage or when decanting liquids from one container to another. In vehicle maintenance bays to catch oil and coolant drips. Under transformers and electrical equipment that use insulating oil.

A mate of mine runs a small workshop in Germiston. He used to mop up oil from under his lathe every morning. It took about 15 minutes each time and the floor was always slippery. He stuck a polyethylene tray under it and that was that — no more mopping, no more slipping, and his floor stayed clean. Sometimes the simplest fix is the one that makes the biggest difference.

Picking the Right Size

Getting the right size tray matters. Too small and it overflows. Too big and it gets in the way or wastes space. A good starting point is to measure the footprint of whatever you’re placing the tray under. The tray should be at least as wide and long as the equipment, with a bit of extra space on each side to catch drips that don’t fall straight down.

For drum storage, the standard rule is that your containment should hold at least 110% of the largest drum’s volume. So for a single 210-litre drum, you want a tray that can hold at least 231 litres. If you’re storing multiple drums, the tray needs to hold 110% of the largest drum plus 25% of the total volume of all other drums. These numbers come from environmental regulations, and inspectors will check.

What to Look For When Buying

When you’re shopping around and comparing drip tray suppliers, there are a few things worth paying attention to.

Material is the first thing to check. Polyethylene is the most common and works for most applications. It handles oils, fuels, water-based chemicals, and many solvents without breaking down. For very aggressive chemicals, check the compatibility chart before you buy.

Load capacity is another consideration. If you’re placing heavy drums or machinery on the tray, check that it can handle the mass. Some trays come with removable grates that spread the load evenly across the surface.

Grated trays lift the drum or equipment off the collected liquid, which stops the container from sitting in its own spillage. Non-grated trays are simpler and easier to clean, but the item sits directly in whatever drips down. For most industrial uses, grated is the better option.

Portability matters too. Some trays are light enough to shift around by hand. Others are fixed installations meant to stay in one spot. Think about whether you need to move the tray between locations.

If the tray will sit outdoors, UV resistance is worth asking about. Without UV-stabilised polyethylene, the plastic will become brittle and crack after a few months in direct sunlight. This is a common problem in South Africa where the sun is harsh year-round.

Staying on the Right Side of the Law

South African environmental legislation is strict when it comes to preventing pollution. The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the National Water Act both place responsibility on businesses to take reasonable steps to prevent contaminants from reaching soil and water sources. Using drip trays under leaking or dripping equipment is one of the most basic steps you can take to meet these requirements.

If an inspector walks through your workshop and sees oil dripping onto bare concrete with no containment in sight, you’re looking at a compliance issue. The costs of fines, cleanup orders, and potential legal action far outweigh the cost of a few trays. It’s one of those situations where spending a little upfront saves you a lot down the line.

Maintenance and Care

Drip trays don’t need much looking after, but they do need some attention. Check them regularly. A tray that’s full and hasn’t been emptied is useless — it’ll overflow the next time there’s a drip.

Clean them out when you empty them. Residue builds up over time and can make it harder to spot new leaks. Inspect for cracks or damage — polyethylene is durable, but it can crack if hit hard or if it’s been exposed to UV light without proper stabilisation. Replace trays that are damaged. A cracked tray defeats the purpose entirely.

A Simple Tool That Does a Lot

It’s easy to overlook something as basic as a drip tray. There’s nothing flashy about it — it’s a plastic tray that sits on the floor. But in terms of preventing environmental contamination, avoiding fines, keeping floors safe, and protecting your equipment, it does way more than you’d expect.

I’ve seen workplaces spend thousands on safety systems and compliance consultants, yet they don’t have a R500 tray under a leaking generator. Sometimes the cheapest solutions are the ones that get missed.

If you’re unsure where to start, talk to reputable suppliers who can look at your setup and suggest what you need. A quick site visit from someone who knows what they’re doing can save you time and money in the long run.