Friday, November 28, 2014

The Importance Of Having Portable Spill Containment Berms Available

By Etta Bowen


The onslaught against the environment is relentless and almost all damage can be directly ascribed to human activities. Pollution has caused immense harm, not only to the environment but also to humans. The reality is that millions of tons of potentially harmful substances are manufactured, transported and used every day. The potential for spillages, either by accident or through negligence is very high. That is why it is so important to have basic equipment such as portable spill containment berms available at all times.

There are various permutations of these handy barriers available. They come in different sizes and shapes, but they are all easy to stow away and to transport. They are mainly used to make sure that spillage does not spread but they are often also employed to prevent pollution. A berm can be placed on the bed of a truck that will be transporting drums of chemicals, for example. In this way leakage or spillage will not spread or contaminate the vehicle.

Many responsible companies also use the barriers to prevent pollution by parking chemical container trucks and even large storage containers on a berm. When chemicals are decanted it is also safer to do so on top of a berm. There are specially designed barriers for just this purpose and many environmentalists would love to see the use of this equipment being made compulsory.

Their role in preventing the spread of pollution, especially in bodies of water, is important, vital even. This is only the first reactive step, however. Once the pollution is contained, it must be rendered harmless and thereafter it needs to be removed from the pollution site for disposal at a properly equipped facility. This process can be costly and time consuming and requires specially trained and equipped technicians.

Huge efforts are put into finding cheaper and more effective ways in which to deal with pollution. Modern science has already come up with several agents that show much promise. These agents either absorb pollutants or they cause them to degrade much faster. The downside is that these agents are not yet widely available and that they are still very costly. Another drawback is the fact that not all pollutants can be absorbed in this manner.

The new star in the fight against pollution is a new agent that converts the harmful substance into a useful and harmless one. The resultant material is safe to handle and it can be used in the manufacture of road surface products. In this way cleaning operations can eventually be at least partially funded by selling the former pollutants to entrepreneurs that can use them productively.

Activists and environmentalists are campaigning to have new laws passed that will force companies dealing with toxins to take a series of preventive measures. They want basic equipment to be available whenever chemicals are handled, manufactured, transported and used. They furthermore demand that such companies promulgate policies and procedures specifically aimed at dealing with spoilage and pollution. They also want the authorities to spend more money on developing new techniques to clean up pollution sites.

The planet is most certainly under threat. Anything that can contribute towards the prevention of pollution should be hailed as a positive step. If containing barriers are available at all times when harmful chemicals are handled the damage caused by accidents can be limited.




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