Sunday, August 4, 2013

Safety Through Spill Containment Berms

By Cathy Mercer


Even in the most cautious workplace, accidents are not one hundred percent preventable, particularly when containers are kept in a warehouse setting for any length of time. If the temperature is even slightly out of control or someone scrapes against a weak spot in a box or barrel, a small leak could quickly become a huge mess. The risk of harm from many potentially hazardous situations could be reduced by the use of spill containment berms.

A berm is essentially a wall or barrier that is designed to keep a substance, liquid or solid, from leaving a designated space. These items come in a wide variety of styles and are made of several different types of material. Because of so many options, there is a design that is sure to be effective for practically any accident situation imaginable.

When storing hazardous materials, this type of barrier could be useful in keeping each different substance separated from others that may create dangerous situations if they were to mix. Isolating the various risk factors within their individual containment structures will help prevent a possibly disastrous event should leaks occur. When safety is a concern, minimizing risks is always a priority.

In order to accommodate all the different styles of containers being used, these barriers are available in a vast range of shapes and types. A popular model for storage is one that has a tarp that covers the floor and is surrounded by a low wall that can be either inflatable or of flexible plastic. The pallet design is also a top choice as it has cup-like compartments built into it to hold whatever leaks into it.

Still another type of barrier is one that literally looks like a small wall. These come in differently sized sections that can be interlocked together to form a solid enclosure of whatever shape and dimensions are needed. This is a great option when the types of items being placed in the storage space is not always consistent in measurement.

With such variety in design, there are virtually no limits to what these structures can contain. They are versatile enough to handle items small enough for a person to carry as well as large enough to accommodate vehicles of all sizes from motorcycle to airplane. Using a tarp bottomed model not only retains the flowing material in a specific area, but prevents the substance from staining or seeping into the ground below.

These various structures are not only great for daily preventative use, they are extremely helpful in situations involving emergency spills. Most of the designs are made to be easily transported and erected in quick fashion. They can be set up indoors as easily as outdoors and effectively limit the damage that is done during a situation that may have hazardous repercussions.

Available in numerous different styles and sizes, spill containment berms are quite useful when it comes to preventing leaking substances from contaminating too much space. They are useful in both storage situations as well as those moments when barriers must be constructed quickly for emergency purposes. Whether tarp, pallet, wall or inflatable, there is a style that is suitable for practically all needs.




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