Monday, November 3, 2014

Why Portable Spill Containment Berms Should Be Seen As Essential Equipment

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.

These barriers are available in many shapes and sizes. They are made from lightweight materials and they can be deployed quickly. They are easy to store and they take up very little space. They are often used in a preventive role. For example, when barrels of chemicals are transported they are often placed on top of a berm. In this way spillages are caught before they can contaminate the truck or the immediate area.

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.

When used as a reactive measure, the barriers are used to make sure that spillages do not spread. They are effective in this role but this does not solve the immediate pollution problem. The next step is to neutralize the harmful substances and to then remove them from the area for safe disposal. In addition, those areas that were contaminated need to be cleaned up.

There is ongoing research on new methods that will help control pollution and to render poisons and chemicals harmless. Much progress has been made in the design of special agents that either absorb the contaminants or accelerate the natural degrading process. These agents have been used with much success but the cost is still prohibitive. Another drawback is that the agents are not widely available.

One of the latest developments is the introduction of another agent that fully absorbs the pollutant and then converts it into a brand new substance that is totally harmless. In fact, the new substance can be used in the manufacture of a variety of rubber products and it is used in the preparation of road surfaces. Environmentalists hope that such agents will soon be widely available.

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.

Everything possible should be done to prevent further damage to the environment. Special barriers that can contain harmful chemicals should most certainly be standard equipment whenever such chemicals are used, transported or manufactured. If positive steps to prevent pollution are not taken humankind may just find itself with an uninhabitable planet.




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