Thursday, July 3, 2014

Why Spill Containment Berms Should Be Available When Working With Harmful Substances

By Rosella Campbell


It seems as if this modern world can only function with the aid of oil, chemicals and toxins. Millions of tons of potentially harmful substances are manufactured, stored, transported and used every year. There is always a risk that some of these substances will leak or that an accident will cause pollution. Such accidents can cause untold harm to both humans and the environment. When an accident occurs, the very first priority is to make sure that the spill does not spread. The best and quickest way to do this is to use spill containment berms.

Merely limiting the area that has been polluted by harmful substances is not enough. The substances have to be rendered safe for removal and disposal at a suitably equipped facility. This type of operation can be extremely expensive. Special equipment is required and teams dealing with the pollution have to be specially trained. Sometimes adverse weather or rough terrain makes it even more difficult to deal with the contamination.

Much research has been conducted on the topic of dealing with pollutants and contaminants. Cleaning up operations are now done quicker and more efficient with the use of agents that are designed to either absorb the pollutants or to speed up the natural bio degrading process. This will only work, however, if the pollutants are able to bio degrade or if it can be absorbed by another agent.

Another new agent has caused much excitement in both the worlds of chemical manufacturers and environmentalists. This agent is unique because it does not absorb the spilled substances, but rather change them into a new substance altogether. This new substance can be handled safely. As an added bonus, it can be used in the manufacture of certain rubber products and it is even used to tar roads.

In cases where the spilled substances cannot be absorbed or transformed, a different approach is needed. If the pollution occurred in a body of water, such as a river, lake or the ocean, special equipment is employed to agitate the water with the aim of separating the chemicals from the body of water. The chemicals are them quickly pumped into large floating containers that can be towed away.

Budgets for cleaning operations and staff that are trained in dealing with such matters are in short supply. Authorities are therefore forced to prioritize incidents. In cases where contamination took place in remote areas nothing is done and nature is left to take its course. If the incident took place in popular tourist areas, sensitive ecological systems or in densely populated areas a high priority is given to cleaning operations.

Environmentalists maintain that every business that deals with potentially harmful substances should have emergency plans and procedures in place. They should also make sure that their staff knows exactly what to do during emergency situations. Appropriate equipment, such as berms, should be available at all times, but especially when the substances are in transit. In addition, training on how to deal with spillages should be compulsory.

The harmful effects of a chemical spill can last for years, poisoning the water and the soil. Every business dealing with these substances should strive towards increased safety. If this is not done, the planet will simply get to a point where it can no longer sustain life as we know it.




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