The Role Of Portable Spill Containment Berms In Limiting The Damage Caused By Pollution

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.

One very exciting development is a new super agent that not only absorbs the contaminants, but actually transforms it into a brand new, harmless substance. This substance can be handled safely. One of the main advantages of this agent is that the resultant mass can be used in the manufacture of certain rubber products and even as part of new road surfaces.

Governments and industries that deal with harmful substances are under increasing pressure to take preventive measures and to take responsibility for cleaning up operations. They argue that the laws related to the handling of pollutants are too vague and that it is virtually impossible to prosecute cases successfully. They also want more preventive equipment to be available at all times and they demand that companies increase their efforts to train more people in how to deal with spillage.

Continued pollution of the environment will eventually cause the planet to collapse. It is the duty of every company dealing with harmful substances to do everything possible to prevent catastrophes from occurring. Making containment barriers available is only the first step towards a clean and safe environment.




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