Thursday, October 9, 2014

The Benefits Of Always Having Spill Containment Berms At Hand

By Jocelyn Davidson


Mankind use millions of tons of potentially harmful chemicals every year. Greed and carelessness often result in the handling and transport of chemicals without proper safety precautions being put in place. Spills occur frequently and have already caused immense damage to the environment. Cleaning up the mess is difficult and expensive and by the time cleaning operations are launched it is often too late. It is absolutely vital to have equipment such as spill containment berms when handling or using such chemicals.

A berm can be invaluable in helping to prevent pollution from spreading over a wider period. This is just a temporary measure, however. It is necessary to launch an operation that will see the contaminants removed and transported to a facility or site that is properly equipped to dispose of the contaminants in a safe manner. Such operations are often hampered by rough terrain or adverse weather conditions.

Ongoing research has produced promising results. There are now special agents available to neutralize pollutants. Some of the agents work by speeding up the degrading process that occurs naturally. Other agents have been developed to physically absorb the harmful chemicals. These agents work very well but unfortunately not all pollutants degrade naturally and not all pollutants can be absorbed by these agents.

Efforts to find new solutions continue unabated. One extremely promising development is a new agent that is able to absorb a large variety of pollutants. Once absorbed, the pollutants combine with the agent to create a totally new substance that is harmless. This substance can then be removed safely. As an added bonus this substance can be used in the manufacture of various rubber products and it is even used in creating new road surfaces.

Pollutants that have been spilled in bodies of water are often resistant to agents that accelerate degrading or that absorb the substances. Special machinery then needs to be employed. These machines work on the same principle as a milk and cream separator. The water is agitated and this causes the water and the pollutant to separate. It is then possible to pump the pollutants into large floating containers.

While there is legislation that addresses pollution issues the laws are unfortunately often vague and very difficult to enforce. In most cases pollution sites are dealt with according to a prioritizing system. Remote incidents, such as those occurring in rough seas or uninhabited areas are often ignored. However, a high priority is given to densely populated areas, wildlife conservation areas and popular tourist attractions.

Organizations that handle chemicals and other dangerous substances should realize that there is always a risk that an accident can occur. They need to take steps not only to prevent such accidents, but also to make plans on how to deal with emergencies. This means that such organizations need to have a formal policy in this regard. Training and the availability of suitable equipment should also be a high priority.

The human race has succeeded in plundering the planet to the extent that it is close to collapse. Pollution is one of the biggest problems. It renders the air, the water and the soil poisonous. It would not be realistic to hope that harmful chemicals will be banned. Yet it can be hoped that organizations will become more responsible when they use or transport these poisonous substances.




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