7 Ways Spill Containment Berms Prevent Oil Accidents, From Extraction to Storage

When oil leaks or spills, the environmental impact can be devastating. Not only that, but cleaning up leaked oil can be time-consuming and costly. Costs can mount as resources are put toward the clean-up. And regulatory action comes with costs such as fines or other penalties. While oil extraction, handling, and storage come with risks, certain risks can be mitigated. Namely, the risk of leaks and spills. This is where spill containment berms play a critical role. Companies can use spill containment berms and similar barriers to reduce contamination and other disasters. Here are seven ways spill berms impact any site where oil is present.

Spill Containment Berms Allow for Immediate Response

Oil leaks and spills can happen at any time. From extraction sites to transportation to storage, there are many ways for oil to get into the surrounding environment. When it does leak, your team needs to respond immediately. And spill containment berms allow for just that. Your team can deploy high-quality spill berms in seconds and assemble them in minutes, usually with one or two people. Quick deployment allows you to get under the leak before it becomes a larger problem. Spill berms also allow you to contain the mess while your team repairs the source of the leak. You get back precious time to address equipment failure, breaks, leaks, drips, and more.

Spill Containment Berms Allow for Continuous Secondary Containment

Spill containment berms are versatile. You can store them easily and save them for an emergency or use them on an ongoing basis. Oil transport and storage are two examples. In oil transport, parking an oil transport vehicle on a spill containment berm helps manage potential leaks and spills. Applicable situations include filling or emptying a tanker, or when a crew is repairing a vehicle. In storage, spill barriers can be used as a secondary containment solution. As the oil is stored in drums, the drums are then stored in the confines of the spill barrier. Additionally, many spill containment berms are made from highly durable materials. They can withstand long-term use both indoors and out (as long as they’re rated for constant UV exposure). Because of this, they can be routinely used wherever they’re needed.

Spill Containment Berms Don’t Waste Space

No matter what spill berms are used for, they’re designed to avoid wasting space. By default, spill berms come in a rectangular configuration. At the same time, their barrier walls can be 6 to 24 inches in height. They can fit many different spaces and you can deploy them pressed up against walls, fencing, and other barriers. And while most spill berms share this fundamental design, they do come in various sizes and configurations. If you need one to contain the full length of a semi-truck and trailer, you can find it. If you need a small spill berm to place under a piece of equipment, it exists. Of course, if you need a specific size, that too can be sourced. Some spill berm makers, like AIRE Environmental, offer custom sizing for spill containment berms.

Spill Containment Berms Protect Workers, Tools, and Equipment

In oil drilling and extraction, there may be equipment or tools on-site that routinely leak due to use. Using a spill containment berm under or around equipment gives you a way to protect the work area. Keeping the work area clean helps keep workers safer, other machinery cleaner, and cuts contamination. Your team can also swap out and clean the barriers, reducing disruptions to the on-site workflow. Your team can also store oil drums and equipment. To maximize utility, you can plan an entire worksite around spill berm use.

Spill Containment Berms Make Cleanup Easier

Oil cleanup is rarely easy. From small leaks to larger spills, disaster can be seconds away. It’s much easier to clean up a spill or leak if you have deployed a barrier around equipment already. Instead of oil spills around the worksite, on concrete, or in soil, preventative barriers contain unexpected spills. The barrier membrane prevents further leakage. Your team can then properly dispose of the oil and prepare the barrier for the next job. High-quality spill berms can hold up to repeated use and exposure to oil and many harsh chemicals.

Spill Containment Berms Help You Meet Regulatory Standards

Due in part to environmental concerns, use of machinery, and worker safety, the oil industry is beholden to plenty of regulation. Spill containment berms can help oil companies follow those regulations. That is, of course, if the spill barriers meet or surpass regulatory requirements. This can include regulations defined by the EPA and OSHA. Are your spill barriers National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) compliant? Do they meet Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) guidelines? When a site doesn’t meet standards the regulatory response can be costly. Spill berms help mitigate costs, especially when you use them preemptively.

Spill Containment Berms Help Prevent Disaster

Ultimately, spill berms put a barrier between oil and everything else. Once oil leaks into the surrounding environment, it can be challenging to clean. When properly used, spill berms can prevent disaster, both ecologically and economically. That said, they only work when they’re used. Keep plenty of barriers onsite deployed around equipment and vehicles, as well as extras stored for unexpected circumstances. You meet regulatory requirements while keeping the work site ready for the variables that come with oil drilling, transport, storage, and more.

About AIRE Environmental

Since 2001, AIRE Environmental (formerly AIRE Industrial) has been the go-to source for spill containment solutions for numerous industries and government agencies. Based in Meridian, Idaho, they design and manufacture their spill containment berms, water bladder tank options, and erosion control solutions right in the USA. Every product is built to the highest standards, meeting or exceeding industrial and regulatory requirements. AIRE Environmental knows their clients need equipment that can withstand the rigors of everyday use. From construction sites to oil drilling, disaster relief to military deployment, their products are routinely put through their paces. When you need rugged, durable, and reliable spill containment, water storage, and erosion control solutions, AIRE Environmental answers the call.

AIRE Environmental is ready to meet your spill containment needs at https://www.aireenvironmental.com/