Question 15 QMED05 - Machinist-Pump Technician

The Correct Answer is C **Why option C ("booms") is correct:** Booms are the most common and widely utilized primary physical containment device for spilled oil on the water. They are floating, temporary barriers designed to physically limit the spread of the oil, divert it to a collection point, or protect sensitive areas like shorelines or wildlife habitats. Their immediate deployment is often the first response action to contain the spill before recovery (like skimming) or chemical treatments (like dispersants) can be used. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **A) chemical dispersants:** Dispersants are chemicals sprayed onto the oil slick to break it down into tiny droplets that mix into the water column. While they are a tool for mitigating spills, they are a treatment method, not a physical containment device. They are used when physical recovery is impractical or insufficient, and their use is often regulated or restricted. * **B) straw:** Straw (or other natural sorbent materials like peat moss or hay) can be used to absorb oil, especially near shorelines, but it is an antiquated and inefficient method for containing and collecting large slicks on open water. It is not the most common or primary containment device. * **D) skimmers:** Skimmers are devices used to physically *remove* (recover) oil from the surface of the water *after* it has been contained. They are oil collection/recovery tools, not the initial containment barriers themselves. Booms (the containment device) are often used in conjunction with skimmers (the recovery device).