What does the term 'Passive Containment' refer to?

The term 'Passive Containment' refers to systems designed to manage spills or leaks without the need for human intervention. This approach ensures that hazardous substances do not escape into surrounding areas, thus providing a critical layer of safety in various environments. Common applications of passive containment include bunds, secondary containment structures, and spill trays, which are engineered to automatically contain materials, minimizing the risk of environmental contamination and protecting public health and safety.

The other options represent active approaches or different applications that do not align with the fundamental concept of passive containment. For instance, active monitoring or equipment designed to pump out liquids involve human involvement or proactive measures, which contradict the principle of passive containment. Similarly, smoke detectors serve a different purpose entirely, focusing on the detection of smoke rather than the containment of hazardous spills. Understanding these distinctions highlights the importance of passive containment in risk management strategies.