Safety audits of operational waste rock dumps and tailings storage facilities (TSF) account for a significant proportion of the workload in the SRK UK and SRK Kazakhstan Mine Waste Engineering teams.
Mine operations have found ways to continue production despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, which begs the question; ”How can the safety and integrity of mine waste storage facilities be maintained during lockdown?”. The human, environmental, and business-continuity consequences of waste storage facility failure are so significant, operators and stakeholders need to know: 1) if the facilities are safe; and 2) what the potential consequences of failure could be, so that preventative measures can be put in place.
In normal times, our engineers spend significant amounts of time travelling to mine sites, working with the Clients to understand the waste facility designs, construction/operational practices, constraints, performance and risks, so that we can provide appropriate advice or raise concerns where required. In response to the current travel restrictions, visualisation technology has enabled us to undertake remote inspections utilising satellite and drone image data to identify ‘areas of interest’, supported by local site based teams with survey equipment and high-resolution video cameras. The survey equipment is used to measure key metrics such as slope and beach geometry, which can be compared with the latest designs and monitoring data to assess performance of the facility. We subsequently collectively review the data via group video conferencing and can determine features requiring further investigation or areas of divergence in performance.
We have formed integrated teams with the Clients and Contractors where everyone is working constructively to overcome challenges rather than delay progress. Through the use of regular video/teleconference meetings, we have built up effective lines of regular communication which is allowing review of data as it is generated and modifications to the program based upon findings/progress.
Despite significant restrictions to travel, we have remotely provided TSF inspection and design review services to our Clients in Central Asia. We plan to use ‘real-time’ observations utilising live network-linked cameras on remote site locations once network coverage becomes available, and Qualified professional engineers will subsequently follow up these remote inspections with full Dam Safety and Operational Reviews (DSOR) in person.
In addition to TSF inspections, we are also undertaking remote supervision of waste rock dump foundation investigation works which are currently underway at remote sites with difficult ground conditions. Inspection of high-quality core photographs (with high pixel density) allows us to gain understanding of ground conditions as they are encountered and to modify drilling/sampling/testing/monitoring-installation as required.
Our Clients understand that these remote services cannot fully replace a site inspection or site supervision, but they see value in continued expert input during these difficult times.
