Abstract
Abstract This article proposes a procedure to elaborate a map that presents the potential risk of failure occurrence in the operational slopes of open pit mines. First, it is necessary to collect the available geological-geotechnical data and perform a field mapping, in order to verify and validate the most representative parameters and to characterize the discontinuity families of the rock mass. Then, the mine should be sectorized, considering all the data collected, the geometry of the operational slopes and its development until the final pit. The next step will be to define and to evaluate which failure modes have greater or lesser potential to occur in the pit and to assign weights to them. In this study, the weathering, planar failure, and plane circular failure potentials were evaluated. As a result, it is possible to develop a map with the susceptibility level of the sectors. This map will help make technical and managerial decisions in order to reduce the risk level of the sectors and to promote an increase in the operational safety of the mine.
Highlights
What is risk? Brown and Booth (2009) define risk as the chance of something happening and having an impact on the goals of the entrepreneur
The purpose of this study was to establish a risk level indicator composed by the combination of potential failure modes, and to represent the failure susceptibility of a slope in an operational pit, by presenting the result of these analyzes through a map that can help in the advancements in mining and development of the pit
It should be emphasized that the data used are hypothetical, just to show the methodology applied and the map is an example of consolidated result, which demonstrates the geotechnical level risk indicator in each area of the mine
Summary
What is risk? Brown and Booth (2009) define risk as the chance of something happening and having an impact on the goals of the entrepreneur. Failure in the process of controlling the associated risks can result in irreparable loss of life and property, besides influencing the ultimate objectives of the enterprise itself. The Australian Standard AS/NZS 4360 (2004) establishes some procedures that guide the proper elaboration of the risk management process. The standard recommends complying with the following steps: establish the context to be evaluated; identify all risks involved; analyze the risks related to the existence of controls; assess the level of criticality; and propose a prioritization of activities to address risk. Risk management must be constant; that is, there is a need to revisit the entire evaluation and control the process periodically, as there may be new or unknown situations that influence in the context, control or in the addressing of risk, even after several analyses have already been carried out
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