--- title: Guidance for the safe and optimized operation of waste rocks facilities date: 2018-11-02T13:38:00-04:00 author: jessica napert canonical_url: "https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/publications/guidance-for-the-safe-and-optimized-operation-of-waste-rocks-facilities" section: Publications --- 1. Failure of Waste Rock Facilities (WRF) can be a major concern because it can put human life and surrounding environment at extreme risk. As such, waste rock piles should be considered structures, and rigorous attention should be afforded in design and operation of WRF. Selecting an appropriate operational strategy can greatly lessen the risks involved. The important aspects in the operational phase of a WRF, which impact the stability, include the use of appropriate design criteria, waste material segregation, and rate of deposition, operational load, operational manual, deposition plan and instrumentation. This paper discusses, in detail, the importance of operational parameters and how these can be controlled to reduce the overall risk associated with such facilities. It further discusses the importance of integrating design into deposition plans, the use of operational manuals to document good operating practices and the supervision of ongoing operations. Note that this white paper was the subject of a presentation at the Tailings and Mine Waste’18 Conference in Colorado State University. This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA 1. ![José Antonio Vides](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/3209/Jose-Antonio-Vides.webp) José Antonio Vides, P.Eng., M.Eng. Senior Engineer, Earth and Infrastructure [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseantoniovides/) 2. ![Luciano Piciacchia](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/3206/Luciano-Piciacchia.webp) Luciano Piciacchia, P.Eng., Ph.D. Senior Consulting Expert, Earth and Infrastructure [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianopiciacchia/) - [ 27 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance - ![Geraldine Cosset](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/206707/Geraldine-Cosset.webp) - ![Jared Purdy](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/212424/Jared-Purdy.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/early-tailings-decisions-shape-long-term-mine-performance "Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance") - [ 02 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing - ![Charles Blais](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211197/Charles-Blais.webp) - ![Juan Pablo Vergara](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211266/Juan-Pablo-Vergara.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/python-a-key-tool-for-data-analysis-in-mineral-processing "Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing") - [ 19 Jun 2026 Mining and Metals Speed is earned early in projects - ![Mm employee men jean lheureux retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/204266/mm_employee_men_jean-lheureux_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp) - ![Mm employee men benoit richard retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/203602/mm_employee_men_benoit-richard_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/speed-is-earned-early-in-projects "Speed is earned early in projects") - [ 17 Jun 2026 Industrial data platforms: building a solid foundation to optimize your operations - ![Pierre Boucher](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/2671/Pierre-Boucher.webp) Pierre Boucher, P.Eng. Senior Engineer, Operational Technology and Infrastructure ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/industrial-data-platforms-building-a-solid-foundation-to-optimize-your-operations "Industrial data platforms: building a solid foundation to optimize your operations") [ See all ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights "Go to Publications listing page") Let’s think it further together [ Contact us ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/contact) 1. Failure of Waste Rock Facilities (WRF) can be a major concern because it can put human life and surrounding environment at extreme risk. As such, waste rock piles should be considered structures, and rigorous attention should be afforded in design and operation of WRF. Selecting an appropriate operational strategy can greatly lessen the risks involved. The important aspects in the operational phase of a WRF, which impact the stability, include the use of appropriate design criteria, waste material segregation, and rate of deposition, operational load, operational manual, deposition plan and instrumentation. This paper discusses, in detail, the importance of operational parameters and how these can be controlled to reduce the overall risk associated with such facilities. It further discusses the importance of integrating design into deposition plans, the use of operational manuals to document good operating practices and the supervision of ongoing operations. Note that this white paper was the subject of a presentation at the Tailings and Mine Waste’18 Conference in Colorado State University. This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA