--- 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/es-cl/section-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/) - [ 17 ago 2026 Structural engineering early phase: unlocking value through early decisions - ![Nicolas Samson](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/197852/Nicolas-Samson.webp) Nicolas Samson, P.Eng. Senior Engineer, Structural ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/es-cl/perspectivas/structural-engineering-early-phase-unlocking-value-through-early-decisions "Structural engineering early phase: unlocking value through early decisions") - [ 12 ago 2026 Four mistakes that can harm the future performance of industrial assets - ![Caroline provost](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/208557/Caroline-provost.webp) Caroline Provost P.Eng. Director, Operational Strategy Implementation ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/es-cl/perspectivas/four-mistakes-that-can-harm-the-future-performance-of-industrial-assets "Four mistakes that can harm the future performance of industrial assets") - [ 27 jul 2026 Minería y metalurgia Por qué las decisiones tempranas sobre relaves definen el desempeño de la mina a largo plazo - ![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/es-cl/perspectivas/las-decisiones-sobre-relaves-definen-desempeno-mina-a-largo-plazo "Por qué las decisiones tempranas sobre relaves definen el desempeño de la mina a largo plazo") - [ 02 jul 2026 Minería y metalurgia Python: Una herramienta clave para el análisis de datos en el procesamiento de minerales - ![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/es-cl/perspectivas/python-una-herramienta-clave-para-analisis-datos-en-procesamiento-minerales "Python: Una herramienta clave para el análisis de datos en el procesamiento de minerales") [ Ver todo ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/es-cl/perspectivas "Ir a la página del listado de Publications") Pensemos más [ Póngase en contacto con nosotros ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/es-cl/p%C3%B3ngase-en-contacto-con-nosotros) 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