AAOM Handbook

parameters such as calendar or operating time, or process throughput), and when the predefined interval or life is reached a corrective action is taken in order to deal with the risk. In a mining process this could be a regularly scheduled oil changes for mobile equipment based on either operating time for the equipment or calendar time. In a mineral processing plant this could be a regularly scheduled task to change screen/filter media based on expired time or the amount of material processed. In a safety context this might be a regularly scheduled task to conduct a fire drill, at a time interval that keeps the required response fresh in the memory of personnel. • Utilise back-up or containment systems to circumvent or mitigate the consequences of a risk. This type of strategy may be appropriate where none of the above options is feasible or cost effective but the consequences of the risk are not acceptable. In an underground mining process this could be a back-up dewatering pump. In a mineral processing plant this could be a duty/standby process pump. In a safety context this might be the implementation of personal protective equipment or a barrier/guarding system. • Operate the process to the point of failure . This is the default option, i.e. if you put no other Service Strategy in place then this is what will happen. This option is perfectly acceptable for the many potential risks that have very low consequences, probability and exposure. Once the failure has occurred, a corrective (recovery) action is required in order to deal with the consequences. • Closure of the process. If it is considered that there is no viable and/or cost effective strategy that will reduce the risk profile of a probable unwanted event to an acceptable level then the only remaining option is to shut down the process and establish a safe and secure condition. This strategy option is evident in the actions of the German government in 2011 when, following the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, they announced the accelerated closure of all nuclear power plants within Germany. Note that after closure of the process the most significant risks may be removed, but there may be an ongoing need to maintain the safety and security of the process against residual, but lesser, risks. In such cases appropriate Service Strategies will be required until such time as there is no longer any unacceptable risk. Where a Service Strategy requires a corrective action (i.e. monitor condition or performance, defined interval and operate to failure), the possible corrective actions are: • Stabilisation - actions taken to slow or defer the development of an unwanted event, without restoring any degraded condition. This is economical when applied early in the development of an unwanted event, where only limited degradation of condition has occurred, and the stabilised item will still meet acceptable risk standards. For example; resting employees working in harsh conditions, blasting and painting corroded metal in order to either slow or defer the corrosion process, changing lubricating oils in combustion engines in order to slow the rate of engine wear or corrosion caused by oil contaminants. Neither of these

© McAlear Management Consultants 2006

Operational Planning: Set Service Strategy

Updated: August 2018

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