scholarly journals A Failure Modes and Effects Analysis Framework for Assessing Geotechnical Risks of Tailings Dam Closure

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1234
Author(s):  
Haley L. Schafer ◽  
Nicholas A. Beier ◽  
Renato Macciotta
Keyword(s):  
Failure Modes ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
Tailings Dam ◽  
Risk Matrix ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Tailings Dams ◽  
Potential Success

Tailings dams remain on site following mine closures and must be designed and reclaimed to meet long-term goals, which may include walk-away closure or long-term care and maintenance. The underperformance of these structures can result in significant risks to public and environmental safety, as well as impacts on the future land use and economic activities near the structure. In Alberta, Canada, the expectation is for a tailings dam to be reclaimed and closed so that it can undergo deregistration. To aid in assessing the risks of underperformance during and after closure, a Generalized Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (G-FMEA) framework was developed to assess the long-term geotechnical risks for tailings dams in Alberta, with the goal of assessing the potential success of a tailings dam closure strategy. The G-FMEA is part of an initiative to enhance closure evaluations in Alberta in a collaborative effort between industry, the regulator, and academia. The G-FMEA incorporates the element of time to account for the evolution of the system, which should be applied at the planning stage and updated continually throughout the life of the facility. This paper presents the developed G-FMEA framework for tailings dams in Alberta, including the developed risk matrix framework.

scholarly journals Hydraulic Erosion Rate of Reinforced Tailings: Laboratory Investigation and Prediction Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Xuanyi Chen ◽  
Xiaofei Jing ◽  
Hai Cai ◽  
Yijun Wang ◽  
Luhua Ye
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Laboratory Investigation ◽  
Erosion Rate ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
The Self ◽  
Tailings Dam ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Tailings Dams ◽  
Overtopping Failure

Tailings dams are high-potential-energy dams built to store various ore tailings, and the overtopping failure caused by hydraulic erosion is one of the most common failure modes. The characteristics of hydraulic erosion of the reinforced tailings were studied by using the self-made erosion apparatus with four kinds of reinforcement spacing 2.5, 1.7, 1.3, and 1.0 cm, respectively. The test results show a positive correlation between the reinforcement spacing and erosion rate of tailings. Based on the sediment scouring theory, the scouring constant in the erosion rate formula is determined to be 0.056 mm/s; a prediction model for the hydraulic erosion rate of reinforced tailings is established by introducing the collapse coefficient into the results of the overflow test of reinforced tailings. This model can provide a reference for the prediction of overtopping-induced erosion failure of the reinforced tailings dam.

Overcoming Blocks in Provision of Pharmacy Services in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs)

1988 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-248
Author(s):  
Sister Charlotte Roost
Keyword(s):  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Pharmacy Department ◽  
Authority Structure ◽  
The People ◽  
Care Facilities

The obstacles in the area of needs assessment, selling the idea, human resources, and finance are addressed. Needs assessment should be addressed in the planning stage of implementing a new or revised pharmacy service to the elderly. It is the first of many stages in which the involvement of people from different departments and levels of authority is crucial to the success of the project. The advantage of involving many different people within and outside of the pharmacy department in the needs assessment is that the foundation is established for their ultimate acceptance of the new service or project. The greatest obstacle to the implementation of services in a LTCF is also the greatest resource, people. Identifying the people who are resistant to change will enable management to address the root of the resistance early in the implementation process. Working within the LTCF organizational and authority structure will increase the acceptance of the change. Most facilities operate on a budget that has limited funds; therefore, internal and external funding need to be creatively investigated.

Using Landscape Evolution Models to assess the long-term erosional stability of tailings dams

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Landscape Evolution ◽  
Tailings Dam ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Tailings Dams ◽  
Fine Particle Size ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Insight Into

<p>Tailings are a by product of mining and the processing of minerals. Tailings are generally highly erodible as they have a fine particle size. They can also contain elevated concentrations of unwanted minerals and process chemicals. Consequently, if released to the environment they can be a significant environmental problem. There have been several high profile cases which have highlighted the human and environmental risk of tailings. A common way to manage tailings is to store them in ‘tailings dams’ where they will remain in perpetuity. There has been little investigation of the long-term erosional behaviour of a tailings dams. Computer based Landscape Evolution Models (LEMs) can provide insight into these new geomorphological entities. LEMS provide information on erosion rates, type of erosion and where erosion is likely to occur and can provide guidance on long-term behaviour. Here a LEM is used to assess tailings dam designs using a range of different surface covers and climates. The modelling and methods here provide a template for tailings dam assessment at other sites globally. The methods here will improve tailings dam design and reduce environmental risk.</p>

Environmental hazards increase the fall risk among residents of long-term care facilities: a prospective study in Shanghai, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Jiang ◽  
Qinghua Xia ◽  
Peng Zhou ◽  
Shuo Jiang ◽  
Vinod K Diwan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
Environmental Hazards ◽  
Falls Prevention ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
A Prospective Study

Abstract Background Falls are one of the most common safety concerns in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Objective To evaluate the associations between the environmental hazards and the fall risk in LTCF residents. Design Prospective study with 12-month follow-up. Setting Twenty-five LTCFs in a central district of Shanghai. Subjects A total of 739 older people participated and 605 were followed up for 1 year. Methods Environmental hazards were measured using a 75-item Environment Assessment Checklist, and the associations between environmental hazards and falls were analysed using univariate and multilevel logistic regressions. Results The incidence of falls was 0.291 per person with 11 items/LTCF of hazards on average. The most common hazard items were inadequate/inappropriate handrails (96% LTCFs; odds ratio (OR) for falls: 1.88 [95% confidence interval: 1.13–3.13]), unsafe floors (92% LTCFs; 2.50 [1.11–5.61]) and poor lighting (84% LTCFs; 2.01 [1.10–3.66]). Environmental hazards were most frequently distributed in bedrooms (96% LTCFs), shared toilets/showers (80% LTCFs) and individual toilets/showers (68%LTCFs) and accounted for 20% of the differences in falls occurrence among the LTCFs. After adjusting for individual intrinsic and fall-related behavioural factors, it is found that having more than eight environmental hazard items increased the fall risk among older residents (adjusted OR = 4.01 [1.37–11.73]). Environmental hazards and toilet visits at night showed significant associations with falls (adjusted OR = 5.97 [1.10–32.29]). Conclusions The high prevalence of environmental hazards associated with falls highlights the urgency of improving environmental safety in LTCFs and the need of environmental safety policies, resource allocation and interventions in falls prevention.

Working With Resistance and Encouraging Buy-In to New Programs

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-21
Author(s):  
Sara Joffe
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Optimal Outcomes ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist

In order to best meet the needs of older residents in long-term care settings, clinicians often develop programs designed to streamline and improve care. However, many individuals are reluctant to embrace change. This article will discuss strategies that the speech-language pathologist (SLP) can use to assess and address the source of resistance to new programs and thereby facilitate optimal outcomes.

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Trauma Surgeon's Perspective

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-89
Author(s):  
Oscar D. Guillamondegui
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Trauma Team ◽  
The United States ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Injured Brain ◽  
The Moment

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious epidemic in the United States. It affects patients of all ages, race, and socioeconomic status (SES). The current care of these patients typically manifests after sequelae have been identified after discharge from the hospital, long after the inciting event. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of identification and management of the TBI patient from the moment of injury through long-term care as a multidisciplinary approach. By promoting an awareness of the issues that develop around the acutely injured brain and linking them to long-term outcomes, the trauma team can initiate care early to alter the effect on the patient, family, and community. Hopefully, by describing the care afforded at a trauma center and by a multidisciplinary team, we can bring a better understanding to the armamentarium of methods utilized to treat the difficult population of TBI patients.

Feeding Dependency Issues in the Long-Term Care Environment

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Carol Winchester ◽  
Cathy Pelletier ◽  
Pete Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Environment

Communication Disordered: Program Implementation in Long-Term Care

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (15) ◽  
pp. 64-67
Author(s):  
George Barnes ◽  
Joseph Salemi
Keyword(s):  
Program Implementation ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Family Satisfaction ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Change Policy

The organizational structure of long-term care (LTC) facilities often removes the rehab department from the interdisciplinary work culture, inhibiting the speech-language pathologist's (SLP's) communication with the facility administration and limiting the SLP's influence when implementing clinical programs. The SLP then is unable to change policy or monitor the actions of the care staff. When the SLP asks staff members to follow protocols not yet accepted by facility policy, staff may be unable to respond due to confusing or conflicting protocol. The SLP needs to involve members of the facility administration in the policy-making process in order to create successful clinical programs. The SLP must overcome communication barriers by understanding the needs of the administration to explain how staff compliance with clinical goals improves quality of care, regulatory compliance, and patient-family satisfaction, and has the potential to enhance revenue for the facility. By taking this approach, the SLP has a greater opportunity to increase safety, independence, and quality of life for patients who otherwise may not receive access to the appropriate services.

Issues of Capacity and Decision-Making in the Context of Delirium

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 140-145
Author(s):  
Kevin R. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Patient Autonomy ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Treatment Team ◽  
Precipitating Factors ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Decision Making Capacity ◽  
Fundamental Consideration

Decision-making capacity is a fundamental consideration in working with patients in a clinical setting. One of the most common conditions affecting decision-making capacity in patients in the inpatient or long-term care setting is a form of acute, transient cognitive change known as delirium. A thorough understanding of delirium — how it can present, its predisposing and precipitating factors, and how it can be managed — will improve a speech-language pathologist's (SLPs) ability to make treatment recommendations, and to advise the treatment team on issues related to communication and patient autonomy.

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