Protecting Assets, People, and Production
Operational excellence in mining requires more than a good design; it requires ongoing continuous validation as part of the design feedback loop. Absolute Geotechnics provides independent technical oversight and assurance services to ensure that operations remain safe, compliant, and optimized against their original geotechnical design intent.
Drawing on extensive experience within Western Australia’s rigorous regulatory environment, we bring a “gold standard” approach to safety culture and geotechnical risk management.
Our Assurance Services
1. Geotechnical Risk Management (GRM)
We help operations move from reactive “fire-fighting” to proactive risk mitigation through structured management systems.
- Ground Control Management Plans (GCMPs): Developing and reviewing GCMPs that align with industry best practices as the basis of managing geotechnical risk.
- Risk Register Oversight: Quantifying geotechnical threats to operational activities, the Life of Mine (LOM) schedule and financial targets.
- TARP Development: Designing and auditing Trigger Action Response Plans to ensure site teams have clear, actionable protocols for displacement events.
2. Operational Audits and Instability Response
We provide periodic site-wide audits and support to manage active instability and provide remedial options.
- Forensic Analysis of Instability: Detailed post-failure investigations to determine root causes—whether geological, hydrogeological, or design-related.
- Remediation & Stabilization: Designing practical remedial options to safely regain access to ore, and feeding learnings back into risk management and design.
- Slope Performance Monitoring: Reviewing displacement and piezometer data to calibrate design models against real-world movement.
- Compliance Reviews: Benchmarking site practices against international safety frameworks and the rigorous standards expected in tier-one jurisdictions.
3. Independent Technical Peer Review
Acting as the Owner’s Representative, we provide a critical, third-party review of geotechnical designs, supporting data and feasibility studies produced by internal teams or external consultancies.
- Model Review: Confirming the underlying geological and structural models are suitably developed.
- Design Validation: Ensuring slope parameters are suitably derived, operationally practical and not overly conservative.
- Optimization Audits: Identifying opportunities to refine designs based on actual performance data to reduce stripping ratios or improve recovery.
The Value of Independent Assurance
- Tier-One Standards: Applying the safety-critical mindset of Western Australian mining regulations to emerging markets and global operations.
- Mitigating Liability: Providing the Board and investors with independent confirmation that geotechnical risks are being managed to international best practices.
- Operational Continuity: Identifying “pre-cursor” stability issues to prevent failures that lead to lost production or equipment damage.
Regional Experience & Expertise
- Western Australia: A foundation in one of the world’s most strictly regulated and safety-conscious mining environments.
- West Africa: Specialist focus on managing slope performance in high-rainfall environments and deep weathering profiles.
- Saudi Arabia: Ensuring technical alignment with the Saudi Mining Investment Law and international standards for deep pit expansions.
“Assurance is about more than compliance; it’s about providing the technical confidence to keep the mine moving safely.”
Secure your operational integrity.
Contact Rob Thomas to schedule an operational review or site audit.
