COMANCO Completes Urgent Liner Repair with Safety as the Priority
When liner damage is identified at an active mine site, response time is critical. At the same time, speed alone is not enough. Repairs must be executed safely, in compliance with MSHA requirements, and in a way that protects long-term liner performance.
Recently, COMANCO completed urgent geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) and geosynthetic liner repairs at a gold mine in Nevada. Despite winter conditions and a compressed schedule, the crew completed the repairs efficiently without compromising safety, quality control, or regulatory compliance.
This project highlights why fast turnaround is not just about working quickly. It requires experience, planning, and sound field judgment to execute correctly under pressure.
Why Fast, Safe Liner Repairs Matter at Mine Sites
On MSHA-regulated sites, safety expectations are high. Crews must navigate heavy equipment traffic, active operations, and strict site protocols. A fast response that ignores safety planning or quality control often leads to rework, incidents, or long-term performance issues.
Effective liner repair work balances urgency with discipline. The goal is to restore containment quickly while ensuring the repair meets specifications and performs as intended over the long term.
Real-World Challenges of Cold Weather Repairs
Cold weather adds complexity to liner and GCL repairs, particularly when working against a tight schedule. Temperatures can affect both crew productivity and material performance.
Frozen conditions early in the morning made cutting and handling the GCL more difficult. Stiff materials increase the risk of improper cuts, alignment issues, or damage during placement. Rather than pushing through unfavorable conditions, the crew adjusted work timing and sequencing, allowing temperatures to rise later in the day before performing critical cutting and placement activities.
These decisions often separate a fast job from a safe and successful one. Knowing when to pause, adapt, and proceed is essential to maintaining installation quality without sacrificing schedule.
Best Practices for Safe, Rapid Liner Repairs
Achieving a fast turnaround on liner repair work requires preparation and experience long before a crew arrives on site. A rapid field response depends on internal readiness and clear client coordination from the outset. Following the client’s request, the team confirmed scope details and secured authorization to proceed promptly, enabling efficient mobilization without unnecessary downtime.
Effective practices include:
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- Rapid mobilization with the correct materials and equipment
- Verifying material compatibility and repair limits before work begins
- Adjusting daily work plans based on temperature and site conditions
- Maintaining clean, dry surfaces for proper liner and GCL placement
- Coordinating closely with site personnel to minimize downtime
Safety planning does not slow down a job. In practice, it allows crews to work more efficiently by reducing uncertainty, preventing mistakes, and avoiding stoppages caused by incidents or noncompliance.
How COMANCO Delivered a Safe, Fast Turnaround
COMANCO mobilized quickly with Superintendent Pablo Medina and a five-person crew to address the urgent liner repair needs. The scope included targeted repairs using AGRU 80 mil HD textured liner and Solmax GCL, with over 2,000 square feet of liner material installed.
The crew worked within a narrow repair window, adjusting daily activities to account for frozen morning conditions while maintaining steady progress throughout the project. MSHA safety requirements were followed throughout execution, with safety taking precedence over speed at every stage.
Through disciplined planning and field execution, the crew completed the repairs safely and efficiently. The project reached full completion on an accelerated schedule, allowing the site to move forward without extended operational disruption.
Protecting Long-Term Environmental Performance
Leach pad liner systems play a critical role in environmental protection. Properly executed repairs help prevent solution loss, protect surrounding resources, and support regulatory compliance.
This project demonstrated that fast response does not have to come at the expense of safety or performance. With experienced supervision, disciplined crews, and field-driven decision-making, urgent repairs can be completed efficiently and correctly, even under challenging conditions.
Speed Backed by Experience
In environmental construction, the ability to respond quickly is built on experience, not shortcuts. Fast turnaround is only effective when it is supported by sound planning, safety discipline, and field-tested installation practices.
By prioritizing safety, adapting to cold-weather conditions, and maintaining quality control under a tight schedule, COMANCO successfully completed this repair at a gold mine in Nevada, delivering a rapid turnaround and durable results. Doing the work right the first time protected both the environment and the operation, reinforcing the value of experienced execution when time is critical.
SAFETY ★ QUALITY ★ SERVICE
COMANCO is an environmental, commercial, and civil construction company specializing in constructing containment facilities.
COMANCO performs geosynthetic liner installation and repair work with a focus on constructability, compliance, and long-term system performance. Our crews are experienced in working safely within active operations and challenging site conditions. Contact COMANCO to learn more about our environmental construction capabilities.
4301 Sterling Commerce Dr, Plant City, FL 33566
(813) 988-8829 | www.comanco.com