A Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) is a pre-agreed plan that tells a team exactly what to do when conditions on site move outside normal limits. Each TARP links a measurable trigger, such as a variable crossing a threshold, to a set of actions for named roles. As conditions worsen, the plan escalates to higher response levels with stronger actions.
TARPs are widely used in mining to manage both safety hazards and production deviations. They let teams do their thinking in advance, when the pressure is off, so that during an event they can follow an agreed plan instead of improvising.
What does TARP stand for?
TARP stands for Trigger Action Response Plan. You will also see it written as Triggered Action Response Plan. Both terms describe the same thing: a plan that defines the trigger, the actions and the response.
How a TARP works
Every TARP has three parts.
Triggers. A trigger is the condition that activates or escalates the plan. Good triggers are measurable and unambiguous. A common pattern is a process variable exceeding a threshold for a set period, which filters out short spikes that would otherwise cause false alarms.
Actions. Each TARP sets out the actions to take once it is triggered, and who is responsible for each one. Actions are assigned by role, for example control room operators, area operators, metallurgists, supervisors and managers. That way nobody has to work out who should be doing what in the middle of an event.
Response levels. Most TARPs have several levels. Each level has its own triggers and its own actions, matched to how serious the situation has become. If conditions keep deteriorating, the plan escalates and more senior people are brought in. When conditions recover, the plan steps back down.
TARP levels explained
The number of levels and the names used vary from site to site. There is no single industry standard. Many sites use colour-coded levels, such as green, amber and red, or numbered levels.
| Level | What it means | Typical response |
|---|---|---|
| NormalLevel 1 | The process or hazard is within agreed limits. | Routine operation and monitoring. |
| ElevatedLevel 2 | A deviation has been detected and is outside normal limits. | Defined corrective actions by the operators closest to the problem. Supervisor and specialists notified. |
| CriticalLevel 3 | The deviation is severe, sustained, or not responding to corrective action. | Escalation to senior staff. Stronger actions, which may include reducing throughput or stopping equipment. |
Level names, colours and the number of levels vary between sites.
Example: a process TARP in a mineral processing plant
Most published TARP examples cover safety hazards such as slope stability, gas or severe weather. TARPs are just as useful for production. Here is an example based on a TARP built in Mipac’s Digital TARP application.
The deviation. Rougher flotation feed size (p80) runs coarser than target. p80 is the particle size that 80% of the material passes. When feed is too coarse, flotation recovery can suffer, so this TARP exists to protect recovery.
The trigger. The TARP activates when rougher feed p80 exceeds [SME: threshold] for [SME: duration], and escalates to the next level at [SME: threshold and duration].
The actions. Once activated, each role has defined tasks:
| Role | Actions |
|---|---|
| Control room operator |
|
| Flotation operator |
|
| Grinding operator |
|
| Laboratory technician |
|
| Plant metallurgist |
|
Example based on a TARP configured in Mipac's Digital TARP application. Actions vary by site and TARP level.
Because every action, comment and completion is recorded, the team can later compare this event with previous ones and see which responses brought p80 back under control fastest.
Where TARPs are used in mining
TARPs are applied wherever a deviation needs a fast, consistent response. Common uses include:
- Geotechnical hazards, such as pit wall and slope stability
- Underground atmosphere, including gas and ventilation in underground coal mines
- Tailings storage facilities
- Severe weather, such as storms, lightning and flooding
- Process and production deviations, such as feed size, recovery, throughput and equipment performance
Safety TARPs are often part of a site’s formal hazard management. Production TARPs tend to be less formal and are often held on paper or in spreadsheets, which is where much of the value is lost.
Why TARPs matter
They manage risk
By planning responses in advance, teams make sure critical controls are in place and working, and reduce the impact of an event on the operation
They improve safety
People know what to do outside normal operating conditions. That helps them make better decisions and stops well-intended actions that could put people or equipment at risk, or make the situation worse.
They protect production
Faster, more consistent responses reduce downtime and production losses.
They close the experience gap
The mining industry has an experience shortage. When a deviation occurs, less experienced personnel often do not know how to respond, and the standard response may be stored in handover notes, training material, troubleshooting guides, a shared drive or someone’s head. A TARP puts the agreed response in one place.
They make deviations visible
Without a clear plan, a deviation can go unnoticed if an operator or metallurgist is busy, fatigued or on a break. Even when it is noticed, it can take time to recognise it as a problem and escalate it to the right person.
Paper TARPs vs digital TARPs
Many sites still run TARPs on paper or in spreadsheets. That works up to a point, but it creates gaps:
- Detecting a deviation depends on someone noticing it.
- It is not always clear to everyone whether a TARP has been activated, which actions have been completed, or whether they worked.
- Different people may respond to the same problem in different ways, so it is hard to know which approach is effective.
- Without easily searchable history, there is little opportunity to stop deviations recurring or to improve the plan.
A digital TARP addresses these gaps. Mipac’s Digital TARP application, part of the MPA suite:
- Monitors process data continuously, and automatically activates and escalates TARPs based on criteria you define
- Notifies the right people by email, Teams, WhatsApp or SMS, with a live TARP view available for control room operators
- Lets teams add comments and recommendations against each action and for the event as a whole
- Keeps a detailed audit trail of every event, action and comment
- Lets you group and compare historical events to find long-term improvement opportunities
- Uses your existing AVEVA PI AF system to generate and capture event information
Sites can configure as many TARPs as they need, covering production, asset, safety and environmental purposes, and build new ones themselves.
How to build a TARP
Step 1: Choose the hazard or variable. Start with deviations that have the biggest impact on safety, recovery or throughput, or that happen most often.
Step 2: Set measurable triggers. Define the threshold and duration for each level. Base them on site data and operating experience, not guesswork.
Step 3: Define actions for each level and role. Keep actions specific and achievable. Name the role responsible, not just the department.
Step 4: Decide who is notified, and how. Match notifications to each role and level, so the right people hear about an event without everyone being alerted every time.
Step 5: Train the team. Walk through the TARP with everyone who has a role in it, so the first time they use it is not during a real event.
Step 6: Review after every event. Check whether the actions worked and how long the deviation took to control, then update the TARP.
FAQs about TARPs
What does TARP stand for in mining?
What are the levels of a TARP?
What is the difference between a TARP and an emergency response plan?
Who is responsible for actioning a TARP?
Can TARPs be managed digitally?
MPA | Digital TARP
Make your TARPs work harder
See how Digital TARP helps teams detect deviations sooner, respond consistently and learn from every event.
- Automatic activation and escalation
- Alerts by email, Teams, WhatsApp or SMS
- Full audit trail of every action
