On the 23rd May 2021, news broke around the world regarding a tragic cable car incident in Italy. The funicular line transports people from the nearby resort town of Stresa, in the northern region of Piedmont, to the popular Mottarone mountain. Fourteen people on board were killed when the car snapped off the cable, plummeting twenty metres to the ground1.
The cause of the accident was initially unknown, however, investigations since reveal the emergency brakes had been disabled. It is alleged that a fork-like bracket had been placed over the brake to prevent continuous disruptions to the cable car as it kept pausing while in motion. It is believed that the tragedy could have been avoided had the emergency brake been in operation2.
Maintenance of assets is critical to any organisation. There is no room in asset-intensive businesses for costly downtime or poor practices that result in loss of production or, in this case, loss of multiple lives.
The ability of an organisation to monitor asset performance relies on:
- regular servicing and other maintenance tasks
- replacement of faulty parts
- deep asset knowledge
- safety audits and risk assessments
- documentation
And, importantly, effective maintenance within the organisation ought to include a whole-of-business understanding and support of these crucial elements. Asset management procedures must cascade from the leadership to all levels of the business, to each staff member.
If you’re working in the asset management sector in maintenance and reliability, contact us via communications@amcouncil.com.au to share your success story. Also make sure you’re tuned into our Maintenance and Reliability in Asset Management Special Interest Group. You’ll have many opportunities to meet with others, share knowledge and tips, as well as great events geared specifically to areas of interest in the realm of maintenance of assets.
And if you’re not a member of the Asset Management Council, you’re definitely missing out on something special! Join now and receive immediate benefits, such as CDP points, free access to our database of technical papers and our informative webinar series, reduced rates at our events and conferences, and much more. Learn more about membership rates by clicking here.