While your operation may not experience SRBs melting, failures may still be a familiar problem. Most SRBs never reach their expected life. One leading bearing manufacturer reports that 51 per cent of bearing failures are due to contamination and ineffective lubrication. Tiny particles from windblown dust or spilled fugitive materials can enter a bearing. Once inside, they mix with the lubricant to form a grinding medium, wearing down the bearing components. Larger abrasive particles can create indentations on the bearing’s rolling surfaces, resulting in failure. Water is another contaminant that can corrode bearing surfaces and degrade the lubricant. Bearings stored without temperature controls can suffer from condensation, and even 1 per cent of water in the lubrication can be detrimental. Additionally, pressure-washing equipment can force solid particles and water through the bearing housing seals and into the bearings, causing damage. SRBs lacking adequate protection will prematurely fail, and these failures will not wait for conveniently scheduled maintenance shutdowns. Contamination remains a constant threat, but effective strategies exist to safeguard your SRBs and enhance uptime.