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8 System Definition
commitment of the CEO and the executive team to high standards of performance at
all levels of the organization and for all activities, not just tailings management.
A common corporate practice is for a company to organize its policy requirements
within a tailings governance framework with the development of a management system as the core element. Other important aspects include the application of corporate
risk management policies, the establishment of organizational, design and operating
standards and requirements for assurance and reporting activities.
One ubiquitous enemy to rational risk management is the corporate “Silo culture” that generates sectoral risk assessments and treats the many issues as independent “verticals”. In this respect, the evolution (https://www.riskope.com/2012/05/02/
evolution-of-risk-management-and-risk-managers/) has been astounding, but there
is still much to be done.
8.1.2 Governments Responsibilities
Governments must be responsible for the protection of employees, the public and
the environment from undue impacts and risks arising out of or in connection with
mining operations. They must discharge this responsibility primarily through the
development of risk based laws, regulations and guidances, by granting permits
on the basis of a strong regulatory framework and public consultation and being
responsible for an effective compliance and enforcement regime. Risk-based laws
require quantitative assessments allowing for RIDM at the country-wide scale.
To meet their responsibilities, some governments are responding with a higher
level of oversight through a more rigorous permit approval process, expanded tailings management oversight, improved compliance and enforcement activities and
increased transparency. Both the mining industry and the regulators have to up their
game, simultaneously, so that they can keep lines of communication open. Governments should know what they can actually request from mining companies terms of
advanced risk assessments, performance predictions and long-term assurance based
on uncertainty management.
8.1.3 Professional Geotechnical Engineers Responsibilities
Professional geotechnical engineers should be responsible for the design of tailings
facilities in accordance with the highest state of practice and applicable regulations,
statutes, guidelines, codes and standards while fulfilling their professional obligations
that, “…hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public…” (APEGBC
2014). Here again, rational and quantitative risk assessments performed by independent third parties are key to ensure the results.
8 System Definition
commitment of the CEO and the executive team to high standards of performance at
all levels of the organization and for all activities, not just tailings management.
A common corporate practice is for a company to organize its policy requirements
within a tailings governance framework with the development of a management system as the core element. Other important aspects include the application of corporate
risk management policies, the establishment of organizational, design and operating
standards and requirements for assurance and reporting activities.
One ubiquitous enemy to rational risk management is the corporate “Silo culture” that generates sectoral risk assessments and treats the many issues as independent “verticals”. In this respect, the evolution (https://www.riskope.com/2012/05/02/
evolution-of-risk-management-and-risk-managers/) has been astounding, but there
is still much to be done.
8.1.2 Governments Responsibilities
Governments must be responsible for the protection of employees, the public and
the environment from undue impacts and risks arising out of or in connection with
mining operations. They must discharge this responsibility primarily through the
development of risk based laws, regulations and guidances, by granting permits
on the basis of a strong regulatory framework and public consultation and being
responsible for an effective compliance and enforcement regime. Risk-based laws
require quantitative assessments allowing for RIDM at the country-wide scale.
To meet their responsibilities, some governments are responding with a higher
level of oversight through a more rigorous permit approval process, expanded tailings management oversight, improved compliance and enforcement activities and
increased transparency. Both the mining industry and the regulators have to up their
game, simultaneously, so that they can keep lines of communication open. Governments should know what they can actually request from mining companies terms of
advanced risk assessments, performance predictions and long-term assurance based
on uncertainty management.
8.1.3 Professional Geotechnical Engineers Responsibilities
Professional geotechnical engineers should be responsible for the design of tailings
facilities in accordance with the highest state of practice and applicable regulations,
statutes, guidelines, codes and standards while fulfilling their professional obligations
that, “…hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public…” (APEGBC
2014). Here again, rational and quantitative risk assessments performed by independent third parties are key to ensure the results.