1.1 The Context
5
disconnect arising from the poor definition of potential consequences of mishaps
and their societal ripple effects—an aspect indeed mostly ignored in codes—leave
professionals ample room for biases and censoring applied to potential losses (Oboni
et al. 2013; CDA 2014). At the other end of the spectrum lie excessively prescriptive codes that hinder professional judgment and good engineering. Furthermore,
inadequate understanding of undrained failure mechanisms leading to static liquefaction with extreme consequences is a factor in about 50% of the cases studied by
Morgenstern (Morgenstern 2018). Here again, no methodological suggestions were
offered.
1.2 The Objective of Twenty-First-Century Tailings Dams
Management
This book builds on the leading practices suggestions cited above and focuses on the
identification of those advanced quantitative risk assessment (QRA) and risk management methodologies required for their implementation and rational risk-informed
decision making.
The methodologies required for the implementation of the leading practice suggestions exist and deliver.
The methodologies exist, have delivered proven results over the last two decades
and overcome well known pitfalls and documented problems with common practice
risks assessments (Cox et al. 2005; Cox 2008; Cresswell nd; Hubbard 2009; Chapman
and Ward 2011; Oboni and Oboni 2012; Thomas et al. 2014). All players need to up
their game and the latest round of incremental improvements should be looked at as
only the first step of a committed process leading to the highest level of performance
possible.
As stated earlier, this book focuses on “how to” related to the principles and
leading practices formulated by UNEP and Henry Brehaut. Unless necessary for the
completeness of discussion it leaves aside themes that require not methodological
interventions but administrative procedures. Among these we can cite: permitting,
boards composition, professional qualifications, codes and guidelines, etc. Due to
obvious space limitations, we will focus on the design and operating stages of the
mining cycle.
It is during the design stage that the probabilities of the consequences of failure
need to be evaluated in relation to the proposed deposition method and site location.
It is during the operating stage that mining companies must strive for the lowest
reasonable and sustainable combination of likelihood of failure and consequences
(that is, risk), and hence develop rational and sustainable risk mitigation.
5
disconnect arising from the poor definition of potential consequences of mishaps
and their societal ripple effects—an aspect indeed mostly ignored in codes—leave
professionals ample room for biases and censoring applied to potential losses (Oboni
et al. 2013; CDA 2014). At the other end of the spectrum lie excessively prescriptive codes that hinder professional judgment and good engineering. Furthermore,
inadequate understanding of undrained failure mechanisms leading to static liquefaction with extreme consequences is a factor in about 50% of the cases studied by
Morgenstern (Morgenstern 2018). Here again, no methodological suggestions were
offered.
1.2 The Objective of Twenty-First-Century Tailings Dams
Management
This book builds on the leading practices suggestions cited above and focuses on the
identification of those advanced quantitative risk assessment (QRA) and risk management methodologies required for their implementation and rational risk-informed
decision making.
The methodologies required for the implementation of the leading practice suggestions exist and deliver.
The methodologies exist, have delivered proven results over the last two decades
and overcome well known pitfalls and documented problems with common practice
risks assessments (Cox et al. 2005; Cox 2008; Cresswell nd; Hubbard 2009; Chapman
and Ward 2011; Oboni and Oboni 2012; Thomas et al. 2014). All players need to up
their game and the latest round of incremental improvements should be looked at as
only the first step of a committed process leading to the highest level of performance
possible.
As stated earlier, this book focuses on “how to” related to the principles and
leading practices formulated by UNEP and Henry Brehaut. Unless necessary for the
completeness of discussion it leaves aside themes that require not methodological
interventions but administrative procedures. Among these we can cite: permitting,
boards composition, professional qualifications, codes and guidelines, etc. Due to
obvious space limitations, we will focus on the design and operating stages of the
mining cycle.
It is during the design stage that the probabilities of the consequences of failure
need to be evaluated in relation to the proposed deposition method and site location.
It is during the operating stage that mining companies must strive for the lowest
reasonable and sustainable combination of likelihood of failure and consequences
(that is, risk), and hence develop rational and sustainable risk mitigation.