Risk mitigation in tailings storage facilities: a comprehensive approach of the Risk Control Management System (RCMS)

Tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are structures built to store tailings generated during mineral processing. These facilities have the potential to cause significant environmental and social damage and pose safety concerns. This article proposes a tool called the Risk Control Management System (RCMS) to assess the effectiveness of control measures for mitigating risks associated with TSFs. The RCMS methodology is based on the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) protocols for evaluating tailings governance and management. It provides a score that measures the performance of TSF management, indicating the maturity level of risk controls, which influence the likelihood or impact of the consequence of a failure. The methodology was applied to 8 TSFs located in 2 countries. The methodology allowed the construction of a Risk Control Maturity Matrix and generated a table demonstrating improvement opportunities for the TSF management and governance process.