Optimizing tailings dam safety: integrating human factors and evolving hazards


strategy toward enhancing dam safety and resilience. The model not only contributes to a more nuanced understanding of TSF risks but also aids decision-making, offering pathways toward achieving safety standards that align with public, regulatory, and environmental expectations. The implementation of ALARP concepts using the presented model further enhances its utility, offering a


structured approach to evaluate and balance risk mitigation efforts against practical constraints and costs. This adaptability is a key contribution, as it enables decision-makers to apply the model in diverse scenarios, from new project planning to the assessment of existing facilities. The capability to perform quick scenario planning is essential for identifying effective risk mitigation strategies, particularly as TSF operations face increased scrutiny and evolving regulatory demands. Beyond immediate applications, the model paves the way for future improvements in TSF safety, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptation as conditions change over time. This dynamic approach to risk assessment aligns with the growing need for sustainable practices and resilient infrastructure, particularly as climate change and demographic shifts alter the environmental and social context in which TSFs operate. By integrating this advanced risk model, practitioners can achieve a comprehensive understanding of risk factors and proactively manage uncertainties, thereby supporting TSF safety goals that are responsive to both public and environmental concerns. This work not only provides a more reliable method for assessing TSF risks but also lays a foundation for further research into the role of human factors and complex causality in industrial safety. By advancing these insights, the paper contributes to the development of TSF risk management practices that better meet the expectations of regulators, insurers, and communities, ultimately fostering a path toward safer and more sustainable dam operations globally.


References


[1] U.S. Committee on Large Dams, Committee on Tailings Dams (USCOLD) (1994) Tailings Dam Incidents. Denver: U.S Committee on Large Dams.


[2] UNEP, E., 1996. safety incidents concerning tailings dams at mines: results of a survey for the years 1980–1996 by Mining Journal Research Services, Report prepared for United Nations Environment Programme. Industry and Environment, Paris.


[3] WISE Uranium Project, 2019 WISE Uranium Project


[4] Rana, N.M., Ghahramani, N., Evans, S.G., Small, A., Skermer, N., McDougall, S. and Take, W.A., 2022. Global magnitude-frequency statistics of the failures and impacts of large water-retention dams and mine tailings impoundments. Earth-Science Reviews, 232, pp.104-144.


[5] Bowker, L.N. and Chambers, D.M., 2017. In the dark shadow of the supercycle tailings failure risk & public liability reach all-time highs. Environments, 4(4), p.75.


[6] CSP2- Tailings Dam Failures, http://www.csp2.org/tsf-failures-from-1915


[7] Oboni, F. and Oboni, C., 2020. Tailings Dam Management for the Twenty-First Century. Springer International Publishing.


[8] Taguchi, G., 2014, Fault tree analysis of Slurry and Dewatered Tailings Management- a framework, Master’s Thesis, UBC, Vancouver.


[9] FERC, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 2016, Engineering guidelines for the evaluation of hydropower projects chapter 18 – level 2 risk analysis.


Vol XXXIII Issue 3 | Dam Engineering | 195


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