In the event of a mine tailings dam failure, the latest global standards reiterate that municipalities must play an important role in the emergency response and recovery.
Indeed, local government in South Africa has a legal responsibility for any disaster in its jurisdiction, imposed by the country’s Disaster Management Act and the Disaster Management Framework. The latest Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM) raises the bar further, according to Andries Fourie, senior
technologist in disaster and risk management at SRK Consulting.
“Principles 13 and 14 of the GISTM relate specifically to emergency preparedness, response planning, and long-term recovery after the failure of a tailings dam – or tailings storage facility (TSF),” said Fourie. “The GISTM highlights that government agencies including municipalities need to be part of a close collaboration with mines if the response to tailings dam incidents is to be effective.”
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