2019 MAC-OMS-Guide

Developing an
Operation, Maintenance,
and Surveillance Manual
for Tailings and Water
Management Facilities
S E CO N D E D I T I O N
Developing an
Operation, Maintenance,
and Surveillance Manual
for Tailings and Water
Management Facilities
S E CO N D E D I T I O N
© 2019 The Mining Association of Canada. Trademarks, including but not

limited to Towards Sustainable Mining®, TSM®, and the diamond shaped
figure arcs and quadrilaterals designs, are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of The Mining Association of Canada in Canada and/or other
countries.
Version date: February 2019
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FOREWORD
Foreword
It is with pleasure that I present, on behalf of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), the second edition
of Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual for Tailings and Water Management
Facilities (the OMS Guide).
The first edition of the OMS Guide was released in 2003 as a companion piece to MAC’s 1998 A Guide
to the Management of Tailings Facilities (the Tailings Guide). The OMS Guide provides guidance on
developing site-specific operation, maintenance, and surveillance (OMS) manuals which are essential to
implementing the tailings management framework described in the Tailings Guide.
The Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide are stand-alone best practice documents that can be applied
by MAC members and non-MAC members alike, for the responsible management of tailings facilities
anywhere in the world.
In 2015, MAC undertook a review of the Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide, as well as the Towards
Sustainable Mining® Tailings Management Protocol. The revised Protocol and the third edition of the
Tailings Guide were released in 2017, and this second edition of the OMS Guide builds on the best
practices described in the third edition of the Tailings Guide. The second edition provides strengthened
guidance on the development of site-specific OMS manuals that, when implemented throughout the life
cycle of a tailings facility:
provide a mechanism for the effective implementation of a tailings management system;
provide a mechanism to meet tailings management performance objectives and manage risk;
support effective decision-making for responsible tailings management; and
support the management of changes associated with tailings management.
Revisions to the Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide were undertaken by MAC’s Tailings Working Group
(TWG), which consists of more than 50 representatives of MAC members and associate members.
Collectively, TWG members have a tremendous depth and breadth of experience and expertise in tailings
management in Canada and around the world. We are extremely grateful to the members of the TWG
for their dedication and commitment to responsible tailings management, and for the contributions of
their knowledge, wisdom and time, without which the updated Tailings Guide and OMS Guide would not
be possible.
Updating the Tailings Guide and OMS Guide is an important step in continual improvement, providing
best practices to optimize tailings facility performance and manage risk. I trust that MAC members and
others will find both documents to be invaluable tools for improving tailings management. Our industry
is continually working towards the goal of minimizing harm: zero catastrophic failures of tailings facilities,
and no significant adverse effects on the environment and human health, in Canada and abroad.
Pierre Gratton
President & CEO
The Mining Association of Canada
Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

i
for Tailings and Water Management Facilities, Second Edition
PREFACE
Preface
Context
The first edition of MAC’s Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities, released in 1998, was
developed to:
provide a framework for the management of tailings facilities;
help Owners of tailings facilities develop tailings management systems that include
environmental and safety criteria; and
improve the consistency of application of reasonable and prudent engineering and management
principles to tailings facilities.
In 2003 MAC introduced Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual for Tailings and
Water Management Facilities (the OMS Guide) as a companion document to the Tailings Guide, providing
guidance on preparing site-specific manuals that outline procedures for the responsible operation,
maintenance, and surveillance (OMS) of tailings and water management facilities.
MAC established the Towards Sustainable Mining® (TSM®) initiative in 2004. TSM is a performance system
that helps mining companies evaluate and manage their environmental and social responsibilities. It
provides a set of tools and indicators to drive performance and ensure that mining risks are managed
effectively. Additional information on TSM is available at www.mining.ca/towards-sustainable-mining.
Tailings management is a core component of TSM. Performance indicators for tailings management
are described in the TSM Tailings Management Protocol. The Protocol refers to, and is supported
by, the Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide. The tailings management component of TSM provides a
strong and consistent message to tailings facility Owners, operators, and contractors: the key to safe
and environmentally responsible management of tailings is the consistent application of engineering
capability within an effective management system and throughout the full life cycle of a facility.
In 2011, the second edition of the Tailings Guide was released, aligning the original Tailings Guide with
TSM principles and terminology, and with the OMS Guide. The OMS Guide was also re-released in 2011,
although the document was not revised.
Review of the Tailings Management Component of TSM

In August 2014, a tailings dam foundation failure occurred at the Mount Polley Mine in British Columbia.
Soon after, the MAC Board of Directors initiated a review of the tailings management component of TSM,
to identify any improvements that could be made to prevent such an event from happening again. This
review, formally launched in March 2015, consisted of two parts:
an external review by an Independent Tailings Review Task Force established by the MAC Board of
Directors; and
an internal review by MAC’s Tailings Working Group.
The Report of the Towards Sustainable Mining Tailings Review Task Force was presented to the MAC Board
of Directors in November 2015 and included 29 recommendations for improvements to the Protocol,
Tailings Guide and OMS Guide.

ii
PREFACE
Once both reviews were complete the Tailings Working Group revised the Tailings Guide, leading to the
third edition of the Guide. The Protocol was also revised, and both were released in 2017.
The third edition of the Tailings Guide retains a strong emphasis on management systems, and it has an
increased emphasis on technical aspects, especially those critical to the physical and chemical stability
of tailings facilities. The third edition also updates the tailings management framework presented in the
Tailings Guide as a tool to help in the implementation of site-specific tailings management systems.
Descriptions of the elements of the framework are strengthened and clarified, and the framework is
more aligned with the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard. The third edition also
strengthens concepts that were described in previous editions and introduces others.
Second Edition of the OMS Guide

This second edition of the OMS Guide reflects the experiences of developing and implementing OMS
manuals since the first edition was released and embodies lessons about what makes an OMS manual
an effective and useful document. The most important consideration is that an OMS manual must be
developed on a site-specific basis, reflect the unique conditions of the tailings facility to which it is
applied, is used on a continuous basis, and is up-to-date. An effective OMS manual cannot be written
using a generic, “cookie cutter” approach, nor can it be effective if it is out-of-date, or goes unused on a
day-to-day basis.
The second edition of the OMS Guide emphasizes that, to be effective, OMS manuals need to be:
written with input from those who will use them, and incorporate their specialized knowledge of
the site, to make the manual more useful, and to help prevent that specialized knowledge from
being lost through personnel changes;
written in a clear, comprehensible manner; and
written, organized, and made available in a manner that is readily accessible, such as the use of
modules, and taking advantage of the capabilities of electronic documents.
This edition of the OMS Guide is closely aligned with the third edition of the Tailings Guide and builds on
themes described in the Tailings Guide, creating a stronger conceptual framework for OMS manuals to
integrate with tailings management systems.
Risk-Based Approach: The Tailings Guide emphasizes the importance of managing tailings facilities
in a manner commensurate with the risks they may pose across the life cycle. The OMS Guide links
OMS activities to the risk profile of a specific tailings facility, with the risk management plan included
as a key consideration in developing and implementing an OMS manual.
Critical Controls: The Tailings Guide describes a framework for implementation of critical controls,
which are risk controls that are crucial to preventing high-consequence events or mitigating the
consequences of such an event. The OMS Guide emphasizes that critical controls and associated
performance indicators need to be considered in developing and implementing an OMS manual,
while also providing a basis for decision-making based on surveillance data.
Managing Change: The Tailings Guide emphasizes the fundamental importance of having systems
in place to manage change, including organizational or personnel changes, as well as changes
which could impact the risk profile of a tailings facility. The OMS Guide stresses that an effective OMS
manual that is implemented as intended can be a valuable tool to help manage change.

iii
PREFACE
Life Cycle Approach: The Tailings Guide emphasizes the importance of a life cycle approach to
tailings management, with conceptual planning for tailings management beginning early in the
planning cycle of a proposed mine and driven by the risks that need to be managed, as well as the
closure objectives. The OMS Guides emphasizes that conceptual plans for OMS activities should
also be developed during conceptual planning, and OMS manuals need be updated regularly
throughout the life cycle of a facility. An out-of-date OMS manual creates risk.
The OMS Guide is written as a stand-alone document which can provide value even at sites not
implementing a tailings management system as described in the Tailings Guide. Developing and
implementing a site-specific OMS manual in the absence of a tailings management system can be an
important step to improving tailings management and reducing risks.
The development and implementation of a site-specific tailings management system is a best practice
for tailings management. However, the development and implementation of an OMS manual is essential
to the implementation of a tailings management system. Thus, it is best practice to implement a tailings
management system and OMS activities in a coordinated, aligned manner as the most effective means of
managing risk, improving performance, and driving continual improvement in tailings management. MAC
strongly encourages the implementation of the Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide together to optimize
performance and manage risk.
To ensure alignment with the second edition of the OMS Guide, and to strengthen guidance regarding
emergency preparedness, the third edition of the Tailings Guide was also updated. Version 3.1 of the
Tailings Guide was released at the same time as the second edition of the OMS Guide. An updated version
of the Protocol was also released which reflects a shift in emergency preparedness guidance from the
OMS Guide to the Tailings Guide.
Implementation of TSM is required for MAC members for their Canadian operations. Thus, for MAC
members applying TSM, implementation of the Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide is required, together
with implementation of the TSM Tailings Management Protocol, to provide an even greater level of
assurance of effective and responsible tailings management.
Non-MAC members have full access to all TSM documents, including those related to tailings
management. Any Owner of a tailings facility, at any life-cycle phase, is encouraged to use these guidance
documents to support their tailings management activities.


iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Foreword ................................................................................................................................................... i
Preface .................................................................................................................................................. ii
Table of Contents.................................................................................................................................... v
1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 The Tailings Guide.................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 The OMS Guide....................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Life Cycle Management of an OMS Manual................................................................................ 5
2.1 What is an OMS Manual?..................................................................................................................... 5
2.1.1 Objective of an OMS Manual........................................................................................................................5
2.1.2 Elements of an Effective OMS Manual....................................................................................................5
2.1.3 Life Cycle Approach...........................................................................................................................................7
2.2 Overarching Principles......................................................................................................................... 8
2.2.1 Linkages to Tailings Management Systems........................................................................................8
2.2.2 Risk Management and Critical Controls................................................................................................9
2.2.3 Managing Change........................................................................................................................................... 11
2.3 Informing Decision-Making.............................................................................................................12
2.4 Developing an OMS Manual ...........................................................................................................14
2.4.1 Owner-led Development Team .............................................................................................................. 14
2.4.2 Usability and Accessibility of OMS Manuals..................................................................................... 14

2.4.3 Linkages to Other Systems......................................................................................................................... 16
2.5 Implementation of an OMS Manual..............................................................................................17
2.6 Reviews and Updates of an OMS Manual....................................................................................17
2.7 Control of Documented Information............................................................................................19
3 Contents of an Effective OMS Manual....................................................................................... 21
3.1 OMS Governance ................................................................................................................................21
3.1.1 Roles, Responsibilities, and Authority.................................................................................................. 21
3.1.2 Communications.............................................................................................................................................. 23
3.1.3 Tracking of OMS Activities........................................................................................................................... 23
3.1.4 Quality Management..................................................................................................................................... 23
3.1.5 Reporting............................................................................................................................................................... 24
3.1.6 Training and Competence.......................................................................................................................... 24
3.1.7 Succession Planning....................................................................................................................................... 24
3.1.8 Resources and Scheduling.......................................................................................................................... 25
3.1.9 Occupational Health and Safety.............................................................................................................. 25
3.2 Tailings Facility Description..............................................................................................................25

v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3.3 Operation................................................................................................................................................26
3.3.1 Performance Objectives............................................................................................................................... 26
3.3.2 Operating Procedures...................................................................................................................................... 28
3.3.2.1 Tailings Transportation and Placement............................................................................ 28
3.3.2.2 Ongoing Construction of Tailings Facility....................................................................... 29
3.3.2.3 Management of Water................................................................................................................30
3.3.3 Site Access............................................................................................................................................................. 30
3.4 Maintenance..........................................................................................................................................30
3.4.1 Description of Maintenance Activities................................................................................................ 33
3.4.2 Documentation Associated with Maintenance............................................................................. 34
3.5 Surveillance............................................................................................................................................35
3.5.1 Design Considerations for a Surveillance Program..................................................................... 35
3.5.2 Surveillance Activities.................................................................................................................................... 37
3.5.2.1 Site Observation and Inspections........................................................................................37
3.5.2.2 Instrument Monitoring...............................................................................................................39
3.5.3 Analysis of Surveillance Results, Communications, and Decision-Making................... 40
4 Linkages with the Emergency Response Plan ........................................................................ 43
Glossary ................................................................................................................................................ 45
Appendix 1: Life Cycle of an OMS Manual...................................................................................... 50
Appendix 2: Examples of Critical Controls for OMS Activities.................................................... 53
Appendix 3: Trigger Action Response Plans.................................................................................. 55
Appendix 4: Overview of the Observational Method ................................................................. 58
Appendix 5: OMS Manual Information Sources............................................................................ 60
Appendix 6: RACI Matrix Approach for Describing Roles and Relationships.......................... 62
Appendix 7: Factors in Effective Communications, Governance, and the

“Human Element” of Tailings Management............................................................ 65
Appendix 8: Factors that Could Influence Tailings Management.............................................. 67

vi
1 INTRODUCTION
1 Introduction
Tailings and associated water management facilities (hereafter referred to collectively as
“tailings facilities” as per the definition below) are integral components of mining and ore
processing operations. They must be managed throughout their life cycle to ensure their safe
and environmentally responsible management. Responsible management includes the prevention
of adverse impacts to human health and safety, the environment, and infrastructure.
Operation, maintenance, and surveillance (OMS) are fundamental to the day-to-day management
of tailings facilities. To be effective in contributing to responsible tailings management, OMS activities
must be:
planned in a manner that considers the performance objectives and risk management plan of
the tailings facility;
designed to support and be integrated with a site-specific tailings management system;
clearly documented in a site-specific OMS manual;
consistently implemented as described in an OMS manual;
linked to a decision-making framework for tailings management; and
reviewed and updated, as appropriate, on a regular basis.
An effective OMS manual:
provides a framework for OMS activities related to tailings management;
documents and communicates OMS practices to Owners, their employees, contractors, and
consultants involved in tailings management;
provides a basis for measuring performance of the facility and for effective decision-making for
tailings management; and
documents the roles, responsibilities, and levels of authority of personnel who perform key
activities related to tailings management.
1.1 The Tailings Guide

The Mining Association of Canada’s (MAC’s) A Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities (the Tailings
Guide) describes a tailings management framework that provides the basis for Owners to implement a
site-specific tailings management system. Elements of this framework, illustrated in Figure 1, are:
Policy and Commitment;
Planning;
Implementing the Tailings Management Framework;
Performance Evaluation; and
Management Review for Continual Improvement.

1
1 INTRODUCTION
Figure 1: Elements of the Tailings Management Framework
Policy and Commitment
Act Plan
Phases of Tailings
Facility Life Cycle
Management
Review
Project Conception Planning
for Continual
and Planning
Improvement
Design
Initial Construction
Operations and
Ongoing Construction
Change in life of mine

or closure plan
Temporary or
Permanent Closure
Performance Post-Closure Implementing

Evaluation the Tailings
Management
Framework
Check Do

2
1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 The OMS Guide

This OMS Guide recommends rationale, organization and contents for developing an effective site-specific
OMS manual. Owners of tailings facilities are encouraged to use this OMS Guide to prepare their own site-
specific OMS manuals.
The OMS Guide emphasizes that OMS activities must be planned, designed, and implemented in an
integrated manner, consistent with the design intent, performance objectives, risk management plan,
critical controls, the current conditions, and closure objectives of the tailings facility. Outcomes of OMS
activities are used to support decision-making for responsible tailings management across all phases of
the life cycle.
The objective of the OMS Guide, together with the Tailings Guide, is to continually work towards
optimizing tailings facility performance and managing risk. This approach will also minimize potential
harm attributable to tailings management.
Minimizing harm encompasses both physical and chemical performance and risks associated with tailings
facilities, including:
• zero catastrophic failures of tailings facilities; and
• no significant adverse effects on the environment or human health.
The OMS Guide does not replace professional expertise or legal requirements. Owners of tailings facilities
must obtain qualified professional advice, including legal, to be sure that each facility’s specific conditions
are understood and appropriately addressed.
The Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide are not specific to Canadian conditions, and these Guides can be
effectively applied to tailings management anywhere in the world. In addition, while written for tailings and
associated water management facilities, many aspects of the Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide are equally
applicable to the responsible management of other types of facilities, such as waste rock disposal areas, and
heap leach facilities.

3
1 INTRODUCTION
Tailings facility: The collective engineered structures, components and equipment involved in the
management of tailings solids, other mine waste managed with tailings (e.g., waste rock, water treatment
residues), and any water managed in tailings facilities, including pore fluid, any pond(s), and surface water
and runoff. This may include structures, components and equipment for:
• c lassification of tailings through water content management (e.g., cyclones, thickeners, filter presses);
• t ransporting tailings to the tailings facility
(e.g., pipelines, flumes, conveyors, trucks);
• c ontainment of tailings and associated water (e.g., dams, dykes, stacks, liner systems, cover systems);
• m anagement of seepage (e.g., underdrains, collection ponds, pumping wells);
• w ater reclaim systems (e.g., pumping to the ore processing facility);
• m anagement of surface water releases from the tailings facility (e.g., diversions, decant structures,
spillways, outlets, flumes, water treatment);
• s tructures, components and equipment for the surveillance and maintenance of tailings facilities; and
• m echanical and electrical controls, and power supply associated with the above.
Operation: Includes activities related to the transport, placement and permanent storage of tailings and,
where applicable, process water, effluents and residues, and the recycling of process water. The term
“operation” applies throughout all phases of the life cycle of a tailings facility and is not limited to the
operations and ongoing construction phase of the life cycle when tailings are being actively placed in the
facility. As a result, operation also includes reclamation and related activities.
Maintenance: Includes preventative, predictive and corrective activities carried out to provide continued
proper operation of all infrastructure (e.g., civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, etc.), or to adjust
infrastructure to ensure operation in conformance with performance objectives.
Surveillance: Includes the inspection and monitoring (i.e., collection of qualitative and quantitative
observations and data) of activities and infrastructure related to tailings management. Surveillance also
includes the timely documentation, analysis and communication of surveillance results, to inform decision-
making and verify whether performance objectives and risk management objectives, including critical
controls, are being met.

4
2 LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT OF AN OMS MANUAL
2 Life Cycle Management of an OMS Manual

2.1 What is an OMS Manual?
2.1.1 Objective of an OMS Manual
An OMS manual is intended to facilitate improved risk management and tailings facility performance,
achieving the design intent, and meeting legal requirements, corporate policy, and commitments to
communities of interest (COI). To achieve this, an OMS manual defines and describes:
roles, responsibilities, and levels of authority of personnel who perform activities related to
tailings management;
the components of the facility covered in the scope of the OMS manual; and
plans, procedures and processes for:
 the operation, maintenance, and surveillance of the tailings facility to ensure that it
functions in accordance with its design, meets performance objectives, regulatory and
corporate policy obligations, supports the risk management plan, and links to emergency
preparedness;
 evaluating performance of the facility, and reporting performance results; and
 managing change.
2.1.2 Elements of an Effective OMS Manual

An OMS manual is developed by and for those responsible for tailings management. It is a “hands on”
practical document used by personnel involved in tailings management. OMS manuals are written in a
clear, accessible manner, such that they are effective tools used by personnel on a day-to-day basis. An
OMS manual is as concise as practical and includes information regarding how more detailed information
can be accessed. Regular review and updating of an OMS manual are required to ensure it is up-to-date at
all times.
Personnel includes employees, contractors and consultants (e.g., designer, Engineer-of-Record) and includes
those with direct responsibilities for tailings management as well as those with indirect responsibilities
whose roles may be related in some manner to tailings management (e.g., heavy equipment operators
working on or adjacent to tailings facilities).

5
An OMS manual is not written for regulators or the public, although an Owner may share components of
an OMS manual. Specific components may address legal requirements, but these requirements must not
drive the development, content, or implementation of the manual.
It is essential that an OMS manual be aligned with the risk profile of the tailings facility to which it is
applied, as further discussed in Section 2.2.2. Linking the facility’s risk management plan with OMS
activities is at the core of an effective OMS manual. This includes specifying actions to be taken if
performance criteria or critical controls are not met, including the potential implementation of the site’s
emergency response plan (see Section 5.2 of the Tailings Guide).
There are a range of other factors that also need to be considered in developing an OMS manual,
including the design intent of the facility, legal requirements, corporate policy, and commitments to COI.
OMS manuals require regular reviews and updates. This is consistent with the evolving nature of the risk
profile of tailings facilities throughout their life cycle. Additional guidance on reviewing and updating OMS
manuals is provided in Section 2.6.
An OMS manual clearly describes the boundaries of its scope of application. The scope needs to include
all operational controls that can influence the performance and risk management of the tailings facility
(e.g., tailings transport, placement of tailings in the facility, physical containment of the tailings, water
management and reclaim, erosion and dust control). The scope is defined on a site-specific basis, taking
into account the characteristics and life cycle stage of the tailings facility and linkages with other relevant
plans and procedures (see Section 2.4.3). Scope may be defined geographically (e.g., all activities within
a specified geographic area are defined as within the scope of the OMS manual). The scope may also be
defined organizationally (e.g., road maintenance may be outside the scope of the OMS, even for roads
required to access the tailings facility).
An OMS manual for a tailings facility is one of many documents that describe plans and procedures for
various activities at a mine site. As described further in Section 2.4.3, linkages between the OMS manual
and these other plans and procedures need to be clearly described.
In summary, an effective OMS manual:
is site-specific, not “off-the-shelf” and:
 aligned with the design intent and the life cycle phase of the facility;
 addresses the specific conditions and circumstances of the site;
 reflects the risk profile of the facility, build upon the risk management plan, and integrates
critical controls;
 contains or links to all information needed to conduct OMS activities; and
 integrates the knowledge and experience of personnel who have worked on the site;
defines roles, responsibilities, and levels of authority for personnel involved in tailings
management;
is integrated with overall site plans and procedures;
provides a basis to make informed decisions about tailings management;
is written:
 by employees with specific and detailed knowledge of the tailings facility, with input from
consultants or other third-parties as appropriate;

6
 for personnel directly involved in tailings management, and not for other audiences such as
regulators, senior management, or COI;
 in a clear, concise, easily understandable manner;
is easily accessible to users, including in electronic format;
is accurate and up-to-date;
is a controlled document, with mechanisms to ensure that all personnel are working with the
most up-to-date version;
is improved over time, reflecting feedback from performance evaluations, action plans to address
deficiencies or for continual improvement, and lessons learned by personnel involved in tailings
management; and
it GETS USED.
It should be noted that this OMS Guide is not intended to be prescriptive. However, the term “need” is
used in many places to emphasize elements that the authors believe an OMS manual needs to include or
address to be effective.
2.1.3 Life Cycle Approach

As described in Section 2.3 of the Tailings Guide, Owners face the challenge of responsible management
of tailings facilities throughout all phases of their life cycle. The progression of the life cycle of a tailings
facility is often not linear. For example, changes such as enlargements of the footprint of tailings facilities,
care and maintenance suspensions (and subsequent re-starts), or process and technology changes
may occur. The dynamic nature of the life cycle of tailings facilities means that a systematic, risk-based
management approach is essential, with OMS activities planned and implemented to address the
particular risk management needs of each life cycle phase.
An OMS manual needs to be in-place and ready to be implemented at the beginning of the
operations and ongoing construction phase. An OMS manual may also be implemented during
the initial construction phase. An effective OMS manual is also an invaluable tool for any planned or
unplanned interruptions in operations that may occur. The life cycle of an OMS manual is further discussed
in Appendix 1.

7
2.2 Overarching Principles

2.2.1 Linkages to Tailings Management Systems
As described in the Tailings Guide, implementation of a site-specific tailings management system is a best
practice for responsible tailings management, providing a rigorous, systematic approach to facilitate:
implementation of appropriate levels of corporate accountability and operational responsibility
and authority for tailings management;
improved facility performance, and conformance with facility performance objectives, legal
requirements, corporate policy, and commitments to COI;
effective risk management; and
continual improvement in tailings management.
Implementing site-specific OMS activities is an essential tool to implement a tailings management system.
The tailings management system provides an overall framework, but an OMS is needed to make that
framework function on a day-to-day basis.
An OMS manual can be implemented in the absence of a tailings management system, but without such
an overall framework it will be more difficult to:
manage risk;
set and meet performance objectives;
know if performance objectives are being met;
make informed and timely decisions; and
improve performance.
To optimize tailings facility performance and manage risk, it is best practice to implement a site-specific
tailings management system supported by an OMS manual. When implemented together, a tailings
management system and OMS are intimately linked, as illustrated in Figure 2. The tailings management
system, including the risk management plan and critical controls, define OMS activities. In turn, OMS
activities operationalize the tailings management system and inform the Performance Evaluation element
of the management system. The Management Review for Continual Improvement may lead to the
development of action plans to improve both the tailings management system and the OMS manual. The
grid pattern underlying Figure 2 signifies the many layers and directions of linkages between the two.
At sites implementing both a tailings management system and an OMS manual, activities described in
the OMS manual must be aligned with and support the tailings management system. However, an OMS
manual needs to remain a practical document, with those linkages to the tailings management system
not explicitly described in the OMS manual.

8
Figure 2: Linkages between as tailings management system and OMS activities
Policy and Commitment
Operations
Management Planning
Review
Optimize
Tailings Facility
Performance
and Manage
Risk
Surveillance Maintenance
Performance Implementing
Evaluation the Framework
2.2.2 Risk Management and Critical Controls

The assessment and management of risk and subsequent development and implementation of risk
management plans are essential to effective tailings management (see Sections 2.2.1, 4.1 and Appendix 1
of the Tailings Guide). An OMS manual must be aligned with the risk management plan as OMS activities
are essential to the implementation of the plan. As the risk management plan is revised throughout the
life cycle, the OMS manual must be revised accordingly.
A risk management plan identifies mitigation measures to:
eliminate or avoid risk to the extent practicable;
reduce risk by minimizing the likelihood or potential consequence of an unwanted event or
condition that poses a risk; and
detect, respond to, and minimize the consequences if an unwanted event or condition occurs
that poses a risk.

9
A critical control is defined in the Tailings Guide as “a risk control that is crucial to preventing a high-
consequence event or mitigating the consequences of such an event. The absence or failure of a critical
control would significantly increase the risk despite the existence of other controls.” Those risk controls
defined as critical will be determined on a site-specific basis, based on the risk assessment. Critical
controls are further described in Section 4.4.3 of the Tailings Guide, and examples of possible critical
controls are provided in Appendix 2 of this Guide. The key steps in the identification, development, and
implementation of critical controls are to identify and evaluate:
potential high-consequence events and associated plausible failure modes;
critical controls for each plausible failure mode;
performance indicators associated with these controls;
actions to implement the controls; and
pre-defined actions to be taken if performance is outside the specified range.
An OMS manual defines all critical controls for that facility, and for each control describes:
associated OMS activities;
performance criteria, measurable performance indicators, and surveillance requirements; and
actions to be taken if performance is out of specified ranges, indicating that control has been lost
or that a loss of control may be imminent.
Operation and maintenance activities for critical controls are inextricably linked to surveillance: without
surveillance, there is no control. Consequently, implicit in the description of operation and maintenance
components of critical controls management are the associated surveillance activities.
If control is lost, this may constitute an emergency and the emergency response plan (see Section 5.2
of the Tailings Guide and Section 4 of this Guide) would be implemented. Circumstances that would
constitute an emergency must be identified during the risk assessment and linkages to the emergency
response plan need to be described in the corresponding critical control procedures.
For some performance criteria a series of trigger levels of increasing concern/severity may be
described, rather than a single trigger level. Using this approach, surveillance results would be
categorized as reflecting normal, upset or emergency conditions. Emergency conditions would trigger
the implementation of the emergency response plan. Upset conditions may represent a range of
performance between normal and emergency. An Owner may define various alert or action levels within
upset conditions. This concept is described further in Appendix 3 using the example of a Trigger Action
Response Plan (TARP).
In incorporating concepts such as critical controls into a tailings management system and corresponding OMS
activities, it is important that such concepts be effectively implemented. However, there are other closely
aligned concepts that use different terminology. For example, some Owners develop and implement Trigger
Response Action Plans (TARPs). It is the concept that is essential, and not the terminology used to describe it.

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2.2.3 Managing Change

Change is a source of risk and needs to be effectively managed. Tailings facilities change on an ongoing
basis throughout their life cycle, and the broader environment within which tailings facilities exist is
also changing. Changes in personnel or organizational structure, including the Owner’s employees,
contractors and consultants, as well as changes in ownership.
Changes may be substantial and their potential implications for tailings management evident and
planned for, such as a decision to extend the life of a mine and the associated tailings facility. However, the
cumulative impacts on risk of incremental or gradual changes can be underappreciated or unanticipated.
This ties to the concept of normalization of deviance, in which people become so accustomed to
deviations from normal or expected behaviour that deviation becomes the norm1. In the context of
tailings management, this can mean that over time, repeated deviations from performance criteria (e.g.,
a less than acceptable freeboard) can become the norm as personnel become accustomed to these
deviations. In the face of a lack of consequences (e.g., the dam didn’t fail) a complacent attitude can take
hold. Vigilance, training, and effective communications are vital to avoiding complacency and ensuring
that deviations from performance criteria do not become the accepted norm.
Section 4.4.2 of the Tailings Guide provides guidance on the development and implementation of
processes to manage change. In the context of OMS manuals, there are two facets to managing change:
OMS manuals are tools to help manage change; and
OMS manuals need to reflect change.
OMS Manuals as Tools to Manage Change

The development and ongoing review of OMS manuals address transitions between life cycle phases.
Other potential changes, such as the potential for temporary shutdown of operations, also need to be
addressed (see Appendix 1). The development and review process also addresses the need to revise OMS
activities to reflect planned changes, such as increase an in mining rate, increases in tailings dam height,
or progressive reclamation activities. It is difficult to plan for every plausible change that may occur, but an
effective OMS manual provides a basis from which to manage change, whether anticipated or not. In the
event of changes, including deviations of performance, that were not anticipated and not addressed in an
OMS manual, relevant sections of an OMS manual should be referred to, to guide and inform an effective
response to the change.
OMS manuals are valuable in helping to manage changes in personnel. An OMS manual documents the
site-specific knowledge of OMS activities acquired by personnel. In addition, an OMS manual is a tool for
training personnel to understand the tailings facility and their specific roles and responsibilities related to
tailings management.
OMS, particularly surveillance activities, helps identify changes that must be managed, including those
linked to performance objectives, risk controls, and critical controls. These may include gradual or
incremental changes such as changes in performance.
1. “Normalization of deviance means that people within the organization become so much accustomed to a deviant behavior that they
don’t consider it as deviant, despite the fact that they far exceed their own rules for the elementary safety”
http://www.consultingnewsline.com/Info/Vie%20du%20Conseil/Le%20Consultant%20du%20mois/Diane%20Vaughan%20(English).html

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OMS Manuals Need to Reflect Changes

An outdated OMS manual is a risk to any tailings facility. If OMS activities being implemented are
not reflective of current conditions, resulting management actions may be at odds with the risk
management plan and associated critical controls required for intended performance of the
facility. Review and updating of OMS manuals is further discussed in Section 2.6, and control of
documented information is further discussed in Section 2.7.
2.3 Informing Decision-Making

To minimize harm, optimize tailings facility performance and manage risk, Owners must make informed
decisions about tailings management. A tailings management system provides a governance framework
for decision-making and OMS activities play an essential role in providing information. Without a rigorous
approach to decision-making for tailings management, informed by surveillance results, there is an
increased risk that decisions:
are based on incomplete or inaccurate information;
are ad hoc and short-sighted in nature; and
may fail to support the objectives of optimizing performance and managing risk.
Outcomes of OMS activities provide a basis to make informed decisions, based on the performance
objectives and the risk management plan, and informed by a range of inputs, including:
design intent/criteria of the facility;
updated risk assessment;
closure and post-closure objectives;
performance of the facility;
the life cycle phase of the facility;
legal requirements;
corporate policy; and
commitments to COI.
A rigorous approach to decisions provides a structured, consistent mechanism for decision-making,
helping to ensure that decisions are taken by persons with the appropriate authority and competencies,
and are based on relevant information. Such an approach can be inclusive of the full range of decisions
associated with tailings management, including those with pre-defined management actions based on
surveillance results. In the case of an un-anticipated event or surveillance outcome, an OMS manual and
decision-making framework can help inform an appropriate response.
To facilitate decision-making an OMS manual describes the accountability, roles, and responsibilities
of those making decisions, including the limits of their decision-making authority, and the lines of
communications across the organization. These aspects are addressed further in Section 3.1.
A generic decision-making framework for tailings management is illustrated in Figure 3. This is an
illustrative example only, with simplified “yes/no” decision points. The reality may be more complex, but
the intent is to visually capture how decisions are made, and where OMS fits in that process.
The observational method offers one possible conceptual approach and framework for decision-making.
This method is summarized in Appendix 4.

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Figure 3: Decision-making framework for tailings management
Performance Objectives and Risk Management Plan
Critical Controls
Define OMS Activities and Performance Indicators
Review: Operations
Identify
deficiencies or
opportunities
for continual
Surveillance Maintenance
improvement
Evaluate Performance: are

performance indicators being met?
Yes No
Is the situation an emergency?
Implement
No Yes Emergency
Response
Plan
Is there a pre-defined action to be taken?
Take
Yes No
Action
Determine course of action based on:

available information, existing plans,
procedures and processes

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2.4 Developing an OMS Manual

2.4.1 Owner-led Development Team
Development of an OMS manual is led by a team of employees (as opposed to contractors or consultants)
with responsibilities for various aspects of tailings management at the site2, and there needs to be one
person with designated lead responsibility for the OMS manual – the owner of the OMS manual.
Specific third-party expertise should be sought for certain aspects of an OMS manual. For example, input
from the designer and Engineer-of-Record (EoR) is necessary. If members of the development team
do not have sufficient experience in developing an OMS manual, then it would be appropriate to hire a
contractor to work with them in a supporting or advisory role, rather than hire a third-party to take over its
development.
The development team must be multidisciplinary and reflect all aspects related to tailings management
and coordinated with other aspects of site operations that relate to tailings. For the development of an
initial OMS manual for a new tailings facility, the team would include those involved in planning the
tailings facility. Once operational experience is gained, the team includes those directly involved in tailings
management so that the updated OMS manual reflects actual conditions and practices.
An effective OMS manual must not be written from a single technical perspective. Rather, it needs to be
reflective of the risk profile of the facility and identify OMS activities to address those risks, be they physical
or chemical, or both. For example, an OMS manual must not focus solely on geotechnical aspects of
tailings management if there are chemical risks to be managed.
To prepare an OMS manual, the development team may draw on information from a wide range of
sources, as described in Appendix 5.
2.4.2 Usability and Accessibility of OMS Manuals

An OMS manual needs to provide the right information in a clear, well-written manner, and it needs to
be presented in a usable structure and format that is readily accessible to personnel involved in tailings
management.
The target audience for an OMS manual is all personnel involved in tailings management, including those new
to the tailings facility and those who are less experienced or have less specialized competencies, and who
may not be fully aware of the “big picture” of tailings management and the potential consequences of not
conducting OMS activities in accordance with design intent and performance objectives.
The development team needs to write an OMS manual in a manner that addresses the needs of the
intended audience, including:
writing an OMS manual in clear, concise language, using maps, figures, photos or tables as
appropriate to illustrate;
2. The development team should engage personnel with responsibilities related to permitting activities and regulatory affairs. This will
help to ensure communications between these groups and help ensure that the OMS activities address legal requirements.

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providing the right level of detail, with links to how more detailed information can be accessed
(e.g., surveillance section addresses the need to calibrate instruments, but calibration procedures
can be provided through links to documentation from the instrument manufacturer);
identifying the potential risks and consequences of not conducting OMS activities as prescribed in
the OMS manual; and
focusing on information directly related to OMS activities, avoiding unnecessary description of
broader concepts related to tailings management (e.g., tailings management system).
The information contained in an OMS manual needs to be sufficiently detailed to allow personnel to
properly operate and maintain the facility and to understand through surveillance when situations are
developing that may require action, and whom to contact.
One key consideration in making an OMS manual accessible is how it is structured. In this regard, “manual”
may not be the most appropriate term since it implies a single document. Given the complexity and
variety of OMS activities across the life cycle of tailings facilities, compiling an OMS manual as a single
document may be a barrier to making the manual accessible. It may be better to structure an OMS
manual as a series or system of linked modules, with each module addressing a specific topic or type of
activity and reflecting input from personnel involved in that activity. For example, a short module specific
to surveillance of piezometers in a tailings dam is more accessible to personnel responsible for that
surveillance than embedding that information in a larger and more all-inclusive manual. Similarly, OMS
activities specific to a temporary shut-down and subsequent re-start could be described in a separate
module that would be implemented only in the event of such a shut-down.
For a modular approach to be effective, each module must clearly state where it fits in relation to other
modules and what the linkages are. Flowcharts showing the linkages and communication pathways
between the different modules may be used to help ensure proper flow of information and an
understanding amongst users of who is responsible for what activities associated with the facility.
Although a modular approach is potentially more decentralized in structure than having a single manual,
there must still be a designated owner of the OMS manual, and the modules need to be managed as
controlled documents, as described in Section 2.7.
The final consideration in accessibility of an OMS manual is the format in which it is made available to
personnel. The most appropriate format will depend on the site, the degree of information management
support available, on-site availability of portable computers or mobile devices, and availability of mobile
networks or wireless internet connectivity on-site.
In some cases, the most appropriate format may be to have an OMS manual available in paper copy only,
even if a modular approach is used. However, providing an OMS manual only as a paper document has
significant limitations:
Document control is more challenging (see Section 2.7). If personnel have paper copies, it is
challenging to ensure that all paper copies are up-to-date when changes are made.
Using paper copies makes it impossible to hyper-link to relevant documents, so the development
team will have to decide if those documents are to be included in the OMS manual. In
the example above about instrument calibration procedures, if paper copies are used the
development team may opt to include those procedures in the paper copy of the OMS manual,
adding to the size of the OMS manual.

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If the Owner has the technologies in place to do so, it is preferable to distribute an OMS manual
electronically. This will make it easier to address document control and linking with other documents and
makes it easier to distribute the manual. An electronic version available on a range of devices will make it
easier for personnel to access relevant content and associated reference materials. Potential options that
allow document control include:
a PDF (portable document format) document with hyperlinks to other sections or modules and
to reference documents, and automatically updated when a device is connected to the Owner’s
network; or
a web-based system of OMS modules, accessible via mobile network or wireless internet (e.g., a
“wiki” type of structure, such as that used for the Global Acid Rock Drainage (GARD) Guide).
2.4.3 Linkages to Other Systems

An OMS manual needs to clearly describe linkages with other relevant plans and procedures, how these
other plans and procedures (see examples below) relate to tailings management and OMS activities, and
associated roles, responsibilities and communications procedures across the various personnel or groups
responsible, in order to:
avoid duplication;
ensure consistency of implementation of related activities;
prevent any gaps that can impact tailings management; and
provide clear documentation of these linkages to ensure continuity in the event that personnel, or
that plans and procedures outside the scope of the OMS manual, change.
The development team needs to collaborate with other groups on site to ensure that these other plans
and procedures (see examples below) do not conflict with those in the OMS manual, and with the
broader objectives of responsible tailings management.
Examples of Linkages:
• If mine water is managed in the tailings facility, and aspects of the risk profile are related to water, then
the OMS manual needs to reflect this and linkages with plans and procedures for mine water management
needs to be clearly described. Those responsible for tailings management will need to collaborate with
those responsible for ore extraction operations to ensure alignment of plans and procedures and ensure
that the overall environmental management objectives are met.
• Tailings characteristics, such as grain size and in many cases the percentage of solids, are determined
in the ore processing facility. Specifications regarding these parameters are important to meeting the
design intent of the tailings facility, and deviations can impact the risk profile. Those responsible for
tailings management need to collaborate with those responsible for ore processing to ensure that these
specifications, and the implications of not meeting these specifications, are understood, and that changes
in tailings characteristics do not compromise tailings facility performance.

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2.5 Implementation of an OMS Manual

An OMS manual is only effective if it is properly and consistently implemented. This requires that the
manual is accessible, as described above, and that all personnel expected to use the manual:
are aware of its purpose and importance;
know how to access the OMS manual;
understand their roles, responsibilities, and level of authority related to tailings management;
have the knowledge and competence to fulfill their roles and responsibilities; and
understand the OMS activities they are engaged in.
Training is needed to help ensure that personnel have the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies
to fulfill their roles and responsibilities related to tailings management. There are three components to
training:
training for new personnel;
refresher training at a frequency determined by the Owner, taking into account the risk profile of
the facility; and
training associated with updates to the OMS manual.
Training addresses both:
general aspects, such as the Owner’s policy and commitments related to tailings management,
and the overall goals of responsible tailings management; and
specific aspects (e.g., technical, communications, management) related to the roles and
responsibilities of individual personnel.
Training may be carried out using in-house resources but there may be a need to involve external parties
such as the designer or EoR in development of the training materials. Owners may consider some form
of evaluation of personnel on their knowledge of the content of the OMS manual to demonstrate
competency. A tracking mechanism needs to be in place (e.g., training needs matrix) to ensure that all
relevant personnel receive appropriate training.
The Owner needs to have a roll-out strategy, including a training component, for a new OMS manual or
any significant revisions to the OMS manual.
It may be more appropriate to address these training requirements in a separate training program, as
described in Section 4.4.4 of the Tailings Guide. Regardless of where an Owner describes these training
requirements, is it essential that appropriate training be provided.
2.6 Reviews and Updates of an OMS Manual

Regular reviews of an OMS manual must be undertaken. The frequency of reviews will vary depending on
the risk profile of the facility and the life cycle phase. Frequency needs to be prescribed by the
Owner to ensure that reviews are conducted on a pre-determined schedule. Annual reviews are
considered a best practice for tailings facilities in the operating and ongoing construction phase. Given
the range of activities occurring as the closure plan is implemented, it may be appropriate to continue
with annual reviews during the closure phase. Reviews of OMS manuals may be less frequent during the
post-closure phase, depending on the risk profile and site conditions.

17
In addition to scheduled reviews, a review may be triggered by a significant event or departure from
expected conditions (e.g., a significant increase in ore production rate, leading to an increase in the
volume of tailings being produced).
In conducting reviews, the development team needs to consider a wide range of information, including:
performance of the facility;
deviations from the approved design;
the current life cycle phase of the facility (see Section 2.1.3 and Appendix 1);
status of progressive reclamation activities;
relevant advice and recommendations from site inspections, Independent Review, audit, and
evaluation of effectiveness;
changes since the last review in:
 site conditions;
 ore processing or tailings characteristics;
 characteristics of the tailings facility (e.g., increased dam height since the last review);
 performance objectives and indicators;
 risk profile of the tailings facility;
 critical controls;
 personnel or organizational structure;
 methodologies and technologies for OMS activities;
 legal requirements;
 COI perspectives; and
 closure plan;
plans to address any gaps or deficiencies in performance;
plans for continual improvement; and
future plans for the tailings facility.
An OMS manual must document site-specific knowledge, experience, and lessons-learned of personnel.
This helps to manage changes in personnel, by documenting site memory and accumulated knowledge
so that it can be passed on to new personnel.
When reviewing an OMS manual, the development team needs to consider practical experiences and
lessons related to OMS activities by obtaining input from a range of users of the OMS manual including
key roles such as the EoR and personnel involved in day-to-day OMS activities.
At sites where a tailings management system is in place (see Section 2.2.1) the Performance Evaluation
and the Management Review for Continual Improvement may inform the review of the OMS manual,
including identifying deficiencies or opportunities for continual improvement.

18
When reviewing an OMS manual and considering changes, the potential impacts of proposed changes
on the risk profile of the tailings facility need to be considered (see Section 4.4.2 of the Tailings Guide). This
includes consideration of the potential cumulative impacts of past changes or deviations. This helps to
reduce the risk of complacency in the conduct of OMS activities, and to reduce the potential for short-
term operational decisions to increase risk. If any changes are made to the OMS manual which could
impact the risk profile, the rationale for these changes need to be documented, and the decision to make
these changes needs to be taken at a level commensurate with the associated change in the risk profile.
Reviews of an OMS manual may lead to updates to the entire manual, or to certain modules. An OMS
manual may also need to be updated in response to:
planned changes, such as changes in surveillance instrumentation or methodologies, or
introduction of new instrumentation or methodologies;
changes in personnel or roles referred to in the OMS manual; and
other changes that may occur that need to be addressed prior to the next scheduled review of
the OMS manual.
Updates, such as those related to changes in personnel, need to be completed in a timely manner, and
may be more frequent than updates to address outcomes of reviews of an OMS manual.
2.7 Control of Documented Information

Information necessary for effective tailings management and the development and implementation of an
OMS manual needs to be controlled. Owners need to establish and implement a process to ensure that
documented information is created, maintained, retained, and archived. There are two aspects to control
of documented information:
access to, and use of, current and accurate documented information; and
identification and retention of records that are potentially useful to the future management of the
tailings facility.
An OMS manual needs to be a controlled document, including:
defining the process for reviewing and updating the OMS manual, including both major (e.g.,
change in surveillance procedures) and minor (e.g., changes in personnel) updates;
identifying persons with authority to revise the OMS manual and the scope of their authority (e.g.,
some may only have the authority to amend certain sections or modules);
describing mechanisms for approval of revisions to the OMS manual; and
for electronic documents, implementing measures to prevent unintended changes, or to prevent
any changes by personnel without the appropriate authority.
In addition, there needs to be defined procedures for:
providing personnel with access to the OMS manual and supporting documents (i.e., distributing
paper copies or providing access to electronic versions, as discussed in Section 2.4.2);
informing personnel of changes to the OMS manual relevant to their roles and responsibilities;
control of reference information used to develop and update the OMS manual, or referred to in
the manual;

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restricting access to out-of-date versions and clearly labelling those versions as out-of-date;
identifying out-of-date materials that need to be retained; and
archiving or disposing of out-of-date materials, as appropriate.
Access to an OMS manual may be interrupted (e.g., loss of paper copies due to fire, temporary loss of
access to electronic copies due to loss of power). The potential loss of access needs to be evaluated,
particularly in the case of OMS manuals that are accessed electronically. There may be OMS components
that need to be accessible in paper copy in the event that electronic versions are not accessible. Indeed,
a loss of power may be linked to certain critical controls (e.g., loss of ability to operate pumps), and
having access to the OMS manual during such periods may be necessary for the effective response to
the situation.
Specific risks and vulnerabilities associated with potential loss of access need to be identified and
contingency plans and information technology security plans need to be developed, including:
procedures for backup and recovery of paper and electronic copies;
plans to prevent unauthorized access, including access to documentation, as well as access to
instruments and other technologies that may be connected to mobile networks or wireless
internet; and
retention of paper copies of critical components of the OMS manual that can be used in the event
of a loss of access to electronic documents.
Another consideration for control of documented information is the management of legacy electronic
formats. A plan needs to be developed, with input from information technology and management
experts, to address the management of legacy electronic formats to ensure that records potentially useful
to tailings management are not lost or made impossible to access in the future as a result of obsolescence
of software, electronic file formats, or date storage medium.

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3 CONTENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE OMS MANUAL
3 Contents of an Effective OMS Manual

This section addresses aspects to be considered by an OMS manual development team in developing a
site-specific OMS manual. The structure of this section may provide a potential outline of the structure of
an OMS manual, but as described in Section 2.4.2, it is up to the development team to identify the best
way to structure their OMS manual.
The sections below provide guidance for an OMS manual development team. However, given the wide
range of conditions under which tailings facilities are operated, and the different OMS requirements
across the life cycle of any given facility, there are few specific OMS activities that may be considered
universally applicable.
3.1 OMS Governance

3.1.1 Roles, Responsibilities, and Authority
Personnel involved in tailings management need to understand their roles and their lines of
communications and relationships with others with direct or indirect roles related to tailings
management. An OMS manual describes:
tasks and functions related to OMS activities;
roles, responsibilities, and level of authority of personnel or groups that assume these tasks
and functions, including the Responsible Person(s) and the EoR, and other key personnel
involved in tailings management; and
functional relationships and lines of communications:
 between personnel and groups involved in OMS activities;
 with personnel and groups outside the scope of the OMS manual and involved in activities
that may affect tailings management; and
 with external parties, including regulators and COIs.
Table 1 presents examples of roles and responsibilities for a tailings facility.
In describing roles, responsibilities, levels of authority, and relationships, an OMS manual development
team should focus on functional relationships, rather than organizational relationships as typically
described in organizational charts. This approach may be useful for overcoming functional and
communications silos that may be unintentionally reinforced by organizational structures.
An OMS manual development team may opt to use a responsibility assignment matrix or RACI
(responsible, accountable, consulted, informed) matrix to describe roles and relationships between
employees, and also with contractors and consultants, including the designer and EoR (see Appendix 6).
An OMS manual clearly describes the relationship between the Owner (specifically the
Responsible Person(s)) and their contractors and consultants. This is particularly important with
respect to the collection and analysis of surveillance data linked to critical controls management.

21
An OMS manual needs to clearly address:

Who is responsible for surveillance data acquisition and analysis?
What are the lines of communications for reporting in the event that results are outside the range
specified for the critical control performance criterion?
If critical control performance criteria are exceeded:
 What actions are the Responsible Person(s) and other personnel expected to take?
 What actions are the contractor or consultant expected to take?
Actions to be taken by the Responsible Person(s) and other employees must be clearly described so that
appropriate action can be taken in the event that the contractor or consultant cannot be contacted in a
timely manner.
Table 1: Examples of potential roles and responsibilities
Responsible Person(s)
Establish a budget for approval
Establish an organizational structure with roles and responsibilities that meets the operational needs
Establish a formal relationship with the designer and EoR to ensure construction and operation are
compliant with design
Ensure facility surveillance is undertaken in accordance with design intent, performance objectives,
the risk management plan and critical controls
Maintain records related to design, construction, and operation, maintenance, and surveillance
Ensure inspections (e.g., dam safety inspections or dam safety reviews) are completed
Review and update the OMS manual
Comply with operational boundaries set out in the design (by following the OMS manual)
Maintain and test emergency response plans, or components of site-wide emergency response
plans directly related to tailings management
Implement measures to remedy deviations from performance objectives, or criteria specified in the
risk management plan
Implement an Independent Review process
Identify when/where contemplated operational changes are a potential deviation from the design
intent and engage the designer or EoR as part of processes to manage change
Engineer-of-Record
Input into the OMS activities in accordance with the design
Receive and review the OMS manual on a regular basis
Receive and review facility performance data at a frequency determined based on the risks
Either confirm operation is compliant or identify deviations from performance objectives and
advise the Owner with recommendations
Advise on contemplated changes to the facility’s operation
Maintain records relating to design construction and operation
Participate in inspections and Independent Review

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3.1.2 Communications
An OMS manual needs to clearly describe lines and expectations for communications as they relate to the
inputs to and outputs from OMS activities. However, there are limits to what can be achieved in this regard
within the text of an OMS manual. Effective communication is a skill that must be developed, and:
effective communications need to be addressed as part of training activities;
breakdowns in communications need to be investigated to learn and improve communications; and
the effectiveness of communications needs to be assessed regularly, with the aim of identifying
deficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
Overarching all challenges around communications is complacency, the sense that “it won’t happen to us.”
Complacency increases risk. An OMS manual, effectively implemented with clear communications, clear
roles and responsibilities, linked to a tailings management system and a decision-making framework (see
Section 2.3), can help counter the tendency to be complacent by bringing greater rigour to all aspects of tailings
management.
Further information on effective communications in relation to tailings management is presented in Appendix 7.
3.1.3 Tracking of OMS Activities

An OMS manual describes processes and procedures to track the implementation of OMS activities, including
identifying:
Who is accountable for ensuring the activity is conducted as required?
Who is responsible for carrying out the activity?
What is the schedule at which the activity is to be conducted?
How is implementation of the activity tracked, and how and when is that information reported to the
accountable person?
The tracking system provides a mechanism to assure the accountable person that the activity has been
conducted as scheduled. The tracking system needs to include a mechanism to flag occurrences when the
activity has not been conducted as scheduled, providing the accountable person with the information they
need, in a timely manner, to be able to take appropriate action.
3.1.4 Quality Management

A quality management plan needs to be in place to address a wide range of aspects related to tailings
management, including OMS activities. There are two components to quality management: quality assurance
(QA) and quality control (QC).
An OMS manual needs to describe quality management requirements, processes, and procedures for OMS
activities. For maintenance, this could include, for example, describing procedures to verify that maintenance
activities have been conducted as specified (e.g., the correct amount of oil was added during an oil change).
For surveillance, the quality management plan would include information such as:
required frequency and methodology for calibration of instruments; and
protocols or standard operating procedures to collection of samples for laboratory analysis to
prevent cross-contamination, sample preservation requirements, and procedures to document chain
of custody.

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Quality, quality assurance and quality control are defined in the ISO 9000 Quality Management Standard as
follows:
Quality: the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements.
Quality assurance (QA): all those planned and systematic activities implemented to provide adequate
confidence that the entity will fulfill requirements for quality
Quality control (QC): the operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfill requirements for quality.
QA ensures that you are doing the right things, the right way. QC ensures that your results are what you require.
3.1.5 Reporting
An OMS manual describes reporting relationships between different individuals and business units
with direct and indirect roles related to tailings management. An OMS manual also describes, in a more
detailed manner, reporting relationships and how information related to specific OMS activities needs to
flow. An OMS manual also needs to describe processes and procedures for reporting outcomes of OMS
activities.
An OMS manual must clearly describe reporting requirements for any surveillance results that are outside
the expected range of observations or performance, as these results may be indicative of upset conditions
or a potential emergency. Any such results must be communicated in a timely manner so that appropriate
decisions can be taken by those with the responsibility and authority to act under the circumstances.
3.1.6 Training and Competence

An OMS manual describes minimum knowledge and competency requirements for each position with
defined responsibilities. These requirements can be described using attributes for each position, which
can assist in recruiting personnel with the appropriate knowledge and competencies and can also help
personnel identify career development goals and opportunities which may help with staff retention.
As discussed in Section 2.5 and in Section 4.4.4 of the Tailings Guide, training requirements need to
be identified to ensure that competencies are met and updated or renewed as appropriate. Training
programs need to be developed and implemented to ensure that appropriate training is provided to
personnel working at the facility.
3.1.7 Succession Planning

Changes in personnel can be a source of risk for tailings management, and succession planning is a tool
to help manage that risk. The development and implementation of succession plans would typically be
outside the scope of an OMS manual. However, an OMS manual development team needs to identify
roles or positions for which succession planning would be important to manage risks. An OMS manual
describes knowledge and competency requirements, transition plans, and handover procedures for those
roles or positions.

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3.1.8 Resources and Scheduling

For effective development and implementation of an OMS manual, and for reviews and updates, the
Owner needs to identify, secure, and regularly review adequacy of:
human resources, external contractors, and consultants;
condition, function, and suitability of equipment;
financial resources; and
schedules of OMS activities.
Descriptions of resource requirements, such as personnel and financial resources, should not be described
in an OMS manual. However, an OMS manual can be used as a basis to estimate, justify, and secure
required resources.
Schedules of OMS activities are described in an OMS manual. See Sections 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5.
3.1.9 Occupational Health and Safety

The conduct of OMS activities can present unique occupational health and safety challenges. For example,
surveillance activities may present risks not typically faced by other personnel working at mine sites, from
working on or around water, to the risk of encounters with large animals. In conducting OMS activities, as
in all other activities on mine sites, safety must be paramount.
It is essential that all OMS activities be conducted in accordance with best practices for occupational
health and safety, and in conformance with the Owner’s standards and requirements. Such activities must
also be conducted in compliance with applicable legal requirements. Personnel must be provided with
appropriate training.
3.2 Tailings Facility Description

There are many factors that could affect the performance and risk profile of a tailings facility throughout
its life cycle, including (see Appendix 8 for further examples):
site conditions, including climate;
COI perspectives;
legal requirements and commitments;
tailings facility characteristics;
tailings facility performance; and
future plans and how they may impact the tailings facility.
Understanding such information is essential to the responsible management of tailings and effective
management of change. This information needs to be clearly documented, maintained, and retained.

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An OMS manual refers to or summarizes this information and, if referenced, provides direction (potentially
in the form of electronic links) to facilitate access and retrieval of pertinent information. The objective of
this summary is to provide context, linking OMS activities to the risk profile of the facility, performance
objectives, critical controls, legal requirements, etc., to help ensure that personnel understand the
potential implications for tailings management of their individual role, responsibilities, level of authority,
and actions.
3.3 Operation
Tailings facility operation includes activities related to the transport, placement and permanent storage of
tailings and, where applicable, process water, effluents and residues, and the recycling of process water.
The term “operation” applies throughout all phases of the life cycle of a tailings facility and is not limited
to the operations and ongoing construction phase of the life cycle when tailings are being actively
placed in the facility. As a result, operation also includes reclamation and related activities.
This component of an OMS manual defines and describes plans and procedures for implementing
operating controls that enable the tailings facility to be operated in accordance with the design intent,
performance objectives, risk management plan, and critical controls for the facility.
3.3.1 Performance Objectives

Performance objectives are overall goals, arising from the Owner’s policy and commitment, which are
quantified where possible. Performance objectives are established based on:
design intent of the tailings facility;
environmental requirements;
risk assessment and the level of acceptable impact and risk;
risk management plan; and
closure plan and post-closure land use.
Performance objectives need to be developed in collaboration with the EoR, Responsible Person(s),
and other key personnel. Table 2 provides examples of possible operational controls to be addressed by
performance objectives.
Performance indicators are measurable and quantifiable performance requirements that arise from the
performance objectives that need to be defined and met to achieve the objectives. Performance criteria
specify the expected or acceptable range of performance for each indicator and ranges of performance
that may require that some specific corrective action be taken (i.e., link to critical controls, TARPs, etc.).

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Table 2: Examples of operational controls to be addressed by performance objectives

Tailings transportation and placement
placement schedule and calibration
performance of dewatering systems
tailings characteristics (e.g., grain size, water content, chemical properties, sub-aerial and
sub-aquatic beach angle, tailings dry density, strength, etc.)
performance of tailings transportation systems (e.g., pipeline, conveyor belt)
performance of associated electrical and mechanical systems (e.g., pumps, motors)
placement requirements (e.g., compaction, water content, trafficability)
Tailings containment
foundation specifications
construction specifications
construction material availability and scheduling of expansions (e.g., stack armoring, increases in
dam height, new cells)
perimeter slopes
compaction activities
erosion control measures
dust control measures
measures to prevent wildlife access (e.g., bird deterrents)
Water management
water balance audits and calibration
freeboard and beach width
water discharge, volume and quality (normal operating conditions and special circumstances)
seepage control and collection
reclaim water management
Surveillance
surveillance requirements for operational performance indicators
thresholds for performance criteria to trigger pre-defined actions
Other
procedures to respond to unusual operating conditions (e.g., extreme cold, high rainfall, drought,
high winds)
progressive reclamation activities

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3.3.2 Operating Procedures

The management of every tailings facility needs to follow a range of standard operating procedures
(SOPs) that best reflect the characteristics of that facility and support the performance objectives and risk
management plan. A typical approach is to develop a suite of SOPs that serve as the foundation of a well-
managed facility. The SOPs described in an OMS manual will be dependent on the life cycle phase of the
tailings facility.
A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of established or prescribed methods to be followed routinely
for the performance of designated operations or in designated situations. They may include procedures,
standards, practices, protocols, instructions, rules, etc. The use of SOPs is intended to achieve quality outputs
and consistent performance, while reducing the potential for misunderstanding and miscommunication. To
be effective, SOPs must be consistently applied by all relevant personnel, and any changes to SOPs must be
clearly documented and communicated.
SOPs describe performance indicators and pre-defined actions (e.g., TARPs) to be taken if associated
performance criteria deviate from defined ranges. SOPs include a description of the potential ramifications
of not responding to a deviation.
SOPs are controlled documents that are reviewed as required and are included or referenced in an
OMS manual.
Occupational health and safety and environmental considerations need to be described in SOPs and
underpinned in the underlying risk assessment for a given tailings facility.
SOPs will vary from site-to-site and can be broadly classified into three general areas as described in the
following subsections.
3.3.2.1 Tailings Transportation and Placement

A tailings transportation and placement plan needs to be developed based on the design intent,
performance objectives and risk management plan, and is referenced and summarized in the OMS
manual. Specific practices to implement the plan are described in SOPs and in an OMS manual, such as
practices to:
mitigate potential dust generation from the transport and placement of stacked tailings3
(e.g., seasonal deposition restrictions);
prevent freezing of tailings pipelines (e.g., specific pumping or placement practices for cold
weather conditions); and
adjust practices if there is a short-term lack of suitable cyclone sand to construct containment
structures, due to variations in the ore feed.
3. Stacked tailings refers to a tailings facility where the tailings have been sufficiently dewatered that they can be transported by truck
or conveyor belt. This includes tailings that have been dewatered by filtering, centrifuging, air drying, or other means.

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The summary provided in the OMS manual covers the expected life of the plan and either demonstrates
adequate capacity for the mining plan or emphasizes remaining capacity and the expected update
frequency and date of latest update. The short-term (e.g., up to 24 months) tailings transportation and
placement plan is implemented through SOPs.
SOPs for tailings transportation and placement describe the relevant elements of the tailings facility and
performance objectives and indicators for tailings transportation and placement, such as:
the expected tailings and/or water characteristics;
the tailings and/or water transport and handling system;
personnel and equipment required to effectively meet the performance objectives; and
a summary of the life-of-mine placement plan, together with detailed, current-year annual plans
identifying discharge locations, discharge schedule and planned construction, with reference to
supporting reports and plans.
During operation of a facility, the tailings may vary in physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics.
Representative samples of tailings need to be collected periodically for analysis. These analyses will be useful
to verify any change in the physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the tailings that could impact
the transportation and placement plan (e.g., a change in the tailings specific gravity can affect the deposition
slope of the material), effluent quality or the closure plan.
3.3.2.2 Ongoing Construction of Tailings Facility

An OMS manual identifies requirements and plans for staged tailings facility construction during the
operations and ongoing construction phase of the life cycle, to maintain adequate solids storage capacity
and water management, including:
method(s) of stacking, hydraulic placement, and/or dam construction;
schedule of facility expansions;
material and equipment required;
construction management procedures; and
quality assurance and quality control measures and activities (e.g., documentation, as-built
survey records).
An OMS manual describes performance objectives and indicators that the tailings facility construction
plan and schedule are based on, and acceptable performance ranges for those indicators.
An OMS manual may also be developed for the initial construction phase of the life cycle.

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3.3.2.3 Management of Water

Water must be effectively managed for all tailings facilities, regardless of the type of facility (e.g., stack,
impoundment of slurry or thickened tailings). An OMS manual describes procedures for management of
water associated with a tailings facility (see the definition of tailings facility) under normal operating
conditions, as well as under circumstances such as abnormal runoff, severe precipitation events, rapid
snow melt, or drought. An OMS manual must include a description of the expected water balance,
including identification of all inputs, inventory of pond and interstitial water, and outflows.
An OMS manual describes the operating controls required to manage water under all operating and
upset conditions. It also describes performance objectives and indicators for water management, and
acceptable performance ranges for those indicators.
3.3.3 Site Access

An OMS manual describes procedures to control access to the tailings facility to assure facility integrity
and safety of personnel and the general public. Hazards or safety restrictions related to human or wildlife
contact with tailings and associated water need to be addressed, including risk to personnel working on
or adjacent to the tailings facility. An OMS manual also describes procedures for third-party access where
this is required for traditional uses or under landholder agreements.
3.4 Maintenance
Maintenance includes preventative, predictive, and corrective activities carried out to provide continued
proper operation of all infrastructure, or to adjust infrastructure to ensure operation in conformance with
performance objectives. The objective of maintenance is to provide preventative and corrective means to
achieve performance objectives and manage risk throughout the life cycle of a tailings facility.
The maintenance component of an OMS manual identifies and describes:
all infrastructure (e.g., civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, etc.) within the scope of the
OMS manual (see Section 3.3) that has maintenance requirements; and
preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities.
There are three categories of maintenance activities:
Preventative maintenance: planned, recurring maintenance activities conducted at a fixed or
approximate frequency and not typically arising from results of surveillance activities. Examples include:
regularly scheduled oil change on a pump, as per manufacturers specifications; and
calibration and maintenance of surveillance instruments.
Predictive maintenance: pre-defined maintenance conducted in response to results of surveillance
activities that measure the condition of a specific component against performance criteria.
Examples include:
replacement of a section of tailings pipeline based on monitoring of the pipe thickness;
removal of debris from a spillway based on debris accumulation; and
removal of trees from dams or other structures.

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Corrective maintenance: repair of tailings facility components to prevent further deterioration and
ensure their operation in conformance with performance objectives. The need for corrective maintenance
is based on surveillance activities, with surveillance results identifying the need and urgency of
maintenance. Pre-defined actions based on surveillance results and performance criteria (e.g., TARPs) may
include specific maintenance activities. Examples include:
repair of erosion gullies;
settling of a section of a dam or other containment structure, such that it is lower than the
designed elevation;
unplugging of toe drains; and
replacement of a broken pump or failed section of pipeline.
The distinction between predictive and corrective maintenance may be arbitrary in some cases. However,
both underscore the importance of ensuring that the maintenance section describes procedures for the
timely analysis and communication of surveillance results so that maintenance activities can be undertaken.
Maintenance requirements are informed by the performance objectives and risk management plan. For
example, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) combined with a bow-tie assessment (see Appendix 1
of the Tailings Guide) can be used to help identify requirements for preventative and predictive
maintenance. This approach can also be used to identify potential corrective maintenance for events
which have a high likelihood of occurring during the life of the facility, such as:
power or communications failures;
precipitate fouling;
plugging of toe drains;
deteriorating condition of surveillance equipment;
damage from burrowing animals; or
erosion gullies.
Examples of tailings facility components that should be considered for inclusion in the maintenance plan
on a site-specific basis are provided in Table 3.
An OMS manual identifies maintenance activities that are within the scope of the manual and identifies
those maintenance activities that could impact tailings management and are addressed in other related
plans or procedures. For maintenance activities not addressed in the OMS manual, the OMS manual
describes roles, responsibilities, and communications to ensure that those maintenance activities
are carried out in a manner consistent with the requirements for tailings management. Examples of
maintenance activities that may be outside the scope of an OMS manual include maintenance of:
access roads;
electrical system and supply;
trucks for construction or hauling of filtered tailings;
tailings thickener or filters; and
pipelines.

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Table 3: Examples of tailings facility components that may require maintenance

Some of these examples, such as maintenance of surveillance equipment, are applicable to any tailings
facility. Other examples are specific to certain types of facilities using specific technologies (e.g., conveyors
or filters).
Tailings transportation and placement
dewatering infrastructure (e.g., thickeners, filters)
tailings pipeline (e.g., wear and thickness)
paste plant
pumps
conveyors
classifiers
haul trucks
Tailings containment
dams, embankments or other containment structures (e.g., repair erosion, remove unwanted
vegetation)
drains
seepage barriers
Water management
ditches and diversions
associated water storage facilities (e.g., seepage collection ponds, settling ponds)
evaporators
water control structures
pipelines
pumps, including reclaim
Surveillance
geotechnical instruments
air quality monitoring equipment
meteorological data instrumentation
data management, access and retention
Access and required equipment
roads, trails
heavy equipment and light vehicles
power supply and transmission
communications infrastructure

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3.4.1 Description of Maintenance Activities

For all categories of maintenance activities, an OMS manual describes (or links to relevant references):
the nature of the activity and the specific maintenance requirements (e.g., refer to manufacturers
maintenance specifications, SOPs);
location of the infrastructure requiring maintenance;
qualifications or competencies required to conduct the maintenance (e.g., must be an electrician,
must be certified to work in enclosed spaces);
safety hazards and procedures;
personnel or groups responsible for carrying out the maintenance;
resources required to conduct the maintenance (e.g., equipment, materials, personnel);
communications procedures associated with maintenance activities that potentially affect other
activities;
 e.g., for maintenance that requires that power be disrupted, what other infrastructure will be
affected, when will it be affected, for how long, and when will power be restored, and who will
need to know this.
tracking and documentation requirements, such as:
 tracking to ensure activity was completed in a timely manner;
 documentation of the condition of the equipment or other observations made by personnel
doing the maintenance;
 documentation to demonstrate the activity was carried out appropriately; and
 recommendations from personnel doing the maintenance;
reporting requirements:
 information to be reported;
 how information should be reported;
 to whom information needs to be reported; and
 reporting timelines
For preventative maintenance, an OMS manual also describes the frequency at which the maintenance
activity is to be conducted.
For predictive maintenance an OMS manual also describes:
pre-defined maintenance activities that are conducted based on results of surveillance activities
(e.g., clearing of snow, clearing of debris from spillways); and
linkages with surveillance activities, including:
 associated surveillance parameters;
 performance criteria linked to the need to carry out the maintenance; and
 communications procedures to ensure that results of surveillance activities, and
recommendations for maintenance, are documented and reported in a timely manner so that
the maintenance activity can be carried out.

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For corrective maintenance, an OMS manual also describes:

likely, credible events based on risk assessment and critical controls;
for each event, the pre-defined corrective maintenance activities;
surveillance activities associated with those events;
communications procedures to ensure that:
 results of surveillance activities are documented and reported in a timely manner;
 necessary resources are mobilized; and
 corrective maintenance is carried out.
procedures to return to normal operation (if applicable).
While predictive and corrective maintenance are linked to surveillance results, these maintenance
activities could include maintenance of surveillance instruments if surveillance results indicate that an
instrument is no longer functioning or is not functioning reliably.
An OMS manual identifies materials (e.g., parts, filter material, rip rap) that must be kept in inventory
on site to prevent delay in maintenance of components tied to critical controls. In addition, resources
identified in emergency response plans must be kept in inventory on site, in the event that an
emergency occurs.
A key component of maintenance planning is preparedness to respond to breakdowns, incidents or conditions

requiring maintenance. It is important; however, to distinguish between requirements for maintenance
and emergency response: maintenance actions do not address emergency situations, which are covered in
emergency response plans.
3.4.2 Documentation Associated with Maintenance

An OMS manual describes the information to be collected and recorded as part of the conduct of
maintenance activities. Checklists or report forms may be included in an OMS manual or referenced.
Examples of maintenance documentation include:
equipment logs;
work history;
frequency and cause of problems;
component reliability;
quality control records;
communications and activity records;
photographic summaries and/or videos;
inventory of spares, materials, tools and equipment; and
change orders.

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3.5 Surveillance
Surveillance involves the inspection and monitoring (i.e., collection of qualitative and quantitative
includes the timely documentation, analysis and communication of surveillance results, to inform decision
controls, are being met. Surveillance results are used to identify trends and behaviours that are indicative
of the tailings facility’s actual performance.
An effective surveillance program is:
conducted by a range of personnel with direct and indirect responsibilities related to tailings
management;
applied across the life cycle of a tailings facility, while adapting to the specific surveillance needs
of each phase and changing site conditions;
based on site-specific performance objectives and the risk management plan; and
used to inform decision-making related to tailings management, based on the clear, timely
reporting of surveillance results.
3.5.1 Design Considerations for a Surveillance Program

Surveillance activities must be aligned with the design intent, performance objectives and risk
management plan, including critical controls. A failure to conduct surveillance of the necessary
parameters or conducting surveillance at an inadequate frequency could result in a failure to identify
instances where action needs to be taken. Similarly, a failure to analyze and report results in a timely
manner could result in actions being taken too late, if at all, leading to a loss of control.
On the other hand, the collection of too much data or unnecessary data can increase the burden of data
analysis, add to the amount of data that must be stored and managed, increase costs, and be a distraction.
Collection of data that is not helpful to understand the performance of the tailings facility can make it
more difficult to understand the “story” that the data are describing and may be a hindrance to taking
action in a timely manner when action is needed.
When designing or reviewing a surveillance program, the following questions should be considered:
What do you need to know? Why do you need to know it? What will this information or data tell
you?
 What information do you need to understand the performance of the tailings facility?
 What are the performance objectives, criteria and indicators for the risk controls and critical
controls for the tailings facility?
Who needs to know it, and why?
 In some cases, different business units may need the same data, but for different reasons
and at different frequencies. For example, those responsible for ore processing may need to
know the grain size of material coming out of the grinding circuit on an hourly basis. Those
responsible for tailings management need similar data, but on a much less frequent basis.

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What types of information do you need that can be acquired through direct, visual observation of
the tailings facility? For this type of information:
 How often should visual observations or inspections be made to give you the information
you need?
 What should the person(s) observing or inspecting be looking for?
 Who should they tell if they see something of potential concern?
What types of information do you need that can only be acquired indirectly, through
measurement of associated parameters or analysis of samples? For example, if you need to know
if water is moving through a tailings dam, what do you need to measure?
 What methodologies can be used to collect the data needed to provide this information?
 How frequently does this data need to be collected to provide the information you need?
How does this data need to be analyzed? How frequently does it need to be analyzed to provide
the information you need?
What form do the results need to be presented in to allow you to understand what the
information is telling you, how it relates to other information, and what it is telling about the
performance of the tailings facility?
Personnel involved in surveillance must understand the expected range of observations or performance
of surveillance parameters relevant to their role, so that they can identify any observations or performance
outside that expected range, indicating the potential for upset or emergency conditions or a loss of
control. They must also understand:
reporting requirements in such circumstances; and
pre-defined actions, if any, that they are to take in response to such circumstances.
As described in Section 2.3, surveillance results are used to make informed decisions about tailings
management. As such, results are compared with specific performance criteria, such as those defined for critical
controls or TARPs. A TARP may be developed and implemented which defines trigger levels for each operational
and critical control of the tailings facility. A TARP should provide clear guidance on how to react under the
identified deviating conditions reported. Outcomes of surveillance activities may trigger action required to
improve or mitigate observed conditions or to initiate the emergency response plan.

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3.5.2 Surveillance Activities

There are two types of surveillance activities, which are further discussed below:
site observation and inspections; and
instrument monitoring.
3.5.2.1 Site Observation and Inspections

Site observation and inspections are used to identify and track visible changes in the condition of the
tailings facility. Site observation and inspections include the direct observations by personnel on or
adjacent to tailings facilities and may also include observations from helicopters, and photos/videos taken
from unmanned airborne vehicles (UAVs/drones and satellites), or surveillance cameras. Examples are
provided in Table 4.
Site observation and inspections are an integral part of the surveillance program and may provide the
first indication of changing or adverse conditions, particularly where instrument monitoring is scarce or
absent, or where adverse conditions develop outside the area of sensitivity of instruments present.
Site Observation
Site observation is conducted by all personnel working on or adjacent to a tailings facility as part of
their daily activities, maintaining awareness of the facility in the course of carrying out their duties.
While primarily visual in nature, site observation could also include other observations, such as sound
(e.g., sound of running water). Personnel, including those who do not have specialized training and
competencies related to tailings management (e.g., equipment operators, security personnel) need to be
provided with training in site observation to ensure that they understand what is “normal” for the tailings
facility, and understand the types of changes that, if observed, need to be documented and reported.
This whole-team approach to site observation can be invaluable. Every person observing a tailings
facility can make meaningful observations, as those seeing the facility on a daily basis are often not
tailings management specialists. Changes or potentially adverse conditions can develop rapidly between
inspections.

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Table 4: Examples of changes that may be observed through site observation and inspections
Changes potentially related to physical risks

changes in pond level and freeboard
evidence of deformation or changes in the condition of dams or other containment structures
(e.g., bulges, cracks, sinkholes)
evidence of newly formed or expanding areas of erosion
evidence of piping or unexpected water movement through dams or other containment
structures
Changes potentially related to chemical risks
evidence of newly formed seeps, or changes in seeps, and evidence of any changes in seepage
characteristics (e.g., higher turbidity, indicated higher suspended solids in the seepage)
Changes related to tailings or water transport
condition of tailings lines, spigots and associated infrastructure for tailings transport and deposition
condition of pumps for tailings or water
any indications of leaks from tailings or water lines
condition of the water reclaim infrastructure (e.g., reclaim barge)
Changes related to flora and fauna
evidence of wildlife activity or changes in wildlife activity (e.g., birds using tailings ponds, animal
burrows, animals grazing on reclaimed areas)
changes in nature or extent of vegetation (e.g., tree seedlings growing on a tailings dam)
Changes related to surveillance instrumentation
condition of surveillance instruments and associated protections around surveillance instruments
(e.g., covers, barriers to prevent vehicle damage)
condition of power supplies for instruments (e.g., damage solar panels or above ground power lines)
condition of communications infrastructure associated with instruments (e.g., damage to
antennas)
For site observation an OMS manual describes:

processes and procedures for documenting observations;
 e.g., a checklist may be provided to personnel with instructions for written and photographic
documentation of observed conditions; and
processes for reporting any observations that have been documented.

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Inspections
Inspections are conducted by engineers or other personnel with appropriate training and competency
and are more rigorous than site observation. These may be ground-based or airborne, depending on the
scope and objectives of the inspection.
Routine inspections are conducted on a pre-defined schedule (e.g., a weekly inspection of perimeter
dams), and may target specific activities (e.g., daily inspection of tailings pipelines). Their objective is to
identify any conditions that might indicate changes in tailings facility performance and therefore require
follow-up. Of particular significance are new occurrences or observed changes in erosion, sinkholes, boils,
seepage, slope slumping or sliding, settlement, displacements or cracking of structural components,
clogging of drains and relief wells, etc.
Special inspections are conducted during (if safe and practical to do so) and after unusual or extreme
events that may impact the facility (e.g., heavy rainfall, windstorms, rapid snow melt, seismic events,
exceedance of minimum freeboard). Significant changes to normal operations, nearby construction
activity, or other unusual events might also trigger special inspections.
For routine and special inspections, an OMS manual describes the:
scope and objective of the inspection;
frequency for conducting routine inspections (e.g., could be once or more per shift for some types
of inspections, weekly, monthly or quarterly for others);
circumstances that would trigger the need for special inspections;
conditions or aspects to be observed as part of the inspection; and
processes and procedures for documenting and reporting results of inspections.
More comprehensive technical inspections, integrating inspections and results of instrument monitoring,
may be conducted by the Responsible Person(s), other qualified personnel, the EoR, third party experts,
or Independent Reviewers, to have a more complete understanding of the facility’s performance and
identify deficiencies in performance or opportunities for improvement. Such technical inspections include
dam safety inspections (DSIs), dam safety reviews (DSRs), audits, evaluations of effectiveness,
and Independent Reviews.
An OMS manual defines the frequency and scope of DSIs, DSRs, and any other technical inspections.
3.5.2.2 Instrument Monitoring

Instrument monitoring provides information on parameters or characteristics that cannot be detected
through site observation or inspections (e.g., groundwater movement, water quality), cannot be observed
with sufficient precision and accuracy (e.g., movement or settling of a tailings dam), or need to be
monitored at high frequency or continuously (e.g., bird monitoring to activate deterrent systems).
The objective of instrument monitoring is to collect data to be used to assess the performance of the
facility against the performance objectives and indicators, the risk management plan, and critical controls
for the tailings facility. Instrument monitoring and site observation and inspections function together as
a comprehensive data set to enable assessment of facility performance and provide a basis for informed
decisions. All are essential, and none of these forms of surveillance can be neglected if performance
objectives are to be met and risks are to be managed.

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Examples of types of information that can be collected through instrument monitoring are provided in
Table 5.
For instrument monitoring, an OMS manual describes:
parameters to be included as part of instrument monitoring, including those not directly related to
the tailings facility (e.g., meteorological data, seismic monitoring);
the frequency of data acquisition for each parameter;
instrument(s) to be used for each parameter;
who is responsible for data acquisition for each parameter;
locations of instruments, or locations where samples are to be collected (e.g., sampling of pore
water quality);
methodology and procedures for data acquisition, including those related to quality management
(e.g., instrument calibration, sample collection and preservation protocols);
processes and procedures for documenting the results of instrument surveillance, and the
interpretation of results; and
who is responsible for documenting the results.
The design and implementation of instrument monitoring needs to consider the implications of disruptions
to the acquisition of data linked to critical controls. Contingency plans need to be developed to ensure
continuity of data acquisition in the event of a disruption (e.g., damage or malfunction of the instrument,
inability to access the instrument location, or a loss of power).
3.5.3 Analysis of Surveillance Results, Communications, and Decision-Making

For the effective use of surveillance results in tailings management and decision-making, results must be
collated, examined, analyzed, and reported in a timely and effective manner.
For all surveillance activities, an OMS manual describes:
the expected range of observations or performance of surveillance parameters, so any results
outside that range can be identified and reported;
methodology and procedures for data analysis, including comparisons with expected performance
and critical controls;
who is responsible for data analysis for each parameter;
form in which surveillance results and analysis need to be reported (e.g., written report, graph, table);
timeframes for data analysis and reporting; and
procedures for reporting results if:
 observations and performance are within the expected range; and
 any observations or performance are outside the expected range.
who is responsible for reporting; and
to whom the reports are to be provided.

40
Table 5: Examples of information that can be collected using instrument monitoring

Direct collection of information
instruments within or adjacent to the tailings facility, providing information on movement
(deformation and stability) within the facility, dam, or other containment structures, movement of
water through or under the facility, and pore pressure with the tailings facility and dams or other
containment structures
instruments to measure in-situ tailings characteristics, such as density and degree of compaction
instruments in the ore processing facility providing information on tailings characteristics
(e.g., grain size and percent solids)
instruments to measure temperature profiles within tailings facilities or dams or other
containment structures
instruments to measure flow rates of tailings or water in pipelines, and pressure within pipelines
instruments on and off site to assess air quality (e.g., amount of particulate matter in the air)
surveys conducted to measure:
 ice or snow cover
 extent of vegetation cover
 bathymetry of tailings ponds
 beach slope
 height and slope of dams or other containment structures
Collection of information from remote sensing
satellite-based radar used to measure movement or deformation of tailings dams
data acquired from airborne surveys (e.g., LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to generate
detailed topographical maps)
Collection of information based on laboratory analyses
water quality analysis of tailings porewater, seepage, surface runoff, etc.
chemical and mineralogical characteristics of tailings (e.g., acid generating potential)
characteristics of materials to be used for construction of dams or other containment structures
Collection of information not directly related to the tailings facility but relevant to tailings
management
meteorological data
seismic monitoring
monitoring of hazards, such as avalanche risk
Collection of information related to the conduct of OMS activities:
power supply for pumps, surveillance instruments and other infrastructure related to tailings
management
communications systems, including communications with surveillance instruments

41
The frequency of certain surveillance activities may be increased if results are outside the expected range
and such an increase in frequency is one of the pre-defined actions to be taken. In addition, there may
be other circumstances where it would be appropriate to increase the frequency of surveillance (e.g.,
surveillance of certain geotechnical parameters if there is a seismic event above a specified magnitude).
An OMS manual describes the conditions under which the frequency of monitoring of certain parameters
needs to be increased, and the conditions under which normal frequency can be resumed. Personnel
responsible for taking these actions are also identified, as are the reporting requirements.
In analyzing and reviewing the results of surveillance it is important to avoid tunnel vision, and carefully
consider the information that surveillance results provide. Those reviewing results need to think beyond
the potential outcomes identified through risk assessment and be open to the possibility that the
information provided by surveillance is pointing to a potential risk that had not been anticipated.

42
4 LINKAGES WITH THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
4 Linkages with the Emergency Response Plan

As described in Section 5.2 of the Tailings Guide, the development and testing of emergency
response plans (ERPs) are essential to responsible tailings management.
An emergency is a situation that poses an impending or immediate risk to health, life, property, or the
environment and which requires urgent intervention to prevent or limit the expected adverse outcomes.
Examples of possible emergencies associated with tailings facilities include:
slope or foundation failure;
extreme precipitation events;
earthquakes;
overtopping from storm events or erosion from a tailings pipeline;
seepage;
internal erosion;
uncontrolled release of water;
a sudden change in instrument monitoring results that are identified as outside the expected,
normal or questionable parameter range and indicates that any of the above critical conditions (or
other potential failure modes) may be imminent; and
other events typically linked to the loss of one or more critical controls.
Circumstances that would constitute an emergency are site-specific. The definition of an emergency that
would trigger implementation of emergency response measures is linked to the risk profile of the facility.
Depending on the nature of the failure modes and controls, there may be a rapid transition from “normal”
conditions to an emergency, or there may be a series of warning levels with pre-defined actions to retain
control and prevent an emergency. Thus, like OMS manual development, development of an ERP is driven
by the risk assessment for the tailings facility, the risk management plan, and performance criteria for
critical controls, TARPs, etc.
An ERP describes measures the Owner and, in some cases, external parties will take to prepare for an
emergency, and to respond if an emergency occurs. An ERP is distinctly different than an OMS manual,
but closely linked. An ERP describes:
potential emergencies and associated impacts that could occur;
measures to prepare for a potential emergency;
measures to respond to emergency situations and to prevent and mitigate on and offsite
environmental and safety impacts associated with emergency situations;
procedures related to site access and communications in the event of an emergency;
roles and responsibilities; and
notification procedures and warning systems.

43
4 LINKAGES WITH THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
An ERP must be developed for each tailings facility and can be integrated with the overall site-wide ERP.
An ERP for tailings facilities may be included in an OMS manual, but it may in many cases be best practice
to maintain the ERP as a separate document, to ensure that it is:
readily accessible in the event that an emergency occurs;
administered and prepared by the appropriate personnel/groups;
directed towards the appropriate audience; and
more easily updated, based on the outcomes of reviewing and testing the plans.
OMS manuals typically address conditions related to operation under normal or upset conditions, as
opposed to emergency situations, but an OMS manual and ERP for a given tailings facility must be aligned
and the OMS manual must contain necessary information to facilitate the transition from normal or upset
conditions to an emergency. In particular, an OMS manual needs to describe, for each plausible potential
emergency situation:
the performance, occurrences, or observations that would result in an emergency being declared;
roles and responsibilities of key personnel in transition from normal or upset conditions to an
emergency; and
actions to be taken to transition from normal or upset conditions to an emergency situation.
It may not be possible to anticipate all potential emergency situations. However, an OMS manual and ERP
need to be sufficiently robust to be adaptable to unanticipated emergencies.

44
GLOSSARY
Glossary
Accountability: The answerability of an individual for their own performance and that of any personnel
they direct, and for the completion of specified deliverables or tasks in accordance with defined
expectations. An accountable person may delegate responsibility for completion of the deliverable or task,
but not the accountability.
Accountable Executive Officer: An executive-level person (e.g., CEO, COO, Vice President) designated by
the Board of Directors or Governance Level who is ultimately accountable for tailings management, and
the development and implementation of the systems needed for responsible tailings management. This
accountability cannot be delegated. This Officer:
needs to be aware of key outcomes of tailings facility risk assessments and how these risks are
being managed;
has accountability and responsibility for putting in place an appropriate management structure;
delegates responsibility and authority for tailings management and defines the personnel
responsibilities, authority, and reporting relationships to implement the systems needed for
responsible tailings management through all phases in the facility life cycle; and
demonstrates to the Board of Directors/Governance level whether tailings are managed
responsibly.
Audit: The formal, systematic and documented examination of a tailings facility’s conformance with
explicit, agreed, prescribed criteria, often requirements stipulated in law, or in the Owner’s tailings
management system. Audits evaluate and report on the degree of conformance with stipulated criteria,
based on the systematic collection and documentation of relevant evidence. Audits involve some degree
of judgment but are not designed to determine root cause of deficiencies, or to evaluate management
system effectiveness.
Authority: The power to make decisions, assign responsibilities, or delegate some or all authority, as
appropriate. The ability to act on behalf of the Owner.
Best Available/Applicable Practice (BAP): Management systems, operational procedures, techniques and
methodologies that, through experience and demonstrated application, have proven to reliably manage
risk and achieve performance objectives in a technically sound and economically efficient manner. BAP is
an operating philosophy that embraces continual improvement and operational excellence, and which is
applied consistently throughout the life of a facility, including the post-closure period.
Best Available Technology (BAT): The site-specific combination of technologies and techniques that is
economically achievable and that most effectively reduces the physical, geochemical, ecological, social,
financial, and reputational risks associated with tailings management to an acceptable level during all
phases of the life cycle and supports an environmentally and economically viable mining operation.
Communities of Interest (COI): All individuals and groups who have an interest in, or believe they may be
affected by, decisions respecting the management of operations. They include, but are not restricted to:
employees;
Aboriginal or Indigenous peoples;
mining community members;
suppliers;

45
GLOSSARY
neighbours;
customers;
contractors;
environmental organizations and other non-governmental organizations;
governments;
the financial community; and
shareholders.
Continual improvement: The process of implementing incremental improvements and standardization
to achieve better environmental and management system performance.
Critical control: A risk control that is crucial to preventing a high-consequence event or mitigating the
consequences of such an event. The absence or failure of a critical control would significantly increase the
risk despite the existence of other controls. Critical controls may be technical, operational, or governance-
based. Critical control management is a governance approach to managing high-consequence risks
relating to an operation or business.
Dam Safety Review (DSR): A systematic review and evaluation, carried out at scheduled intervals,
of all aspects of design, construction, operation, maintenance, and surveillance, and other relevant
processes and systems affecting a dam, to evaluate the design criteria with current standards, operational
compliance with design intent, stability and functionality of the dam, and to identify appropriate remedial
measures.
Dam Safety Inspection (DSI): An inspection of a dam to observe its condition relative to its performance
objectives. A DSI is intended to be more thorough than a routine inspection, and includes detailed visual
examination of the dam, surveillance instrumentation, and a review of surveillance results. The report of a
DSI may include recommendations for maintenance, repairs, investigation, or further surveillance. DSIs are
generally carried out by engineers and may be carried out by the Engineer-of-Record.
Documented information: Information of importance that is required to be controlled and maintained
by the organization. Documented information can refer to the tailings management system and its
processes, documentation, and records.
Emergency: A situation that poses an impending or immediate risk to health, life, property, and/or the
environment, and which requires urgent intervention to prevent or limit the expected adverse outcomes.
Engineer-of-Record: The Owner, in assuring that a tailings facility is safe, has the responsibility to identify
and retain an EoR who provides technical direction on behalf of the Owner. The EoR verifies whether the
tailings facility (or components thereof ) has been:
designed in accordance with performance objectives and indicators, applicable guidelines,
standards and legal requirements; and
constructed, and is performing, throughout the life cycle, in accordance with the design intent,
performance objectives and indicators, applicable guidelines, standards and legal requirements.
For tailings facilities that include retention structures/dams, the EoR is responsible for Dam Safety
Inspections and associated reports. The EoR should also participate in the facility’s risk assessments and
be accessible to ers, and, for facilities with retention structures, dam safety reviews. The EoR provides these
activities as part of the Owner’s broader assurance process.

46
GLOSSARY
Evaluation of Effectiveness: An evaluation of effectiveness goes beyond determining whether a

condition has been met and includes an assessment of whether tailings management is achieving the
intended results. It considers both the extent to which planned activities have been realized, and the
extent to which performance objectives and indicators have been achieved.
Independent Review: Provides independent, objective, expert commentary, advice, and, potentially,
recommendations to assist in identifying, understanding, and managing risks associated with tailings
facilities. This information is provided to the Owner to:
facilitate informed management decisions regarding a tailings facility so that tailings-related risks
are managed responsibly and in accordance with an acceptable standard of care; and
ensure that the Accountable Executive Officer has a third-party opinion regarding the risks and
the state of the tailings facility and the implementation of the tailings management system,
independent of the teams (employees, consultants, and contractors) responsible for planning,
designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the facility
Legal Requirement: Any law, statute, ordinance, decree, requirement, order, judgment, rule, or regulation
of, and the terms of any license or permit issued by, any governmental authority.
Life cycle: The succession of phases in the life of a tailings facility, consisting of: project conception and
planning, design, initial construction, operation and ongoing construction, closure, and post-closure. At
some sites, the life cycle may also include temporary closure. In the case of tailings facilities, the life cycle,
including the closure, and post-closure phases, can extend to decades or centuries, unless the facility is
removed at some point in the future if tailings are reprocessed or relocated.
Project Conception and Planning: Begins at the outset of planning of a proposed mine and is
integrated with conception and planning for the overall site, including the mine plan and plans for ore
processing. The phase includes the use of rigorous decision-making tools to support selection of the
location for the tailings facility, and the BAT to be used for tailings management.
Design: Begins once the location and BAT for the tailings facility have been selected and occurs in
concert with detailed planning of all aspects of the proposed mine. Detailed engineering designs are
prepared for all aspects of the tailings facility and associated infrastructure.
Initial Construction: Construction of structures and infrastructure that need to be in place before
tailings placement commences. This includes, for example, removal of vegetation and organic soils,
and construction of starter dams, tailings pipelines, access roads, and associated water management
infrastructure.
Operations and Ongoing Construction: Tailings are transported to and placed in, the tailings
facility. Tailings dams may be raised, or new tailings cells added as per the design. The operations and
ongoing construction phase of a tailings facility typically coincides with the period of commercial
operations of the mine.
Standby Care and Maintenance: The mine has ceased commercial operations and the placement of
tailings into the facility is not occurring. The Owner expects to resume commercial operations at some
point in the future, so surveillance and monitoring of the tailings facility continue, but the facility and
associated infrastructure are not decommissioned, and the closure plan is not implemented.

47
GLOSSARY
Closure: Begins when placement of tailings into the facility ceases permanently. The facility and
associated infrastructure are decommissioned, and the closure plan is implemented, including:
transitioning for operations to permanent closure;
removal of infrastructure such as pipelines;
changes to water management or treatment; and
recontouring or revegetation of tailings and any containment structures or other structural
elements.
Post-closure: Begins when decommissioning work is complete, the closure plan has been
implemented, and the tailings facility has transitioned to long-term maintenance and surveillance.
During post-closure, responsibility for a tailings facility could transfer to jurisdictional control.
Maintenance: Includes preventative, predictive and corrective activities carried out to provide continued
proper operation of all infrastructure (e.g., civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, etc.), or to adjust
infrastructure to ensure operation in conformance with performance objectives.
Operation: Includes the activities related to the transport, placement and permanent storage of tailings
and, where applicable, process water, effluents and residues, and the recycling of process water. The term
“operation” applies throughout all phases of the life cycle of a tailings facility and is not limited to the
operations and ongoing construction phase of the life cycle when tailings are being actively placed in the
facility. As a result, operation also includes reclamation and related activities.
Owner: The company, partnership, or individual who has legal possession or is the legal holder of a
tailings facility under law in the applicable jurisdiction where the facility is located. For example, the
company, partnership or individual that owns the mine from which the tailings and wastewater are
generated is the owner of those tailings and can be considered the Owner of the tailings facility.
In the case of joint ventures or similar projects, they may be more than one company involved in
Ownership. In such cases, the Owner would comprise all companies that are represented on the Board of
Directors and are involved in decision-making.
Quality: The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirement.
Quality assurance (QA): All those planned and systematic activities implemented to provide
adequate confidence that the entity will fulfill requirements for quality.
Quality control (QC): The operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfill requirements
for quality.
Responsibility: The duty or obligation of an individual or organization to perform an assigned duty
or task in accordance with defined expectations, and which has a consequence if expectations are not
met. An individual or organization with responsibility is accountable to the person that delegated that
responsibility to them.
Responsible Person: Identifies the scope of work and budget requirements (subject to final approval) for
all aspects of tailings management, including the Engineer-of-Record, and will delegate specific tasks and
responsibilities for aspects of tailings management to qualified personnel. The Responsible Person(s) has
clearly defined, delegated responsibility for tailings management and appropriate qualifications.
As a minimum, the Owner needs to designate one Responsible Person for each tailings facility. There may
also be a designated Responsible Person at the corporate level.

48
GLOSSARY
Risk: A potential negative impact, detrimental to operations, a facility, the environment, public health or
safety that may arise from some present process or future event. When evaluating risk, both the potential
severity and consequence of the impact and its probability of occurrence are considered.
Risk controls: Measures put in place to either:
prevent or reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of an unwanted event; or
reduce or mitigate the negative consequences if the unwanted event does occur.
Risks need to be managed via controls, and risk controls should have designated owners and defined
accountabilities. Some risk controls are designated as critical controls.
Standard operating procedure (SOP): A set of established or prescribed methods to be followed
routinely for the performance of designated operations or in designated situations. They may include
procedures, standards, practices, protocols, instructions, rules, etc.
Surveillance: Includes the inspection and monitoring (i.e., collection of qualitative and quantitative
includes the timely documentation, analysis and communication of surveillance results, to inform decision
controls, are being met.
Tailings: A byproduct of mining, consisting of the processed rock or soil left over from the separation of
the commodities of value from the rock or soil within which they occur.
Tailings facility: The collective engineered structures, components and equipment involved in the
management of tailings solids, other mine waste managed with tailings (e.g., waste rock, water treatment
residues), and any water managed in tailings facilities, including pore fluid, any pond(s), and surface water
and runoff. This may include structures, components and equipment for:
classification of tailings through water content management (e.g., cyclones, thickeners, filter
presses);
transporting tailings to the tailings facility (e.g., pipelines, flumes, conveyors, trucks);
containment of tailings and associated water (e.g., dams, dykes, stacks, liner systems, cover
systems);
management of seepage (e.g., underdrains, collection ponds, pumping wells);
water reclaim systems (e.g., pumping to the ore processing facility);
management of surface water releases from the tailings facility (e.g., diversions, decant structures,
spillways, outlets, flumes, water treatment);
structures, components and equipment for the surveillance and maintenance of tailings facilities;
and
mechanical and electrical controls, and power supply associated with the above.
Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP): A TARP is a tool to manage risk controls, including critical controls.
TARPs provide pre-defined trigger levels for performance criteria that are based on the risk controls
and critical controls of the tailings facility. The trigger levels are developed based on the performance
objectives and risk management plan for the tailings facility. TARPs describe actions to be taken if trigger
levels are exceeded (performance is outside the normal range), to prevent a loss of control. A range of
actions is pre-defined, based on the magnitude of the exceedance of the trigger level.

49
A1 APPENDIX 1: LIFE CYCLE OF AN OMS MANUAL
Appendix 1: Life Cycle of an OMS Manual

As stated in Section 2.1.3, an OMS manual needs to be in place and ready to be implemented at
the beginning of the operations and ongoing construction phase. However, there are important
considerations for OMS manual development, implementation, and updates across the life cycle of a
tailings facility, from project conception and planning through to post-closure.
Project Conception and Planning Phase

The outcome of the project conception and planning phase is the identification of a single alternative for
tailings management that represents the optimum combination of tailings management technology and
tailings facility location.
For new tailings facilities or life extensions of existing facilities, development of a conceptual plan for
OMS should begin during the project conception and planning phase. The intent at this phase is not to
develop a detailed OMS manual – this would be out of step with the overall planning and design process.
Rather, the objective is to consider, at a high level, the OMS requirements of each tailings management
alternative considered in this phase.
This facilitates the development of an OMS manual that is aligned with the risk management plan, the
closure plan and post-closure land use, and is appropriate to the facility location and technologies used.
It also allows consideration of the conceptual OMS activities in the context of the alternatives under
consideration, providing an opportunity to identify potential OMS challenges that could be considered
in the decision about the tailings management technology or facility location selected, or be averted
through refinements to the facility design.
Design Phase
During the design phase aspects relevant to the intended construction and operation of the tailings
facility are planned and designed in detail. For some tailings facilities there may be more than one design
phase through the life cycle of the facility. During the design phase, specific OMS requirements for each
life cycle phase should be identified, and a preliminary version of the OMS manual should be developed.
This version of the manual provides a foundation for OMS across the life cycle.
It is recommended that the preliminary version of the OMS manual include components (e.g., modules as
per Section 2.4.2) for each subsequent life cycle phase, since the OMS requirements of each phase would
be different. This includes:
a detailed module for initial construction, if the Owner intends to apply OMS at this phase;
a detailed module for the operations and ongoing construction phase;
modules for the closure and post-closure phases, developed at a level of detail commensurate
with the level of detail of the closure plan; and
a module to address temporary shut-down of mine operations, and associated care and
maintenance of the tailings facility.
During the design phase, the OMS manual development team should consider surveillance needs
(including consideration of the risk management plan and critical controls) and identify surveillance
methods and technologies. It is crucial that planning for surveillance begin before the initial construction
phase, since some surveillance instrumentation may need to be installed during the initial construction
phase, and some surveillance activities may need to commence during that phase.

50
Initial Construction Phase

As stated in Section 2.1.3, some Owners may choose to develop and implement OMS during the initial
construction phase. OMS activities for this phase would be distinct, and although some would carry
through into the operations and ongoing construction phase, this would be a separate OMS component
or module. At the end of this phase, this module may be removed from the OMS manual and archived.
However, it is essential that surveillance information, and information on “as-built” conditions be retained
and accessible, as necessary through subsequent life cycle phases.
During the initial construction phase, the OMS module for the operations and ongoing construction
phase may be refined and updated, particularly to reflect “as-built” conditions and surveillance results,
and to reflect any changes to other relevant aspects of the operation, such as refinements to plans for ore
processing as the ore processing facility is constructed and commissioned.
Operations and Ongoing Construction Phase

The transition from the initial construction phase to the operations and ongoing construction phase can
be a particularly dynamic period in the life cycle, and the OMS manual should be updated accordingly
and implemented through this transition.
During the operations and ongoing construction phase the OMS modules for closure and post-closure
should be updated and refined as the closure plan is refined and developed in greater detail. These
updates should also reflect the status of progressive reclamation activities that have been undertaken.
If the company expects to continue in the operations and ongoing construction phase of the life cycle for
several decades, then the closure and post-closure modules of the OMS manual can be more conceptual
than in the case of a facility expected to enter the closure phase within a decade or less. At the same time,
unforeseen occurrences can impact the timing of mine closure so some form of closure/post-closure
planning from an OMS perspective needs to be reflected throughout the life cycle of the tailings facility
even if only at a conceptual level.
As the permanent closure of the facility approaches, the closure plan and the OMS module for closure
should be finalized to ensure a smooth transition and appropriate risk management during the closure
phase, as well as effective management of change as responsible personnel and contractors change.
At the permanent end of the operations and ongoing construction phase, the OMS modules for this
phase and for temporary shutdown may be removed from the OMS manual and archived.
Temporary Suspension of Operations

The OMS manual should address the potential for temporary shut-down of mine operations, and
associated care and maintenance of the tailings facility. This should include OMS activities in the event
of a short-term, emergency such down (e.g., due to wildfires in close proximity to the facility), and OMS
activities in the event of a longer-term shutdown of unknown duration (e.g., due to low commodity
prices). This component of the OMS manual may never be implemented but having a plan for OMS in the
event of a temporary shutdown is essential to ensure that risks are appropriately managed during this
transition, which can be quite sudden, and during the period of the shut down. This component of the
OMS manual should also address the re-start of operations.

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Closure and Post-Closure Phases

The post-production OMS manual should address closure and post-closure OMS activities. This is an
important aspect that should not be overlooked or left to be developed soon before closure. As described
in Section 2.2.4 of the Tailings Guide, designing and operating tailings facilities for closure is a key tool to
managing risks after operations cease, meeting closure objectives, and achieving planned post-closure
land uses. The OMS manual should reflect the evolution of the closure plan, from the project conception
and planning phase through to the end of operations. This is important to ensure that OMS activities
during operations and ongoing construction are consistent with the closure plan, lay the foundation for
the implementation of the closure plan, and address progressive reclamation activities to be implemented
prior to closure.
The OMS activities for the closure phase will be distinct. Some, such as certain maintenance and
surveillance activities, will carry forward from the operations and ongoing construction phase. Some OMS
activities during previous phases will not be relevant to the closure phase, while others may be unique to
the closure phase, such as OMS activities associated with the removal of infrastructure.
During the closure phase, the OMS module for post-closure should be updated and refined to reflect
actual closure conditions.
At the end of the closure phase, the OMS module for that phase may be removed from the OMS manual
and archived.
The component of the OMS manual for the post-closure phase takes a very long-term view but should be
reviewed and updated periodically, based on outcomes of maintenance and surveillance activities, and
changing conditions.
For post-closure, the OMS manual should consider OMS requirements associated with a potential
relinquishment of the tailings facility to government responsibility. In the event of relinquishment,
the OMS manual and other records would be handed over to the responsible government authorities
to ensure that risks are appropriately managed through that transition, and to provide the necessary
information to inform appropriate risk management following relinquishment.

52
A2 APPENDIX 2: E XAMPLES OF CRITICAL CONTROLS FOR OMS ACTIVITIES
Appendix 2: Examples of Critical Controls for OMS Activities

As described in Section 4.4.3 of the Tailings Guide, the designation of critical controls is an Owner and
tailings facility-specific exercise. Risk controls are typically designated as critical controls if:
implementation of the control would significantly reduce the likelihood or consequence of an
unwanted event or condition that poses unacceptable risk;
removal or failure of the control would significantly increase the likelihood or consequences of
an unwanted event or condition that poses an unacceptable risk, despite the presence of other
controls;
the control would prevent more than one failure mode, or would mitigate more than one
consequence; or
other controls are dependent upon the control in question.
Examples of possible critical controls for OMS activities are provided below.
Operation
Minimum beach length
Appropriate tailings properties (pulp density and fines content)
Maximum beach length (if dust management is a need)
Tailings pipeline location from dam crest (prevent erosion of the crest if pipe breaks)
Minimum dam crest raise to ensure adequate dam safety freeboard
Tailings deposition patterns to avoid excessive fines
Tailings beach compaction
Maximum rate of rise: monthly/annually
Minimum freeboard
Minimum decant and water treatment rates
Emergency response resources
Maintenance
Dam crest repair
Erosion gully repair
Tailings slope erosion removal from drainage infrastructure
Access availability (snow removal)
Tailings line movement or replacement cycle
Ditch maintenance/sediment removal
Tailings pond decant system (normal conditions and emergency)

53
A2 APPENDIX 2: E XAMPLES OF CRITICAL CONTROLS FOR OMS ACTIVITIES
Surveillance
Appropriate types and spacing of instruments
Defined instrument alarm levels
Defined instrument reading frequencies
Pipe rupture alarms (visual monitoring, flow rate and pressure)
Tailings pond levels
Precipitation and snow pack
Decant settings/rates
Seepage rates and turbidity
Management
Defined roles and responsibilities
Defined budget
Construction authorizations (fill placement or excavation)
Protocols to address management of unusual or upset conditions or problems
Emergency response plans

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A3 APPENDIX 3: TRIGGER ACTION RESPONSE PLANS
Appendix 3: Trigger Action Response Plans

Surveillance results are used to make informed decisions about tailings management. These results may
be used in a trigger action response plan (TARP) that has defined trigger levels for performance indicators
that are based on the critical controls of the tailings facility. The critical controls and their trigger levels are
based on the performance objectives and risk management plan for the tailings facility.
The TARP describes pre-defined risk management actions to be taken if trigger levels are exceeded
(performance is outside the normal range) to prevent a loss of control.
A series of escalating qualitative risk levels are described for each performance indicator. For each
performance indicator and each risk level there are pre-defined risk management actions. The number of
risk levels are dependent upon the performance indicator, the risk management plan, and the associated
critical control. An example of a four risk-level framework is:
n Green – Acceptable Situation. Performance is in line with performance objectives.
Yellow – Minor Risk Situation. There may be a pre-defined risk management action that can
n
be taken, or the pre-defined action may be to increase the frequency of surveillance and analysis.
Other surveillance activities may be undertaken. Surveillance results and corresponding actions are
documented and reported.
n O
range – Moderate Risk Situation. Pre-defined risk management actions are implemented.
Surveillance activities may be intensified to monitor the performance indicator in question, related
performance criteria, and the effectiveness of the risk management action implemented. Expert
advice may be sought as appropriate, including from the designer and EoR. Risk management
actions are implemented, and results of follow-up surveillance activities are documented and
reported. The accumulation or combination of moderate risk situations could lead to a high-risk
situation and threshold values will need to be assessed accordingly.
n R
ed – High Risk Situation. An imminent loss of control or a loss of control has occurred.
Depending on the potential consequence, this may trigger a very significant pre-defined risk
management action (e.g., ceasing ore processing operations) or it may trigger the implementation
of the ERP. It is important to note that the accumulation or combination of moderate risk situations
could lead to a high-risk situation and threshold values will need to be assessed accordingly.
The concept of defining risk levels is illustrated in Figure A.3.1.
The overall process for establishing TARPs is similar to that described in Section 2.2.2 for critical controls:
define the hazards or failure modes;
for each failure mode define the risk levels; and
describe pre-defined actions for each trigger level.
An example TARP with performance indicators related to critical controls for a tailings facility is shown in
Table A.3.1. It is noted that the information shown in the example TARP is not exhaustive or tailored for any
specific site. The risk controls for which TARPs are developed, the performance indicators and criteria, risk
levels, pre-defined actions, and notification procedures are determined on a site-specific basis.

55
A3 APPENDIX 3: ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVES
Figure A.3.1: Illustration of the concept of defining risk levels to establish TARPs. Note that
performance for a given parameter may not be normally distributed, and there may
only be performance at the high or low end of the curve which is defined as outside
the acceptable situation (e.g., freeboard of a tailings dam).
Acceptable Situation
Minor risk Minor risk

High risk situation situation High risk
situation situation
Moderate Moderate
risk situation risk situation

56
A3 APPENDIX 3: ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVES
Table A.1.1: Example TARPs with performance indicators related to critical controls, and pre-defined
actions for various risk-levels.
Indicator/ Acceptable Low risk situation Moderate risk High risk situation
Control situation situation
Tailings facility Water level stable Water level exceeds maximum Water level exceeds 50% of the Water level exceeds the
freeboard and below maximum normal operating level maximum emergency storage maximum emergency
operating level volume storage volume
Beach length Within design Minimum beach length violated for Minimum beach length violated Minimum beach length
requirements. less than 1 week per quarter. for less than 1 week per month. violated for more than 2
consecutive weeks.
Displacement, None visible. Visible displacement, sloughing, Toe displacement related Toe displacement related
sloughing, or Surveillance results or bulging. Surveillance results to sloughing. Bulging of to sloughing >3 m from
bulging of dam within design increasing from range of downstream slope >0.5 m in original location. Bulging
crest and/or limits and range of historic trends. height. Surveillance results of downstream slope
downstream historic trends. continuously increasing from >2 m in height.
slope range of historic results.
Sinkhole in Not visible. Visible Sinkhole diameter > 0.5 m in Sinkhole diameter >1 m in
dam crest or diameter. diameter.
downstream
slope
Seepage Seepage is clear. Seepage is turbid. Seepage is Same as previous situation plus Accumulation or
through dam Seepage in location new area relative to historic ongoing increased seepage rate combination of moderate-
of historic locations. performance. Seepage rate is from historic trends. risk situations could lead
Seepage rate is higher than historic trends. to a high-risk situation
within design and threshold values need
limits and range of to be assessed accordingly
historic trends.
Examples of Pre-Defined Actions
Surveillance activities Increased surveillance frequencies. All items from previous situation All items from previous
and frequencies • Surveillance results to be plus: situation plus:
according to OMS immediately provided to EoR • Suspend activities in area • Temporary
manual. for review. of concern. evacuation of
• EoR to visit site to assess the • Reassess thresholds and non-essential
situation. conditions for high risk personnel from
• Document location, situation taking into tailings facility.
photograph, and survey area account the conditions
• Prepare to initialize
of concern. observed and interactions
ERP.
• Identify potential cause(s). of various items.
• Implement engineering
review.
• Plan and take appropriate
mitigation measures with
engineering review.
Personnel Notified
• Responsible All personnel from previous All personnel from previous All personnel from previous
Person situation plus: situation plus: situation.
• Process Plant • COIs • First Responders
Manager • Regulators • Emergency Response
Environmental • Independent Reviewer(s) Personnel
Manager
• Accountable Executive Officer
• EoR

57
A4 APPENDIX 4: OVERVIEW OF THE OBSERVATIONAL METHOD
Appendix 4: Overview of the Observational Method

The Observational Method is a design approach most often used in geotechnical engineering, which is
sometimes applied through the construction and operating phases of the life cycle of a tailings facility.
When correctly applied it becomes a key consideration in the development of critical controls or TARPs.
For mine tailings facilities that are designed, constructed and operated using the Observational Method,
the surveillance program is a core component. Baecher and Christian (2003) provide a succinct summary
of the essential aspects of the Observational Method:
“The observational method grew out of the fact that it is not feasible in many geotechnical applications
to assume very conservative values of the loads and material properties and design for those conditions.
The resulting design is often physically or financially impossible to build. Instead the engineer makes
reasonable estimates of the parameters and the amounts by which they could deviate from the expected
values. Then the design is based on expected values – or on some conservative but feasible extension of
the expected values – but provision is made for action to deal with the occurrence of loads or resistances
that fall outside the design range. During construction and operation of the facility, observations of its
performance are made so that appropriate corrective action can be made. This is not simply a matter of
designing for an expected set of conditions and doing something to fix any troubles that arise. It involves
considering the effects of the possible range of values of the parameters and having in place a plan to
deal with occurrences that fall outside of the expected range. It requires the ongoing involvement of the
designers during the construction and operation of the facility.”
To properly apply the Observational Method, the anticipated behaviour of the structure (deformations,
pore-water pressures, etc.) must be understood, as well as the range of potential deviations from the
anticipated behaviour and the likely causes of those deviations. It requires having an engineering model
(mathematical or conceptual) that is regularly tested against the surveillance observations.
The Observational Method can be applicable to physical (structural) components of a tailings facility such
as overall stability, as well as environmental controls such as seepage mitigation.
Peck (1969) and Morgenstern (1994) note pitfalls in application of the Observational Method:
The engineer must select in advance appropriate courses of action for all foreseeable deviations
of the real conditions, and devise solutions to all problems that could arise, but that will remain
undisclosed until the field observations are made. If those hypothetical problems cannot be
resolved, the design must be based on the least favourable conditions, and the owner cannot
gain the advantages in cost or time associated with the Observational Method.
If the phenomena governing the performance of the system are complex, extra effort is required
in designing the surveillance system to avoid incorrectly measuring the parameters and arriving at
an incorrect conclusion regarding the performance of the system.
The Observational Method is not applicable in cases where the failure mechanism is brittle (e.g., static or
dynamic liquefaction of critical stability elements of a facility) and could evolve more rapidly than could be
observed or responded to with contingency measures, or where other physical or economic constraints
preclude the timely and effective application of contingency measures.

58
A4 APPENDIX 4: INDEPENDENT REVIEW
References:
Baecher and Christian. 2003. Reliability and Statistics in Geotechnical Engineering. Wiley.
CEN. EN 1997-1:2004 Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design – Part 1: General rules. Brussels: European Committee
for Standardisation; 2004.
Christian, J.T. 2004. Geotechnical Engineering Reliability: How Well Do We Know What We Are Doing? Journal
of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE. 130(10): 985-1003.
Morgenstern, N.R. 1994. The observational method in Environmental Geotechnics. First International Congress
on Environmental Geotechnics – Edmonton. 963-976.
Peck, R.B. 1969. Advantages and Limitations of the Observational Method in Applied Soil Mechanics.
Géotechnique. 19(2): 171-187.


59
A5 APPENDIX 5: OMS MANUAL INFORMATION SOURCES
Appendix 5: OMS Manual Information Sources

The information needed to inform the development of an OMS manual can be drawn from a variety of
sources. The conceptual design and conceptual closure plan, and later the detailed design, as well as
information from the environmental assessment and permitting of the facility will provide much of the
initial information for the first version of an OMS manual, along with information on how the Owner
intends to operate the facility.
As the facility evolves this information will be supplemented with a variety of information including but
not limited to:
operational information (e.g., tailings grind-size and percent solids, reagents used and present in
the tailings, geochemical characteristics of the tailings);
operational water balance;
current design reports;
as-built documentation (including drawings);
performance objectives;
risk assessment, risk management plan and critical controls;
best practices for surveillance (e.g., methods, instruments, frequency, data analysis);
best practices related to SOPs;
manufacturers documentation on maintenance of equipment, calibration of surveillance
instruments, etc;
behavior of the facility; and
other resources, depending on the jurisdiction and Owner’s requirements, such as:
 Canadian Dam Association (CDA):
CDA Dam Safety Guidelines 2007 (2013 Edition); and
Technical Bulletin: Application of Dam Safety Guidelines to Mining Dams (2014);
 International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD);
 Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD);
 International Standards Organization (ISO);
ISO 9000 – Quality Management;
ISO 14000 – Environmental Management; and
ISO 31000 – Risk Management;
 International Code for Cyanide Management;
 Environment and Climate Change Canada;
 Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum;
Australian Government Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining

Industry;

60
A5 APPENDIX 5: OMS MANUAL INFORMATION SOURCES
 South African National Standards SANS 10286 1998;

 US Bureau of Reclamation;
 US Army Corps of Engineers;
 US Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
 European Union directive and BAT reference document on mine waste management.
Further, while every OMS manual needs to be site-specific, effective OMS manuals from other facilities can
be excellent starting templates, provided that they are not used in a “cut and paste” manner, resulting in
the inclusion of activities that are not compatible with or appropriate to the tailings facility to which the
new OMS manual is to be applied.

61
A6 R ACI MATRIX APPROACH FOR DESCRIBING
APPENDIX 6: ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS
Appendix 6: RACI Matrix Approach for Describing Roles and

Relationships
One of the essential elements of effective tailings management is how the various individuals involved
in tailings management relate to one another in their day-to-day function. Having a formal process that
describes how these relationships should best occur based upon the roles of the individuals involved is
considered a best practice. One form of this best practice is to use a
A RACI (R=Responsible, A=Accountable, C=Consulted, I=Informed) Matrix or Responsibility Assignment
Matrix. A RACI matrix is a delegation tool used to identify each task, milestone, or decision point, and
develop, document and communicate roles and responsibilities for each.
The components of the matrix are:
R Who is Responsible?
The person(s) assigned to do the work
The doers
Who is Accountable?
A The person who makes the final decision
and is ultimately answerable
The buck stops here!
Who is Consulted?
C The person(s) who must be consulted
before a decision or action is taken
Two-way communications
Who is Informed?
I The person(s) who must be informed that
a decision or action has been taken
One-way communications
The steps to developing a RACI matrix are:

1) Identify all the tasks involved in tailings management and list them on the left-hand side of
the matrix.
2) Identify who is collectively involved in tailings management (either functional roles or
specific individuals) and list them across the top of the matrix.
3) For each task, identifying who has the responsibility, the accountability, and who will be
consulted and informed. Fill in the cells of the matrix accordingly.
4) Ensure every task has a role responsible and a role accountable for it – a task without an “R”
and an “A” is an unmanaged task that creates risk.
5) No tasks should have more than one role accountable (the “A”). Resolve any conflicts where
there is more than one for a particular task.
6) Share, discuss and agree on the RACI Matrix with appropriate personnel.
An example of a RACI matrix is provided in Table A.6.1.

62
There are a number of potential advantages to using a RACI approach for roles and relationships related
to tailings management. Developing and implementing a RACI matrix for tailings management and OMS
activities can help:
clarify and simplify lines of communications and mitigate the risk of communications breakdowns
(see Section 3.1.2);
the Responsible Person(s) in delegating responsibility for various tasks, potentially reducing the
work-load or stress-load on that person;
ensure that roles and responsibilities are clearly described across organizational silos, helping to
ensure effective function across those siloes; and
establish clear expectations for all involved in the various tasks, milestones and decision points:
 everyone needs to clearly understand where they are involved, and with which tasks;
 everyone needs to understand who is ultimately accountable for a task, which can help avoid
confusion or communications problems; and
 it sets clear expectations for those who will be consulted or informed, so that they understand
their roles and what information they will receive.
To be effective, there are a number of factors that should be considered in developing and implementing
a RACI matrix:
There should not be too many roles or personnel identified as responsible for each task. This will
create confusion and communications problems.
All tasks must have assigned roles or personnel:
 someone needs to be accountable for each task;
 at least one person needs to be responsible for each task; and
 it may not always be necessary to identify persons who should be consulted or informed. This
can be determined on a task-specific basis.
Do not assign the Responsible Person(s) as responsible for too many tasks:
 they need to delegate to be effective; and
 give careful consideration to what responsibilities can be delegated to other personnel, but
clearly define their functional relationship with the Responsible Person(s).
Do not confuse responsible and accountable:
 have a clear understanding of each term and be consistent in the application of those terms in
assigning who is accountable and responsible for each task.
Carefully consider who needs to be consulted and who needs to be informed:
 if someone does not need to be consulted, inform them;
 however, persons may want a greater role and want to be consulted rather than informed; and
 involve those persons in the development process and negotiate their roles as necessary to
avoid problems in implementation.

63
Table A.6.1: Example of a template for a RACI matrix. The level of detail in both the tasks and
roles identified is up to the Owner to determine on a site-specific basis.
Roles
Ore Processing
Maintenance
Independent
Accountable
Surveillance
Exec. Officer
Responsible
Reviewer(s)
Operation
Personnel
Personnel
Personnel
Person(s)
Tasks
EoR
Operation
Tailings transport
Tailings placement
Water management
Ongoing construction
Progressive reclamation
Maintenance
Tailings transport
Containment structures
Water management
Surveillance
Site observation
Routine inspections
Dam safety inspections
Instrument monitoring
Data analysis

64
A7 FACTORS IN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, GOVERNANCE,
APPENDIX 7: AND THE “HUMAN ELEMENT” OF TAILINGS MANAGEMENT
Appendix 7: Factors in Effective Communications,

Governance, and the “Human Element” of
Tailings Management
Below is a summary of lessons learned about governance and communications that are applicable to
tailings management and dam safety, based on Pearl Harbor: Lessons for the Dam Safety Community.1
1. Personnel delegated the responsibility for a certain activity must have the authority to carry it out.
When delegating authority or issuing specific instructions, follow-up to ensure that the delegated
authority is being appropriately carried out, or that the instructions have been understood and
correctly implemented. Do not assume that all is going according to plan.
2. Communications must be clear and unambiguous. Ensure that the meaning and intent of
information communicated is fully understood. Avoid paraphrasing or condensing messages
when relaying information, so that the actual meaning or intent is not lost.
3. Keep other personnel adequately informed regarding aspects of tailings management relevant
to their responsibility and authority. Communications are two-way, and effective decision-making
requires complete information, not a partial presentation of the facts.
4. Do not take anything for granted in communicating with other personnel involved either directly
or indirectly in tailings management and either higher or lower in the “chain of command”. Do
not assume they fully understand the meaning or relevance of information provided. Similarly,
do not withhold information from other personnel involved in activities on site. For example,
a minor change in tailings characteristics, deemed unimportant by personnel responsible for
ore processing because it does not affect recovery rates or reagent use could have significant
implications for tailings management.
5. Be open to input from other personnel and those involved in other activities on site. All personnel
should be encouraged to raise concerns or suggestions. Observations of personnel lacking in
specific training or expertise related to tailings management (e.g., security personnel) should not
be ignored or discounted.
6. Corporate personnel should provide all relevant information to the Responsible Person(s) on site
and to other site personnel as appropriate. This includes new policies developed at the corporate
level, potential legal changes that corporate personnel are aware of, and information on lessons
learned from tailings management at other sites or other companies.
7. Never ignore, delay or “water down” an official instruction. If you are unclear, or if you question
the validity of the instruction, raise those concerns promptly. But do not unilaterally decide not to
carry out the activity as instructed.
8. Personal friendship must not interfere with clear communications on professional matters. Do
not assume, because two people are friends, that they clearly communicate in their professional
relationship. The reverse may be true, as they may make assumptions about what the other
knows, and those around them may assume they are clearly communicating in their professional
relationship because they are friends.
1. Martin, T. (2001). Pearl Harbor: Lessons for the Dam Safety Community. Presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Dam
Association.

65
A7 FACTORS IN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, GOVERNANCE,
APPENDIX 7: AND THE “HUMAN ELEMENT” OF TAILINGS MANAGEMENT
9. Effective and timely surveillance is essential to tailings management. The Owner must allocate
appropriate resources and ensure that there are competent personnel in place with responsibility
for surveillance, and clear lines of communications regarding surveillance program design,
implementation, and outputs.
10. Do not interpret surveillance results only through the lens of potential unwanted events or
occurrences that were identified in the risk assessment. Consider the possibility that the results
are pointing to a risk not previously anticipated.
11. A failure can occur at any time, sometimes without warning. Avoid becoming complacent
or deferring actions out of a sense that “all is well”. Be alert and ready to respond at all times,
even to events with an extremely low probability of occurring, and no matter how good past
performance has been. Better to have a false alarm than to ignore the warning signs of an
impending loss of control.
12. Be ready to respond to a failure by preparing for any eventuality. Ensure that emergency response
plans (ERPs) are developed and tested. ERPs need to be adaptable in case an event occurs that
had not been anticipated and planned for.
13. The Owner must have a corporate culture that prioritizes responsible tailings management
and avoids competition for resources between business units that could comprise tailings
management. Giving secondary importance to tailings management can result in lead to choices
with adverse long-term financial or other impacts.
14. The Accountable Executive Officer and Responsible Person(s) need to be familiar with their
organization and understand the tailings facilities for which they are responsible, the risks the
facilities pose, and the manner in which risk is being managed, including any failures, deficiencies,
or opportunities for improvement. They must be informed by annual management reviews,
input/results of assurance activities including Independent Review, and be apprised of any
material developments in between these activities. If they do not have the competencies and
knowledge needed, or if they rely on the assurances of their staff without being themselves fully
informed, then they should pass that responsibility and accountability to others with the capacity
to be fully engaged. The Accountable Executive Officer and Responsible Person(s) do not need
to be involved in all details of tailings management, but they MUST understand the big picture of
the facilities and risks for which they are accountable.

66
A8 FACTORS THAT COULD INFLUENCE TAILINGS
APPENDIX 8:
FACILITY PERFORMANCE
Appendix 8: Factors that Could Influence Tailings

Management
As described in Section 3.2, there is a range of factors that could affect tailings managements and tailings
facility performance. Examples are listed below.
Site Conditions Outside the Owner’s Control

climate impacts of climate change, and future projections for climate change;
local and regional hydrology and hydrogeology;
topography and landforms;
bedrock and surficial geology and geochemistry;
natural hazards that could impact the tailings facility;
local and regional aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems;
communities potentially impacted by the tailings facility, including those downstream and
downwind;
infrastructure off the mine site that could be impacted;
commercial and recreational land use; and
archeological resources.
COI Considerations
COI concerns related to tailings management, including potential effects on:
 water quality, including drinking water;
 wildlife, including birds and large mammals that may use tailings facilities;
 fish, including the safety of fish for consumption; and
 air quality.
Indigenous considerations, including:
 land claims;
 agreements with Indigenous communities;
 traditional land use in the area for harvesting, cultural and spiritual purposes; and
 Indigenous engagement in environmental management and monitoring.
risks of the tailings facility to nearby communities, including risks in the event of a catastrophic
failure of the tailings facility.

67
APPENDIX 8:
Legal Requirements and Commitments

Understanding relevant legal requirements and the Owner’s commitments related to tailings
management is necessary to:
provide context for OMS activities that are related to legal requirements and commitments;
help ensure that those responsible for tailings management are aware of legal requirements and
commitments; and
align OMS activities towards ensuring conformance with all legal requirements and commitments
related to tailings management.
Tailings Facility Characteristics

Basic information:
location and physical setting of the tailings facility;
type of ore and rate of ore processing;
ore processing methods used, including reagents used;
treatments applied to tailings before transportation to the tailings facility (e.g., cyanide
destruction, desulphurization);
tailings management technology used, and the water content of the tailings;
tailings characteristics, particularly the potential for acid generation and metal leaching;
tailings transportation method used (e.g., pipeline, truck);
tailings deposition methods;
size of the tailings facility and anticipated life; and
methods/structures used to contain the tailings and any associated water.
Design and history of the tailings facility:
the rationale for selection of technology and facility location;
the original design intent of the facility, including:
 how the design addressed the site conditions, and legal requirements and commitments
described above;
 engineering basis for the design; and
 conceptual closure plan and post-closure land-use.
relevant details related to initial construction, and operations and ongoing construction;
any deviations from the original design of the tailings facility and associated infrastructure, and
the rationale for those deviations;
water management plan;
any salient problems, or unique or unanticipated circumstances that have been encountered; and
status of implementation of the closure plan, including progressive reclamation.

68
APPENDIX 8:
Risk profile and risk management:

the risk profile of the facility;
how risks are managed, including:
 how risks are addressed through the design of the facility;
 how risks continue to be managed in light of any deviations from the original design;
 risk management plan; and
 risk controls and critical controls;
performance objectives; and
emergency response plan.
Closure:
closure objectives and post-closure land-use; and
the closure plan, including updates to the closure plan.
Information available for old tailings facilities may be quite different compared to new facilities. Some
of the information above may not be available for older facilities, while there may be other information
not listed above that is relevant to those facilities. It is up to the Owner to determine the most relevant
information to be included for each tailings facility.
Tailings Facility Performance

tailings facility performance against performance objectives;
effectiveness of risk management measures, including critical controls;
compliance with legal requirements, and conformance with plans and commitments;
status of action plans to address:
 actions to ensure performance objectives are met;
 actions to address non-conformity with requirements, standards, policy, or commitments; and
 opportunities for continual improvement.
Changes to the OMS manual made in response to Performance Evaluation, and Management
Review for Continual Improvement, including changes to implement action plans.
Future Plans
expansions of capacity as per the original design (e.g., increases in height of tailings dams or other
containment structures, expansion into new tailings cells);
expansions of capacity not included in the original design (i.e., expansion of capacity for mine life
extension);
changes in ore characteristics (e.g., different acid generating potential in ore from a newly mined
ore zone);
changes in ore processing (e.g., processing rate, reagents used);

69
APPENDIX 8:
changes in tailings management technology (e.g., reductions in water content of tailings,

desulphurization of tailings);
progressive reclamation;
changes made in response to changes in legal requirements or commitments;
changes made in response to past or current performance of the tailings facility;
changes in the closure plan and risk management plans during closure and post-closure; and
other plans that could affect the performance or risk profile of the tailings facility.

70
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© 2019 The Mining Association of Canada. Trademarks, including but not

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Review of the Tailings Management Component of TSM

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Second Edition of the OMS Guide

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Appendix 1: Life Cycle of an OMS Manual...................................................................................... 50

Appendix 2: Examples of Critical Controls for OMS Activities.................................................... 53

Appendix 3: Trigger Action Response Plans.................................................................................. 55

Appendix 4: Overview of the Observational Method ................................................................. 58

Appendix 5: OMS Manual Information Sources............................................................................ 60

Appendix 6:  RACI Matrix Approach for Describing Roles and Relationships.......................... 62

Appendix 7:  Factors in Effective Communications, Governance, and the

Appendix 8: Factors that Could Influence Tailings Management.............................................. 67

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

1.1 The Tailings Guide

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Figure 1: Elements of the Tailings Management Framework

Policy and Commitment

Change in life of mine

Performance Post-Closure Implementing

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

1.2 The OMS Guide

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

2 Life Cycle Management of an OMS Manual

2.1.2 Elements of an Effective OMS Manual

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

2.1.3 Life Cycle Approach

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

2.2 Overarching Principles

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Figure 2: Linkages between as tailings management system and OMS activities

Policy and Commitment

2.2.2 Risk Management and Critical Controls

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

2.2.3 Managing Change

OMS Manuals as Tools to Manage Change

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

OMS Manuals Need to Reflect Changes

2.3 Informing Decision-Making

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Figure 3: Decision-making framework for tailings management

Performance Objectives and Risk Management Plan

Deﬁne OMS Activities and Performance Indicators

Evaluate Performance: are

Is the situation an emergency?

Determine course of action based on:

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

2.4 Developing an OMS Manual

2.4.2 Usability and Accessibility of OMS Manuals

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

2.4.3 Linkages to Other Systems

Developing an Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual

Appendix 6: RACI Matrix Approach for Describing Roles and Relationships.......................... 62

Appendix 7: Factors in Effective Communications, Governance, and the

Appendix 8: Factors that Could Influence Tailings Management.............................................. 67