Mining›SWMS

Tailings Management SWMS

Tailings storage facility management carries catastrophic consequence potential because dam failure can release millions of cubic metres of contaminated slurry causing fatalities, environmental devastation, and community displacement. International tailings dam failures at Brumadinho and Mount Polley have driven global regulatory tightening, and Australian state mining regulators now require tailings management systems aligned to the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management. Routine tailings facility operations including pipeline management, spigot operation, monitoring instrumentation, and embankment inspection expose workers to chemical hazards from process water, inundation risks, and fall hazards on embankment slopes. This SWMS covers tailings facility operation, monitoring, and emergency response.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025; State mining legislation — tailings management plans required; GISTM alignment

hrcw category

Hazardous chemical exposure, work near water, work at height

code of practice

Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals; Prevention of Falls at Workplaces (binding July 2026)

section 26a binding

Yes — Both codes binding July 2026. State tailings management requirements apply additionally.

Hazards

Hazard	Consequence	Likelihood
Tailings dam failure causing inundation of downstream areas	Multiple fatalities, environmental catastrophe, community displacement	Unlikely
Drowning from falling into tailings pond or saturated beach area	Drowning, entrapment in saturated tailings	Possible
Chemical exposure from process water containing cyanide, heavy metals, or acid	Acute poisoning, chronic health effects, environmental contamination	Possible
Fall from embankment slopes during inspection and monitoring activities	Fractures, drowning if falling into pond	Possible
Pipeline failure causing high-pressure slurry release	Blunt trauma, chemical exposure, slip hazards	Possible

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Implement continuous embankment monitoring using piezometers, inclinometers, and survey prisms

Conduct regular embankment inspections by qualified dam engineers per ANCOLD guidelines

Establish emergency response plan for dam failure including downstream evacuation procedures

Provide lone worker safety devices for all personnel working on tailings embankments

Restrict access to tailings pond beach areas and install rescue equipment at access points

Monitor process water chemistry and provide appropriate PPE for tailings pipeline maintenance

Maintain tailings pipeline pressure monitoring with automatic shutdown on pressure loss

Recent Prosecutions

Tailings facility non-compliance — Queensland$350,000

A mining operation failed to implement the monitoring and inspection program recommended in its dam safety review for two consecutive years. When seepage was eventually detected, it had progressed to a stage requiring emergency intervention. No injuries occurred but the potential for dam failure was classified as high.

2024 — Resources Safety and Health Queensland Prosecution Database

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓Embankment monitoring program specifying instrument types, reading frequency, and trigger levels

✓Dam safety inspection schedule with qualified engineer reviews per ANCOLD guidelines

✓Emergency response plan for dam failure including downstream inundation maps and evacuation procedures

✓Process water chemical hazard assessment and PPE requirements for pipeline maintenance

✓Lone worker safety procedure for all personnel working on tailings facility embankments

Need a compliant Tailings Management SWMS?

Our dam safety specialists develop tailings management SWMS with monitoring programs, GISTM alignment, and emergency response plans.