Is the Engineer of Record (EoR) required for TSFs in Australia? - Mining Software - Technical Assurance, Resource & Mineral Governance - Enterprise SaaS
A consideration of all mining companies and a primary focus of investors is the risk of failure for tailings storage facilities (TSFs) across all mining sectors. Global documentation on best practices produced across several countries all suggest the inclusion of an Engineer of Record (EoR). However, the inclusion of an EoR is not regulated in Australia as it is for other countries such as Canada.
THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR EOR SUCCESS
Given the intent of the EoR role is a management tool for mitigating risks, are the risks to the mining company reduced with the inclusion of an EoR role? With most mining companies, the EoR role is subject to stringent procurement conditions, and some companies limit the involvement of the EoR within the governance team. In short, there are many different models of the EoR role implemented across the mining sector, which will likely have very different outcomes.
To be successful, a key consideration of the EoR role is to be involved in the operational phase of the TSF. This requires ‘buy-in’ from the mine managers and a change in the way TSFs are perceived.
One could argue that the current roles of the design and construction engineer (RPEQ or CPeng) for a TSF and the long term relationship between mining companies and engineering firms that are typical within Australia are as effective as implementing a specific EoR role. Where this falls down in relation to governance or stewardship of a TSF, is during the operation where no ongoing design or construction is undertaken or where a mine site is in a care and maintenance phase with the TSF almost forgotten.
PROCUREMENT CONTINUITY CONCERNS
One of the potential issues with the implementation of EoR, especially if regulated, comes from the procurement aspects and continuity of personnel within the EoR company. Mining companies may believe their obligations to investors are met with the appointment of an EoR, however the role of the EoR, if constrained by procurement and a typical client/consultancy relationship provides no improvement to the mitigation of safety risks for the TSF.
The effectiveness of the EoR is constrained if recommended actions are not implemented on site. For an EoR to be truly useful, the role needs to be recognised “on-the-ground” and not just within the corporate head office.
REMOVING RISK AT A SITE LEVEL
For the EoR role to be recognised, sites need to see the value and also understand the risks associated with construction, operation and closure of TSFs. All too often monitoring and operational controls and documentation are ignored, with the operator not fully understanding the risks. The expected operation of a TSF informs the design and contributes to the level of risk the design potentially poses.
During the operational phase of the TSF a large proportion of the EoR role should incorporate on-the-ground training for the operations personnel rather than it turning into a higher-level overseeing role. The EoR needs to become an integral part of the governance team and empowered to make decisions, as they relate to dam safety and without the traditional procurement relationship as a roadblock. Potentially the introduction of EoR would create a role that is not otherwise realised between the Design Engineer and the Client.
By Lis Boczek – Principal EngineerLis has over 20 years experience in a wide range of civil and geotechnical engineering projects servicing mining, industrial and local government clients. Her particular experience in the area of mine tailings and mine water storage and management applications includes dam siting, geotechnical/foundation assessment, embankment design, construction management and earthworks quality control, and capping assessments. She also has expertise in landfill engineering included landfill siting assessment, design of containment cells, rehabilitation and capping designs.
Originally published by ATC Williams.
Effectively monitor your tailings storage facility with Decipher
Decipher is designed to provide you with key data and insights, enabling you to effectively monitor your TSF and your environmental obligations and compliance. Our solution can be securely accessed by industry, regulators, designers and operators involved in the management of TSFs. Decipher offers a comprehensive and functionally rich solution which combines regulatory (Compliance Management Software), mining waste management, stakeholder engagement, environmental monitoring, and environmental management system (EMS) tools to assist with tailings management:
View real-time data and receive exceedance alerts
Monitor land movement with remote sensing and InSAR datasets
Visualise real-time LiDAR data with insights into dam movement
Securely store and access all of your tailings data in the one place
Upload and reference key documentation
Visualise facilities across multiple sites in a single screen on a geospatial map
Monitor your facilities with InSAR, LiDAR, DEM and more
Capture a wide range of monitoring data and indicators such as surface and groundwater, decant pond water levels and quality, and embankment conditions
Capture and track obligations and conditions around your licence to operate to manage your key risks and actions
Action and task delegation for data collection with reminders
Maintain and track environmental monitoring compliance limits and exceedances
Manage and engage with all of your stakeholders with one central repository
Convert your engagements into actionable outcomes
Forecast, plan and track your sites activities using IBM’s Weather data
Create corporate report templates and meet requests for data provision from industry groups such as ICMM, Global Tailings Portal, PRI and UNEP
Integration capability with third party systems or public portals such as the Global Tailings Portal
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Decipher is designed to provide you with key data and insights, enabling you to effectively monitor your TSF and your environmental obligations and compliance. Our solution can be securely accessed by industry, regulators, designers and operators involved in the management of TSFs. Decipher offers a comprehensive and functionally rich solution which combines regulatory (Compliance Management Software), mining waste management, stakeholder engagement, environmental monitoring, and environmental management system (EMS) tools to assist with tailings management:
