Mine Tailings Storage: Safety Is No Accident

Sector

Stakeholders

Impact

Risk from mine waste - extent of exposure

Reward from mining Influence and control over risk

Company

High (multiple indicators)

Injury, temporary or permanent loss of work/income, impact on family/housing/subsistence Injury, loss of work/income, civil or criminal liability

Low

Low to medium (good salaries and opportunities, improved infrastructure and services)

Local Staff

Low or high for criminal responsibility

High - salaries

High

International staff and management

Medium

High for $ invested, (limited exposure if balanced investments, no additional liability) High for $ invested, (limited exposure if balanced investments, limited additional liability)

Low to high, depending on investment (can only lose investment) Low to high, depending on security Medium to high (economic growth, local opportunities, local taxes, improved infrastructure) Medium (economic growth, taxes) Low (royalties, rents, business opportunities, improved infrastructure and services) Low (economic growth - depends on balance/size of economy) Low (opportunities, improved infrastructure and services) No direct reward

Loss of share value

Investors

Loss of investment, reputation- al damage

High

Financiers

Low

Physical impact, lower community resilience and function, loss of income, cost of rehabilitation

High (multiple indicators - exposed to chronic and catastrophic impacts)

Government

Local

High

Loss of income, cost of rehabilitation Low to medium (depends on balance/size of economy and waste problem)

National

Nominally responsible

Low (limited to no liability)

High

Regulatory

Community

Low

Injury, temporary or permanent loss of work/income, impact on family/housing/subsistence

High (multiple indicators)

Local

Low (chronic) Medium (catastrophic)

Low

Economic

National

Injury, temporary or permanent impact on family/housing/subsistence

High (multiple indicators)

Low

Individuals

N/A

N/A

High - in products

Low for commodities

Consumers

Women and children more vulnerable to social and environ- mental change Altered environment, chemical or physical harm

Low (limited to no liability)

No direct reward

Low

Specific groups

High (exposed to chronic and catastrophic impacts) High (exposed to chronic and catastrophic impacts) High (exposed to chronic and catastrophic impacts) High (exposed to chronic and catastrophic impacts)

Environment

N/A

N/A

Biota

N/A

N/A

Erosion, contamination

Land

N/A

Change in water balance, groundwater pollution Breakdown/altering of processes caused by direct physical or chemical impacts or indirect due to change in species composition/behaviour

N/A

Water

N/A

N/A

Ecosystem processes

Table 4. Impact, risk, reward and control

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