Tailings Management SWMS
Tailings storage facility operations — dam wall, pipelines, seepage monitoring, supernatant management, deposition planning, emergency action plan (EAP). Aligned to ANCOLD Guidelines, WA COP Tailings Storage Facilities, and QLD Guidance Note QGN 29.
SWMS variants reference your state's WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This SWMS covers operational tailings storage facility (TSF) work on Australian mine sites — dam wall raises and buttressing, spigot and cycloning deposition management, decant tower and pontoon work, pipeline routing and integrity checks, piezometer and seepage-monitoring network maintenance, supernatant pond management, beach inspection, crest grading, freeboard surveys, and the execution of the Emergency Action Plan (EAP). It is written for TSF supervisors, dam operators, tailings superintendents, geotechnical engineers, Engineer of Record representatives, and the surface contractor crews engaged to deliver dam-raise earthworks under the site's Principal Hazard Management Plan (PHMP). Every control in this document has been authored against the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) Guidelines, the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM 2020), and the binding state regulations listed below.
Tailings management is not a Schedule 1 High-Risk Construction Work category under the WHS Regulation — it is regulated as a principal mining hazard under the NSW WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022, the QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017, the QLD Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017, and the WA Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022. TSFs are an explicitly nominated principal hazard requiring a dedicated Principal Hazard Management Plan supported by an Engineer of Record, Operating and Maintenance Manual (OMM), Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP), independent Dam Safety Review, and Emergency Action Plan. This SWMS does not replace the PHMP — it sits underneath it and operationalises the day-to-day controls that deliver the PHMP objectives at the worker-task level, giving supervisors a defensible, auditable document for daily pre-start briefings and regulator inspections.
Hazards identified
12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Catastrophic downstream inundation, loss of life, environmental release, and total loss of the facility; the highest-consequence failure mode on any TSF.
Progressive loss of dam integrity leading to breach, sudden release of tailings, and fatalities in the inundation zone; the failure mode implicated in most historical TSF disasters.
Sudden loss of shear strength in saturated cycloned sand or slimes, leading to flow-slide and catastrophic breach; the mechanism identified in the Brumadinho 2019 disaster.
High-velocity slurry release, worker injury from whip and impact, environmental discharge, and burial of crews working near the spigot manifold.
Loss of embankment effective stress, reduced factor of safety against slumping, and long-term internal erosion pathways; precursor to piping and liquefaction failure.
Fatal drowning or entrapment in saturated slimes unable to support body weight; specialist mud-rescue equipment required for recovery.
Sinking of vehicle or worker into unconsolidated deposition zones; fatal asphyxiation or drowning without immediate specialist rescue.
Exposure to cyanide (gold circuits), pH extremes, H2S generation from sulphide oxidation, and inhalation of windblown dust from dry beach surfaces.
Collapse of walkway, gangway, or floating platform causing fall into pond; drowning or chemical exposure follows.
Bird and mammal mortality triggering regulator notifications, production shutdown, and Environmental Protection Act prosecutions.
Direct lightning strike on exposed crew, heat stress during summer inspections, and hypothermia during winter freeboard surveys.
Missed TARP escalation, delayed EAP activation, and degraded decision-making during developing dam-safety events.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Operate strictly within the Operating and Maintenance Manual (OMM) issued by the Engineer of Record. Beach width, freeboard, and supernatant pond-size triggers are defined in the OMM TARP and are the primary operational control against overtopping and piping.
- 2Complete quarterly inspections by the Engineer of Record and annual independent Dam Safety Review (DSR) by a registered geotechnical consultant per ANCOLD Guidelines on Tailings Dams (Rev 1, July 2019). DSR findings and closeouts are reported to the state regulator per QLD QGN 29 and WA COP Tailings Storage Facilities 2025.
- 3Maintain engineered spillway capacity per ANCOLD guidelines. Inspect spillway for vegetation, sediment, or debris blockage weekly during wet season and after every rainfall event exceeding the OMM trigger threshold.
- 4Operate the piezometer and seepage-monitoring network at the frequency defined in the TARP — typically weekly manual reads with automated real-time monitoring on critical instruments. Triggered excursions escalate through TARP Levels 1-3 with mandatory Engineer of Record notification.
- 5Enforce crest exclusion zoning with engineered edge protection, bunds, or delineator barriers. No worker is permitted within 3 metres of the downstream or upstream crest edge without fall-arrest harness anchored to engineered points; no vehicles within 2 metres of crest edge.
- 6Dust suppression on dry beach surfaces using hygroscopic chemical agents, progressive rehabilitation of inactive deposition zones, and water-cart suppression during windy conditions. Respirable crystalline silica exposure standard is 0.05 mg/m³ (8-hr TWA); from 1 December 2026 the framework transitions from WES to Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) with the RCS numerical value unchanged.
- 7Buddy system and personal gas monitors (H2S, HCN, O2) mandatory for all work within 5 metres of the supernatant pond edge, decant tower, or active spigot manifold. Gas monitors calibrated daily and bump-tested before shift start.
- 8Pre-deployed soft-tailings rescue equipment at every TSF — specialist mud-rescue sled, throw-bag, rescue ropes, and trained mud-rescue responders rostered on every shift. No solo work on the beach under any circumstances.
- 9Pipeline integrity program per ANCOLD Guidelines on Tailings Dams: ultrasonic thickness testing on rubber-lined spigot pipelines every 6 months, visual inspection daily, pressure relief valves tested quarterly, and isolation valves tagged and lockable at every manifold.
- 10TARP (Trigger Action Response Plan) integrated with the site EAP. Level 1 triggers notify the Tailings Superintendent; Level 2 triggers notify the Engineer of Record and Mine Manager; Level 3 triggers activate the Emergency Action Plan including downstream community notification per GISTM 2020 Principle 15.
- 11Lightning detection system with automated site-wide alert at 10 km range and mandatory stand-down for all crest and beach work at 5 km range. Resume work only after 30 minutes clear of strike activity.
- 12All TSF operators hold current Surface Extractive Industry competencies (RII30420 or equivalent), confined space entry where applicable, and fall-arrest training per AS/NZS 1891.1. Shotfirers and specialist raise crews hold state-licensed tickets.
- 13Psychosocial controls per WHS Regulation 2025 r55A-55D: 12-hour maximum shift rule for TSF operators on TARP-monitoring roster, mandatory handover briefings, two-person escalation for every Level 2+ trigger, and fatigue management plan integrated with the site FMP.
- 14PPE baseline: hard hat, hi-vis long-sleeve shirt and trouser, steel-cap boots, safety glasses, chemical-resistant gloves for process-water contact, personal flotation device (PFD) for all work within 3 metres of the pond edge, and P2 half-face respirator during dust-generating activities.
- 15Daily pre-start toolbox talk covering current TARP state, weather forecast, planned deposition schedule, piezometer readings, and Engineer of Record correspondence since the previous shift. Record attendance and TARP state in the shift log.
- 16Emergency Action Plan tested annually with full downstream notification exercise per GISTM 2020 Principle 15 and the site Emergency Management Plan; rehearsal frequency increased to six-monthly for Extreme-Consequence and High-Consequence facilities per ANCOLD classification.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Binding technical guideline cited in every state TSF regulatory framework; governs design, operation, monitoring, and independent review of tailings facilities.
Approved state Code of Practice under the WHS Act; binding for all WA TSFs and governs OMM, TARP, DSR, and Engineer of Record duties.
Queensland regulator guidance establishing tailings dam design, construction, operation, and closure expectations for metalliferous and coal mines.
Nominates TSF integrity as a principal hazard requiring a dedicated PHMP; r26-r33 govern PHMP content and review.
Post-Brumadinho international standard adopted by ICMM members; binding on Tier-1 miners through company policy and increasingly referenced by state regulators.
Applies to decant tower entry, supernatant pontoon maintenance, and reclaim tunnel work underneath the TSF embankment.
Requires 45-day advance notification to the regulator before TSF construction or substantial change (Schedule 23 Item 11).
Who this is for
- →Tailings superintendents and TSF operators managing deposition, monitoring, and compliance under the site PHMP.
- →Geotechnical engineers and Engineer of Record representatives conducting inspections, piezometer reads, and DSR activities.
- →Earthworks contractor crews engaged on dam-raise construction, buttressing, and spillway works.
- →Mine managers and Statutory Site Senior Executives (SSE) with regulatory accountability for principal hazard management.
- →HSE leads and principal hazard plan owners preparing for regulator inspection, DSR audit, or GISTM conformance assessment.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word (.docx) document delivered within 24 hours of payment.
- ✓Title page with mine name, ABN, TSF identifier, Engineer of Record, Tailings Superintendent, and revision date fields.
- ✓Signed approval block for Mine Manager, SSE, Engineer of Record, and Tailings Superintendent.
- ✓Hazard register with the 12 hazards above, each with consequence, inherent risk, controls, and residual risk scored on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix.
- ✓Controls section cross-referenced to ANCOLD Guidelines, GISTM 2020 principles, and the site OMM and TARP.
- ✓TARP extract template with Level 1-3 trigger thresholds for freeboard, pond size, beach width, and piezometer readings.
- ✓Emergency Action Plan activation flowchart linked to the TARP Level 3 trigger criteria.
- ✓Consultation record for HSR sign-off and worker input per Section 47 of the WHS Act.
- ✓Daily pre-start sign-on register with TARP state field and Engineer of Record correspondence log.
- ✓Legislation schedule pre-populated with state-by-state variance table (NSW, QLD, WA, SA, VIC, NT, TAS).
Worked example
A 200 tonne-per-day copper concentrator TSF in regional NSW is executing a cycloned-sand dam raise from RL420 to RL422 over a 6-week campaign under the supervision of the Engineer of Record. The Tailings Superintendent completes this SWMS before mobilising the contractor earthworks crew: the scope triggers principal hazard management under NSW WHS(MPS)R 2022, requires Engineer of Record quarterly inspection, and must operate within the OMM freeboard envelope of minimum 1.5 metres throughout the raise. Piezometers P7, P8, and P11 are read weekly with TARP Level 2 trigger set at 2-metre head rise over baseline; a rainfall event on week 3 delivers 48 mm in 6 hours, triggering a TARP Level 1 freeboard review and automatic notification to the Engineer of Record. The SWMS is signed by the Mine Manager, Engineer of Record, SSE, and Tailings Superintendent; daily pre-start briefings record the TARP state and piezometer trend. At week 5 the independent annual DSR inspection is conducted and findings are closed out before commissioning of the raised crest; the SWMS is reviewed and re-issued following the DSR closeout memo. Reference: the Cadia gold mine (NSW) Northern Wall slump of March 2018 — partial embankment failure triggered the industry-wide TSF governance review that drove the adoption of GISTM 2020; the operator was penalised and the incident remains a reference point for TSF principal hazard management across Australia.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — Section 19 primary duty of care; Section 27 officer due diligence; Section 47 worker consultation.
- WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) — r55A-55D psychosocial hazards; r49-54 general risk management framework.
- WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 (NSW) — r26-33 principal hazard management plans; TSF is a nominated principal hazard.
- WA Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 — r675UK TSF construction notification; Schedule 23 Item 11 reporting thresholds.
- QLD Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017 and QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 — principal hazard management and site senior executive accountability.
- Environmental Protection Act 1994 (QLD), Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), and Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) — TSF is an environmentally relevant activity requiring licensed operating conditions.
- Dam Safety Act 2015 (NSW) and Dam Safety NSW 2019 Regulation — prescribed declared dam notifications where applicable.
- Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and relevant state Aboriginal heritage legislation — TSF footprints and raise construction require heritage clearance.
Frequently asked questions
Does this SWMS replace the site Principal Hazard Management Plan (PHMP)?
No. The PHMP is a statutory document prepared by the operator under NSW WHS(MPS)R 2022, QLD CMSHR 2017, or WA WHS(Mines)R 2022 and is authored by the Engineer of Record with mine management. This SWMS operationalises the day-to-day controls that deliver the PHMP objectives at the worker-task level. You must have a current PHMP in place; the SWMS sits beneath it.
Does this SWMS cover TSF closure and rehabilitation work?
Partially. The controls addressing dust suppression, progressive rehabilitation, and crest exclusion apply during closure. Full closure-phase works — cover design, landform reshaping, decant tower demolition — require a separate closure SWMS and a Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan (PRCP) in QLD or equivalent state closure plan.
Is GISTM 2020 conformance mandatory in Australia?
Not directly in law, but effectively mandatory for ICMM-member Tier-1 operators (BHP, Rio Tinto, Newcrest, South32, Glencore and others) through company policy. State regulators, particularly WA and QLD, increasingly reference GISTM in guidance and inspection protocols. Non-ICMM operators should treat GISTM as leading industry practice and the defensible baseline for PHMP content.
How often does this SWMS need to be reviewed?
At minimum annually, immediately following any Engineer of Record inspection finding, after any TARP Level 2 or Level 3 trigger, after any Dam Safety Review, and whenever the deposition method, raise method, or OMM changes. The NSW WHS(MPS)R 2022 also requires review after any incident or worker consultation raising a concern.
Can I use this SWMS across multiple TSFs on the same site?
The base document is suitable for multiple facilities, but each TSF has a unique OMM, TARP, and Engineer of Record. You must complete the TSF-specific fields — trigger thresholds, facility identifier, DSR date, consequence category per ANCOLD classification — separately for each facility. Using a single generic SWMS across multiple TSFs with different OMM parameters is a compliance gap.
Is this SWMS compliant with the 1 July 2026 Section 26A changes?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, 34 approved Codes of Practice become legally binding under Section 26A of the amended WHS Act. This SWMS cites the Codes that will become binding — Confined Spaces, Managing the Risk of Falls, and others — in addition to the state mining regulations and ANCOLD guidelines that already apply to TSFs. No amendment is required for the Section 26A transition.
Document details
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