Applying High Reliability Organisation Theory to Guide Implementation of the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM)

Unreliable tailings management performance can result in serious, sometimes irreversible environmental, social and economic harm. The Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM), being implemented by some mining companies, represents a potential turning point towards safer, more sustainable tailings storage. Although there has been over 30 years of research describing the practices that High Reliability Organisations (HROs) sustain to remain free from catastrophic failure and routinely fulfil their performance goals, this knowledge is yet to be applied to tailings management. In this study, we used Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) methods and HRO thinking to consider how GISTM requirements can be operationalised with high reliability. We found examples where GISTM guides the development of organisational practices that enable greater reliability in the delivery of desired Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) performance. However, GISTM provides limited or no guidance aligning with some hallmark HRO characteristics, primarily a collective mindset and commitment to resilience. We argue that companies will need to develop and sustain additional approaches if all GISTM requirements are to be implemented with high reliability.