Tailings piles and the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management: evaluating the distribution of risks within the standard

Abstract Disasters involving tailings dams in Brazil have highlighted gaps in risk management and control systems, encouraging the adoption of alternatives such as dry-stacked tailings facilities. In this context, the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) establishes guidelines for mitigating socio-environmental and operational impacts. However, studies evaluating its specific application to tailings piles remain limited. This study assessed the influence of structural, financial, environmental, psychosocial, and legal risks on compliance with GISTM requirements in five operating tailings piles. The Risk Control Management System questionnaire was applied, with responses categorized as “compliant,” “non-compliant,” and “not applicable.” Data were processed using binary coding and statistical analysis in RStudio, including descriptive analysis, exploratory graphs, and ANOVA testing. The results indicated compliance levels ranging from 21.83 to 62.84% among the analyzed structures. A higher recurrence of controls associated with structural (62%) and environmental (49%) risks was observed, followed by reputational (47%) and legal (45%) risks. Analysis of variance did not identify statistically significant differences among risk groups (p-value = 0.357). Additionally, a relevant association was observed between GISTM compliance and factors influenced by current Brazilian legislation. It is concluded that the GISTM primarily directs the mitigation of structural, environmental, and psychosocial risks, contributing to the strengthening of safety and governance in tailings piles and supporting strategies for improving management in the mining sector.