7. The safety of tailings dams and lagoons in Britain
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Published:1991
A. D. Penman, J. A. Charles, 1991. "7. The safety of tailings dams and lagoons in Britain", The embankment dam: Proceedings of the sixth conference of the British Dam Society held in Nottingham on 12–15 September 1990, The British Dam Society
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Tailings arise from many mining, quarrying and industrial processes. The need for tailings dams and lagoons has grown with increased output of tailings and restriction of discharge into rivers. There are now a large number of tailings lagoons in Britain, with over 1500 associated with mines and quarries. Although the hazards posed by tailings dams can be similar to those from dams which impound water, tailings dams and lagoons are not subject to reservoir safety legislation. Many tailings dams come within the scope of the Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act of 1969, but not all do so. There have been a number of incidents affecting safety and the hazard posed by the sudden release of tailings is examined in the context of the safety of British tailings dams.
INTRODUCTION
NUMBERS AND SIZES OF TAILINGS DAMS
LEGISLATION AND INSPECTION
FAILURES AND SERIOUS EVENTS
HAZARD EVALUATION
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
