Achieving zero harm: Key strategies to unlocking GISTM compliance, part 1

In August 2020, the United Nations introduced the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), which ultimately aims to achieve zero harm to people and the environment. This standard endorses responsible governance for tailings facilities worldwide at every stage of the life cycle, from design through to closure. The deadline for complete compliance is now less than a year away. 

The global standard set by the UN promotes holistic environmental, technical, and social considerations for measurable and efficient auditing. This was designed to enable organizations to take a proactive approach to tailings management by preventing dam failure and prioritizing safety. 

The GITSM applies to both existing and future tailings facilities, including active and inactive sites. And with the August 2025 full facility conformance deadline less than one year away, it’s crucial that compliance efforts are supported and accelerated, with expert guidance tailored to specific needs. This blog series will outline the most important actions needed to kickstart a GISTM compliance journey. 

The path to GISTM compliance

6 Topics. 15 Principles. 77 Requirements. 219 Protocols. 

Hatch’s proven methodology enables sites of all sizes to achieve complete conformance, beginning with three key steps: 

1. Aligning objectives based on the ideal state of tailings management systems.

The journey to compliance begins with aligning objectives and gathering information. To enable a clear and mutual understanding of the standard organization-wide, training key stakeholders on the benefits of compliance, and the risk of non-compliance, is essential. By understanding all requirements and setting clear goals, the ideal state of operations can be defined. 

2. Conducting a self-assessment against current facilities and ideal state.

Once the ideal state is identified and understood, the next phase to compliance is conducting an assessment. This activity is driven by a self-assessment to uncover the current state of facilities and benchmark against GISTM metrics. This will uncover a plan structure to address high priority items and resources needed to achieve full compliance. Measurements against the 15 principles should consider compliance level, confidence level, and related supporting evidence. 

3. Enabling a third-party gap-assessment to assess and enhance findings.

Once the self-assessment is complete, an external review of the assessment is necessary to confirm findings and solidify action items. Guidance from the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) clarifies that a third party should be engaged as soon as reasonably practicable. While the evaluation metrics do not change between assessments, leveraging external expertise ensures correct evidence is available and interpreted to totally meet, partially meet, or fail to meet objectives. ICMM conformance protocols state: “Third party validation work is to be undertaken by an auditor with the skills, experience, and knowledge required to completely confirm the reasonableness and authenticity of assertions made in self-assessment or to undertake a standalone audit.” 

Based on experience executing gap-assessments, self-assessments have shown that there is approximately a 20% disparity between perceived compliance and external review. Inviting a third-party review introduces industry best practices that are instrumental in identifying areas for continuous improvement and developing a plan to boost compliance. 

Organizations must meet environmental, social, and technical regulations to gain economic advantages and protections. These protocols place special emphasis on topics beyond facility design and operations, reflecting the increasingly complex and holistic nature of modern tailings risk. 

With the right partner, compliance is achievable through tools and resources that enhance safety, sustainability, and longevity in tailings facilities. In response, Hatch global tailings experts have designed the Hatch Integrated Tailings Management software to streamline GITSM conformance.  

More than ever, mining professionals are being called upon to maintain comprehensive data sets and build knowledge required to address the needs of operations, communities, and regulators. We’re committed to supporting the journey towards effective tailings management by equipping tailings storage facilities with the tools to de-risk operations and identify a roadmap to the next steps. Learn more about how our team can meet your specific compliance requirements by contacting our regional GISTM experts.