Bioaccumulation Cyanides are not bioaccumulative. Where are the Generation Transport Storage Treatment Recovery Final disposal risks of impacts most High Moderate Moderate Medium N/A Low likely? High concentrations of cyanide in a tailings dam in central NSW led to the deaths of several thousand birds in 1995. Many birds were killed in 2003 when containers of sodium Has anything cyanide on a truck travelling to a WA mine cracked and released cyanide. Sodium cyanide happened was released to the harbour from production facility in Gladstone Qld in 2012. In the period before in 1990-2015 Australia has experienced release of cyanide due to transport accidents on Australia? three occasions. Several thousand litres of cyanide solution spilled in Northern Territory in 2002, poisoning birds and dingoes. Solid cyanide was released after a train derailment in 1992 in NSW (100 tonnes) and a truck accident in Northern Territory in 2007. Industry – The mining industry subscribes to a Cyanide Code of Practice that systematic provides detailed specification of industry practice. controls Workplace controls involve education of the workforce, provision of personal protective equipment, and regular monitoring of the work Industry – environment. Controls over the content of an access to tailings exposure dams are increasingly stringent. For example, at the Cowal mine in controls central NSW, the dam is surrounded by two-metre high wire mesh fence, buried 0.5 metres deep and also an electrified fence. What control measures are Safe Work Australia provides guidance to the use of dangerous in place to chemicals in the electroplating industry and advocates a six-point manage risks plan for elimination of hazards: elimination, substitution, isolation, posed by this engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective waste? equipment., Government Mining operations are conducted under license from state and territory governments. Licenses increasingly require lower levels of cyanide in tailings dams and/or complete destruction of cyanide before discharge. Legislation also applies to transport to hazardous good such as cyanide. Some mines have community consultative bodies that contribute to Community best practice management of many aspects of the mining and treatment operations including cyanide management. Guidance note: controlling hazards in the electroplating industry: . Pollution Prevention and Control. Technologies for Plating Operations: . References Cyanide management (Leading practice Sustainable Development program for the Mining Industry, 2008): .
Bioaccumulation Cyanides are not bioaccumulative. Where are the risks of impacts most likely? Generation Transport Storage Treatment Recovery Final disposal High Moderate Moderate Medium N/A Low Has anything happened before in Australia? High concentrations of cyanide in a tailings dam in central NSW led to the deaths of several thousand birds in 1995. Many birds were killed in 2003 when containers of sodium cyanide on a truck travelling to a WA mine cracked and released cyanide. Sodium cyanide was released to the harbour from production facility in Gladstone Qld in 2012. In the period 1990-2015 Australia has experienced release of cyanide due to transport accidents on three occasions. Several thousand litres of cyanide solution spilled in Northern Territory in 2002, poisoning birds and dingoes. Solid cyanide was released after a train derailment in 1992 in NSW (100 tonnes) and a truck accident in Northern Territory in 2007. What control measures are in place to manage risks posed by this waste? Industry – systematic controls The mining industry subscribes to a Cyanide Code of Practice that provides detailed specification of industry practice. Industry – exposure controls Workplace controls involve education of the workforce, provision of personal protective equipment, and regular monitoring of the work environment. Controls over the content of an access to tailings dams are increasingly stringent. For example, at the Cowal mine in central NSW, the dam is surrounded by two-metre high wire mesh fence, buried 0.5 metres deep and also an electrified fence. Government Safe Work Australia provides guidance to the use of dangerous chemicals in the electroplating industry and advocates a six-point plan for elimination of hazards: elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment., Mining operations are conducted under license from state and territory governments. Licenses increasingly require lower levels of cyanide in tailings dams and/or complete destruction of cyanide before discharge. Legislation also applies to transport to hazardous good such as cyanide. Community Some mines have community consultative bodies that contribute to best practice management of many aspects of the mining and treatment operations including cyanide management. References Guidance note: controlling hazards in the electroplating industry: . Pollution Prevention and Control. Technologies for Plating Operations: . Cyanide management (Leading practice Sustainable Development program for the Mining Industry, 2008): .
hazardous-waste-impacts.docx