An effective environmental management system (EMS) has to reduce the possible environmental damage caused by a mine, the mine's overall cost and ensure that workers are safe and healthy, says mining industry consultant The MSA Group.

An EMS is a set of processes and tasks that an organisation creates to ensure that all its environmental and social objectives are met. If the system is not run properly or not implemented throughout the mine, the dangers associated with working at or close to the mine increase dramatically. The MSA Group explains that some of these dangers can affect surrounding communities and may lead to authorities issuing fines or taking legal action against miners.

The potential risks of not using an EMS system are vast and unique to each mine, The MSA Group emphasises.

“Water, air and noise pollution, the loss of resources through spills or leaks, along with accidents and the impact on surrounding communities, are repercussions of not identifying risks timeously, owing to a badly managed EMS,” explains The MSA Group principal environmental consultant Robin Bolton.

However, an effective EMS can prevent more than direct environ- mental threats, he adds. Larger companies, which have global operations, can risk tarnishing their public image if they do not adhere to policies set out by international environmental protection agencies, and will benefit from having an effective management system that covers multiple environmental, health and safety issues.

A poorly managed EMS can also lead to inferior management of a mining project and, subsequently, loss of value. This is because a proper EMS includes a monitoring system that provides regular updates on a mining project and can, thereby, accurately confirm when a certain aspect of a mine is malfunctioning.

Implementation and Regulations

Bolton explains that the most opportune time to implement an EMS is during a mine’s construction phase. However, an EMS can be developed for older mines by undertaking a complete gap analysis, which measures the potential performance of the mine against its current performance, along with a risk assessment.

“The existing EMS has to be assessed, after which an EMS can be developed to [bridge]the gaps identified and meet the needs and objectives of the operation.”

A complete understanding of how an existing mine operates is important when creating an EMS. However, Bolton points out that an EMS for a new mine requires a different process, as there is limited project data to work from.

The MSA Group has done work in accordance with the ISO 14001 guideline, which is part of a set of guidelines that provide companies with the tools needed to reach and manage their environmental goals when creating a new EMS.

“There are various guidelines on how to set up a system, with the most accepted guideline being the ISO 14001 standard. It clearly defines the various components needed for a successful EMS,” Bolton highlights.

He says the standard should preferably be implemented by specialists, such as The MSA Group.

A successful EMS that complies with ISO 14001 and which has been actively implemented since the inception of a mine, provides stability in environmental management, compared with mines that did not follow this route. It also helps improve the public image of a mine and reduces the chance of regulation infringement and legal actions, notes Bolton.

He says any industry that has an environmental impact would benefit from implementing an EMS. However, a mine requires a more detailed system, as it tends to be a large operation, with a greater number of activities occurring.

Educating the managers and foremen on the importance of using an EMS is necessary when implementing an effective EMS because the system relies on management to enforce its procedures throughout the mine.

If top management understands the need for an EMS and supports it accordingly, the system will be managed more effectively, states Bolton. He adds that, without properly educating the employees responsible for maintaining the system, its effectiveness will be greatly hindered.