ABSTRACT
The increasing global demand for mining and mineral processing has led to sub-stantial tailings generation, which contain hazardous chemicals and are typically stored in tailing dams. Evaluating the environmental risks of these dams is essential from a health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standpoint. This study assesses the environmental risks of ten tailing dams in Iran, selected from an initial pool of 49, using the Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) method. The analysis identifies the Mouteh and Songon dams as having the highest environmental risks due to potential tailings leakage and sudden failures. Conversely, the Koh-e Zar dam presents the lowest risk among the evaluated sites. Additionally, tailings dam facility failures are ranked as the least critical risk. These findings offer a comprehensive insight into the environmental risks associated with tailing dams, emphasizing the need for urgent mitigation measures to prevent adverse impacts and enhance overall sustainability in tailings management.
