If a contractor operates part of your tailings system, your board still needs clear answers about authority, competence, data access and escalation. A contract cannot replace accountable engineering and operational control.
Reporting on Dikwena stated that the facility was operated by a contractor while the mine owner took responsibility for investigation, clean-up and rehabilitation. The final technical cause remains under investigation. Treat that distinction as a governance lesson, not a finding about fault. Miningmx reported the ownership and operating context.

Set the decision rights in writing

Name the person who may change deposition, respond to abnormal monitoring, suspend work and call external support. Define when the operator must escalate and how the owner receives evidence. Do not rely on job titles alone.
Require contractor competence records, shift handover standards, inspection evidence and action closure in the same system used by the owner. Give the engineer of record access to the raw monitoring data and the contractor’s change log.

Audit the interface

Review who owns each barrier: decant controls, freeboard, instrumentation, emergency equipment, water management, public warning and rehabilitation. Test a scenario where the contractor cannot reach the site or loses power. If the owner cannot make a safe decision without a single contractor employee, the interface needs redesign.

Make the interface auditable

MMRisk can map your owner, contractor and engineering responsibilities into a barrier and escalation matrix. You receive a practical list of decisions, records and review points that can be tested before an incident exposes the gaps.
Request a Contractor-Interface Risk Review
Download the Tailings Facility Inspection and Action Register