People & capacity
Who is accountable, how work is assigned, and whether the available capability and workload support those responsibilities.
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DEVELOPED BY BLU SPECIALIST CONSULTING
TRAF Tailings Risk Assurance Framework
Engineering capability assessment for insurers, brokers and mining risk teams.
Having engineering procedures in place is one thing. Knowing who carries them out, whether they have the capacity, and whether concerns are resolved is another.
TRAF uses existing records to assess how mine owners and engineering consultants manage their tailings responsibilities in practice. It helps identify gaps in oversight, unresolved concerns and where further technical review is needed.
BEYOND THE DOCUMENT LIST
How are engineering responsibilities managed in practice?
For insurers and brokers, TRAF helps distinguish demonstrated engineering capability from arrangements that are documented but poorly implemented, providing a clearer basis for technical enquiries and follow-up.
WHAT TRAF EXAMINES
Responsibilities. Decisions. Follow-through.
Technical oversight
How engineering decisions, repairs and operational changes are authorised, reviewed and verified—including mine-led and contractor work.
Action & evidence
How concerns are escalated, corrective actions are implemented, and their effect is checked. We consider the wider action history, including overdue and recurring issues.
TWO WAYS TO START
The right depth for the question.
We agree the assessed entity, responsibilities, facilities and intended use before work begins.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
A report that supports
your next decision.
The findings are presented in the context of the agreed scope and the evidence available.
- Scope & responsibilities
- What was assessed, for whom and over which review period.
- Supported findings
- Strengths, weaknesses and material concerns, with capability and confidence reported for a full assessment where supported.
- Evidence limitations
- What remains uncertain and where additional verification is needed.
- Follow-up priorities
- Issues to address, questions to resolve and evidence to revisit.
HOW AN ENGAGEMENT WORKS
Existing records first.
Targeted follow-up where needed.
Define the purpose.
Confirm the entity, facilities, review period, intended recipients and assessment depth. Scope, fees and deliverables are agreed before commencement.
Connect the evidence.
Start with existing reports, registers, technical notes and repair histories. Factual schedules fill gaps in people, responsibilities and workload information.
Focus the follow-up.
Selected supporting records and targeted questions clarify the findings. Interviews, visits or further verification are agreed where needed.
THE EXPERIENCE BEHIND TRAF
Developed from
engineering practice.
TRAF was developed by Yoshlin Govender, Founder & Principal Tailings Engineer at BLU Specialist Consulting.
It draws on his work in tailings engineering, dam safety and independent reviews, and on a recurring practical question: what does the available evidence tell us about how engineering is actually being managed?
ABOUT YOSHLIN & BLU →BEFORE WE BEGIN
A clear scope. A useful conversation.
Does TRAF replace a facility safety review or GISTM assessment?
No. TRAF complements existing standards and specialist facility reviews. It assesses engineering capability within an agreed scope; it is not a facility safety certification. Insurers retain coverage, pricing and policy decisions.
Do we need to prepare an entirely new submission?
Existing formats are accepted. We start with reports, action and risk registers, technical notes and repair histories, then identify the factual schedules and selected evidence needed to complete the picture.
Can we start with a pilot?
Yes. We can discuss a scoped paid pilot for a defined entity and facility population. Evidence availability, recipients, intended use and deliverables are agreed before a proposal is finalised.
Can you introduce TRAF to our team?
Yes. Contact Yoshlin to request a short introduction and discuss whether screening or a full assessment would suit your team's needs.
START A CONVERSATION
What would you like
to understand more clearly?
Tell us about your role, the entity or facilities involved, and the decision you need to inform.
Request an introductionyoshlin@tailingsconsult.com