Developing, Attracting and Retaining Tailings Engineers of Record
David Bleiker, Laura Fidel, Martyn Willan
In the proceedings of: GeoManitoba 2025: 78th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 9th Canadian Permafrost ConferenceSession: Professional Practice & Risk
ABSTRACT: The mining industry faces a critical shortage of skilled professionals for tailings stewardship, including Engineers of Record (EoR). This paper outlines WSP's internal program designed to develop EoRs, addressing this gap through a structured framework of core competencies, assessment methodologies, formal training, and ongoing support. The program emphasizes both technical experience and soft skills, essential for effective tailings management across the mine life cycle. Key components include comprehensive design, construction, operation, and closure experience, alongside leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities. The assessment tool provides a roadmap for practitioners, ensuring they acquire the necessary skills and experience. Continuous training and career guidance, coupled with industry surveillance and support mechanisms, aim to enhance the proficiency and confidence of EoRs, ultimately contributing to safer and more efficient tailings facility management.
RÉSUMÉ: L'industrie minière fait face à une pénurie critique de professionnels qualifiés pour la gestion des résidus miniers, y compris les ingénieurs responsables (EoR). Cet article présente le programme interne de WSP conçu pour former des EoR, comblant cette lacune grâce à un cadre structuré de compétences de base, des méthodologies d'évaluation, une formation formelle et un soutien continu. Le programme met l'accent à la fois sur l'expérience technique et les compétences relationnelles, essentielles pour une gestion efficace des résidus tout au long du cycle de vie de la mine. Les composants clés incluent une expérience complète en conception, construction, exploitation et fermeture, ainsi que des capacités en leadership, communication et travail d'équipe. L'outil d'évaluation fournit une feuille de route pour les praticiens, garantissant qu'ils acquièrent les compétences et l'expérience nécessaires. La formation continue et l'orientation professionnelle, associées à la surveillance de l'industrie et aux mécanismes de soutien, visent à améliorer la compétence et la confiance des EoR, contribuant ainsi à une gestion des installations de résidus plus sûre et plus efficace
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Bleiker, David, Fidel, Laura, Willan, Martyn (2025) Developing, Attracting and Retaining Tailings Engineers of Record in GEO2025. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.
@inproceedings{Bleiker_GEO2025_193,
author = {{Bleiker, David}, {Fidel, Laura}, {Willan, Martyn}}
title = {Developing, Attracting and Retaining Tailings Engineers of Record }
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 78th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 9th Canadian Permafrost Conference}
year = {2025}
organization = {The Canadian Geotechnical Society},
address = {Ottawa, Canada} }
title = {Developing, Attracting and Retaining Tailings Engineers of Record }
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 78th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 9th Canadian Permafrost Conference}
year = {2025}
organization = {The Canadian Geotechnical Society},
address = {Ottawa, Canada} }