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Abstract
The International Cyanide Management Code (ICMC) is a voluntary code of conduct that has been developed under the direction of a multi-stakeholder steering committee, established under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME). The two main objectives of the ICMC are to protect workers and communities from cyanide and to control, manage and improve the management of cyanide in mining companies operating around the world.
Canadian gold mining companies were studied to assess their awareness of the ICMC, explore benefits and identify limitations of the Code. As a prelude, case studies were documented on cyanide spills around the world in order to identify their causes. This aspect of the study was designed to consider whether or not the spills might have been prevented if the ICMC has been adopted and implemented, and if the Code could prevent future cyanide spills in gold mining companies.
A survey questionnaire was sent to 29 Canadian gold mining companies, with operations in Canada or abroad. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
