The International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI) will present training sessions on auditing the International Cyanide Management Code on Oct. 18, 19 and 20. The sessions will be available over the Internet as a series of three two-hour presentations. Each presentation will be followed by a live interactive session for questions and answers.

ICMI began accepting code signatories on July 11. The code is now being implemented at gold mines and cyanide production facilities around the world. Signatory companies must have their operations audited by independent third parties meeting ICMI criteria and using ICMI’s Verification Audit Protocols.

ICMI said the training sessions will discuss required auditor credentials, the audit process and interpretation of code provisions, with prime focus on how the audit questions in the Verification Protocols should be applied to on-the-ground situations.

Although not a requirement for code auditors, this training will be critical for anyone intending to audit the code. In addition, the training sessions will also be valuable for those in the gold mining, cyanide production and transportation industries that have

signed or are considering signing onto the code, the institute said. “A full understanding of the auditors’ expectations will help them to apply the code at their operations, improve their management of cyanide, and prepare for certification.”

ICMI said the training will also be useful to other parties interested in the safe and environmentally sound management of the cyanide used in gold mining, especially stakeholders who have followed the code development process and who are interested in seeing this programme fully implemented.