Abstract: The risk management and evaluation of tailings reservoirs lack both legal conditions and technical basis.A risk evaluation system should be set up based on their failure probability analysis and the economic and life loss of tailings reservoir failures.The engineering safety of tailings reservoirs should be related with the economic development and public safety in the downstream area, and the non-engineering measures capable of reducing the downstream risks should be stressed.The main objectives of this system include: establishing a complete legal system; gradually forming a systematic and perfect system of analysis theory, method and technology; setting up a risk standard for the acceptable risks and tolerable risks of tailings reservoirs; evaluating the losses of downstream personnel, economy, society and environment, judging the risks of tailings reservoirs and working out the guidance for various emergency rescue plans.

Key words: Tailings reservoir, Safety evaluation, Risk, Risk management