Introductory description

ES94Y-15 Health, Safety and Environmental Considerations in Tunnelling

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

• The body of legislation, guidance and standards with which designers and particularly
  contractors must comply
• Health, safety and environmental (HSE) considerations at concept planning stage for
  different tunnel types / uses
• Reducing / eliminating hazards to health, safety and the environment by good planning
  and design
• Identification of HSE hazards in tunnel construction and operation, technical knowledge of
  the hazard, followed by strategies to mitigate these hazards by good design practice
• Occupational health and environmental risk during construction and its mitigation
• Requirements, tunnel layout and services for road, rail and utility tunnels
• Hazard types and safety measures (e.g. Fire, Ventilation, Transport, Machines,
  etc.)
• Risk assessment processes for design, construction, operation and
  decommissioning
• Best practice in risk assessment, control and management.
• Modern approach to the improvement of safety standards (including Behavioural Based
  Safety) Safety by design, CDM, risk assessment and competence.
• Issues related to working in compressed air.
• HAV considerations linked to limitations on the use of hand mining.
• Working in confined spaces.
• Emergency procedures / planning related to tunnel operations (Tunnel Operators Forum).
• Site waste and materials management

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the current legislative, ethical and social context pertaining to health, safety and the environment as applied to construction works associated with underground projects
• Evaluate potential health, safety and environmental hazards met in the construction and operation of underground spaces.
• Apply sound management strategies to the mitigation of health, safety and environmental risks.
• Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of current legislation relating to health, safety and the environment in construction

Indicative reading list

• ITA 2008. Guidelines for good occupational health and safety practice in tunnel construction,
  International tunnelling Association report No.001. ISBN 978-2-9700624-0-0.
• BS 6164:2019. Code of practice for safety in tunnelling in the construction industry. BSI, London.
• BTS Compressed Air Working Group 2012. A guide to the Work in Compressed Air Regulations

• International Tunnelling Insurance Group 2012. ITIG code of practice for risk management of
  tunnel works.
• CIRIA 2015. Environmental good practice on site guide (fourth edition). CIRIA Report C741
  (Charles, P., Edwards, P., eds.). London: CIRIA.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

1. Ability to conceive, make and realise a component, product, system or process
2. Ability to develop economically viable and ethically sound sustainable solutions
3. Ability to be pragmatic, taking a systematic approach and the logical and practical steps necessary for, often complex, concepts to become reality
4. Ability to seek to achieve sustainable solutions to problems and have strategies for being creative and innovative
5. Ability to be risk, cost and value-conscious, and aware of their ethical, social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional engineering responsibilities

Transferable skills

1. Numeracy: apply mathematical and computational methods to communicate parameters, model and optimize solutions
2. Apply problem solving skills, information retrieval, and the effective use of general IT facilities
3. Communicate (written and oral; to technical and non-technical audiences) and work with others
4. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including time management, which may be as a team member or leader
5. Overcome difficulties by employing skills, knowledge and understanding in a flexible manner
6. Ability to formulate and operate within appropriate codes of conduct, when faced with an ethical issue
7. Appreciation of the global dimensions of engineering, commerce and communication
8. Be professional in their outlook, be capable of team working, be effective communicators, and be able to exercise responsibility and sound management approaches.