Response to Emergencies 

Emergency Services and Operational Capacity

Tunneling construction should be assessed during the planning stage of the project. The plan should be established in consultation with the police, fire, and ambulance services, to establish their operational capacity and details of any additional facilities and equipment required for operations beyond that capacity.

Equipment and other issues that should be accountable when planning a response to emergencies include the following points:

• • Provision of a control room and a bridgehead location from which resources and operations can be controlled close to the incident.

  • Underground transportation of personnel and equipment to the incident or bridgehead.

  • Lighting, communications, ventilation and smoke control.

  • Underground transportation of causalities and personnel back to the surface.

  • Fixed installations,  such as water mains, fire suppression systems, and fire-fighting hoses.

  • Portable fire-fighting equipment.

  • Provision of an extended duration breathing apparatus.

  • Training and site familiarization for fire service personnel.

In all circumstances in the time of emergency, the contractor’s emergency response arrangements should be followed (BS 6164: 14.1. 

Emergency Control Facilities

Control Rooms

During an emergency service need, an emergency control room should be planned on large sites. The room should be equipped with site radio, ex-directory telephone lines, and recent up-to-date site layout drawings.

The emergency control room should be located at the top of each shaft or access. Where not possible, waterproof recent drawings locating all emergency equipment with the shaft depth should be displayed along with the exact location.

Full ventilation systems should be made available, such as fans and ducts for use in the time of emergency with the firefighters, and a suitable person should be allocated to operate the ventilation system (BS 6164: 14.2.1).

Raising the alarm

During the event of an emergency, adequate arrangements should be made for raising the alarm and calling emergency services. The alarm should be clearly noticeable to all personnel working in the area as well as all responsible and key persons above ground.

Note: Warning arrangements can include any of the following as appropriate:

• • voice warnings;

  • telephone communications;

  • hand-operated or electrically operated bells or sirens;

  • special flashing lights;

  • flashing of the main lighting circuits.

The layout of the alarm device should be planned properly due to the high noise level of the underground construction activities and the adverse nature of construction (BS 6164: 14.3)

Alarm Procedures

Consultation and Planning

Alarm procedures should be pre-planned at each construction site. Proper co-ordination should be carried out and planned in coordination with the health and safety executive and local emergency services for seeking advice on fire and evacuation. Protocols should be laid out for contacting the emergency services, such as fire departments, hospitals, police, etc. departments (BS 6164: 14.4.1).

Action at the Point of Discovery of an Incident and Action on Receiving the Alarm

All personnel working in the tunnel and close to it should be provided with the required training and a clear set of instructions in the event of an underground incident. It should be consisting of raising the alarm and attacking the fire if it is safe to do so. Reporting an incident to the concerned departments and personnel by reporting the incident location, type, evacuation status, and all other related information (BS 6164: 14.4.2).

On receiving an alarm, the person responsible to help should immediately take the required actions, which include informing the concerned department and higher management while activating the emergency plan (BS 6164: 14.4.3).

Training and Access

Each and every person working in and around the tunnel should be provided with the required training to identify the fire and fight it (BS 6164: 14.5).

Access to the construction area should be provided to the fire department and concerned agencies. Access to the shaft and tunnel should be clear of any obstruction and accessible to the emergency service department all the time, along with clear instruction of the access. In an appropriate location, the helicopter pad should be provided in accordance with the landing and parking requirements (BS 6164: 14.6).

Lighting and smoke control

For carrying out effective rescue, the lighting should be effective during the incident. The escape routes, emergency exits and tunnel access points should be provided with emergency lighting (BS 6164: 14.7).

MUST KNOW

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code Relevant to the Topic

As according to the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code (current as of January 1, 2019) an employer must follow the following:

According to Part 12, Section 186(1)

An employer must ensure that lighting at a work site is sufficient to enable work to be done safely.

According to Part 12, Section 186(2)

An employer must ensure that a light source above a working or walking surface is protected against damage.

Smoke is a major danger in the event of a fire, not only it is dangerous to inhale but also it psychologically increases panic and disorientation. The smoke should be controlled by planning a proper airflow. Training such as crawling in an area with smoke and related should be provided to the personnel working in the region.

Valve discharge points can be provided at regular intervals in an airline along the tunnel to clear the heat and smoke without spreading the fire (BS 6164: 14.8)

Rescue Facilities and Self-rescuers

Rescue equipment, such as breathing equipment and stretchers should be stored in a safe area and in protected containers (BS 6164: 14.9).

All personal working underground should have ready access to the self-rescuers to provide oxygen supply for at least 20 minutes while walking to the safe location. Self-rescuers should also be available at regular intervals in the long tunnels and should be stored in all escape routes (BS 6164: 14.10).

Refuge Chamber

A refuge chamber is a place where all basic needs are available, such as food, shelter, oxygen supply, first-aid, water, etc. Lifesaving in bigger and longer tunnels the chambers should be arranged in a number of places, however, in smaller tunnels, this might not be possible.

The supply should be sufficient for at least 24 hours. The refuge chamber should be air-conditioned and capable of maintaining an internal temperature of 28°C when the ambient temperature outside is 50°C. The chamber door should provide a seal to prevent the entry of atmospheric contaminants.

The refuge chamber should be supplied with the main power supply protected against mechanical and heat damages.n case of emergency, it should have enough power supply to feed for a 30-hour duration. The chamber should be linked with a voice communication system by means of connections. Water and foam extinguishers should be provided internally (BS 6164: 14.12).

MUST KNOW

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code Relevant to the Topic

As according to the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code (current as of January 1, 2019) an employer must follow the following:

According to Part 5, Section 55(1)

An employer must ensure that a worker does not enter or remain in a confined space or a restricted space unless an effective rescue can be carried out.

According to Part 5, Section 55(2)

A worker must not enter or stay in a confined space or restricted space unless an effective rescue can be carried out.

According to Part 5, Section 55(3)

An employer must ensure that the emergency response plan includes the emergency procedures to be followed if there is an accident or other emergency, including procedures in place to evacuate the confined space or restricted space immediately

(a) when an alarm is activated,

(b) if the concentration of oxygen inside the confined space drops below 19.5 percent by volume or exceeds 23.0 percent by volume, or

(c) if there is a significant change in the amount of hazardous substances inside the confined space.

According to Part 7, Section 115(1)

An employer must establish an emergency response plan for responding to an emergency that may require rescue or evacuation.

According to Part 7, Section 115(2)

An employer must involve affected workers in establishing the emergency response plan.

According to Part 7, Section 115(3)

An employer must ensure that an emergency response plan is current.

According to Part 7, Section 116

An emergency response plan must include the following:

(a) the identification of potential emergencies;

(b) procedures for dealing with the identified emergencies;

(c) the identification of, location of and operational procedures for emergency

equipment;

(d) the emergency response training requirements;

(e) the location and use of emergency facilities;

(f) the fire protection requirements;

(g) the alarm and emergency communication requirements;

(h) the first aid services required;

(i) procedures for rescue and evacuation;

(j) the designated rescue and evacuation workers.

According to Part 7, Section 117(1)

An employer must designate the workers who will provide rescue services and supervise evacuation procedures in an emergency.

According to Part 7, Section 117(2)

An employer must ensure that designated rescue and emergency workers are trained in emergency response appropriate to the work site and the potential emergencies identified in the emergency response plan.

According to Part 7, Section 117(3)

The training under AOHS Part 7: 117(2) must include exercises appropriate to the work site that simulate the potential emergencies identified in the emergency response plan.

According to Part 7, Section 117(4)

The training exercises referred to in AOHS Part 7: 117(3) must be repeated at the intervals required to ensure that the designated rescue and evacuation workers are competent to carry out their duties.

According to Part 7, Section 118(1)

An employer must provide workers designated under AOHS Part 7: 117 with personal protective clothing and equipment appropriate to the work site and the potential emergencies identified in the emergency response plan.

According to Part 7, Section 118(2)

Workers who respond to an emergency must wear and use personal protective clothing and equipment appropriate to the work site and the emergency.

Here are some practices from mining specified in the AOHS and relevant to tunneling:

According to Part 7, Section 545(1)

An employer must establish, maintain and operate an emergency response station and provide facilities for conducting rescue operations and other emergency work at a mine.

According to Part 36, Section 545(2)

An employer must ensure that adequate rescue equipment and apparatus are available for immediate use at an emergency response station.

According to Part 36, Section 545(3)

An employer must ensure that there are sufficient workers at a mine site who are trained in the use and maintenance of rescue equipment.

According to Part 36, Section 546(1)

An employer must appoint a competent worker to be responsible for the training of workers designated under Alberta OHS Code Part 7, Section 117.

According to Part 36, Section 546(2)

An employer must ensure that the emergency response workers referred to in Alberta OHS Part 36, Section 546(1)

(a) are competent to perform the tasks assigned to them,

(b) are medically fit to perform rescue operations and other emergency work at a mine,

(c) qualify as standard first aiders in accordance with AOHS Part 11, and

(d) have completed training approved by the Director.

According to Part 36, Section 546(3)

An employer must ensure that the designated members of the emergency response team

(a) practice at least every two months, and

(b) make periodic tours of all of the workings so that they are familiar with the complete mine layout and the location of entrances and exits to work areas.

According to Part 36, Section 692

An employer must

(a) provide or make available to each worker who goes underground, an approved self-contained self rescuer device, rated at a minimum of one hour,

(b) require that each worker be in possession of a self rescuer at all times when underground,

(c) ensure that each worker receives training in

     (i) the proper procedures for use, donning and switch-over of the self rescuer during an emergency, and

     (ii) the location of underground caches of additional self rescuers,

(d) ensure that each worker receives refresher training every three months in the subjects referred to in (c),

(e) ensure that a record of the training is maintained at the mine for at least three years and is available to an officer upon request, and

(f) store and strategically locate as many additional units as may be required by workers walking from the most distant working face to the defined emergency exit during a mine emergency.

According to Part 36, Section 821

An employer must ensure that a worker can be promptly rescued in case of equipment malfunction, fall or injury.