Safety Concerns in Tunneling A Review of

Standards
H. Bakhshandeh Amnieh1, A. Siamaki1, M. Shafiee Alavijeh1

1- Department of Mining Engineering, University of Kashan,

Abstract

Considering the ever increasing demand for underground structures such as tunnels, in the
urban area, power plants, dams, mines based on a significant recent development in
tunneling technique, a great deal of attention has been drawn on to the increasing safety
concerns in this hazardous working environment. Despite the huge improvements made on
the tunneling equipment, conventional drilling and blasting remains the most popular practice
in tunneling due to low capital cost and ease of operation (60% of existing tunnels are
excavated this way). The dangerous elements in such environments threaten equipments,
machineries and people and activities involved include drilling, blasting, loading and haulage,
ventilation, drainage, support installation and maintenance. Hence, recognition of the threats
and good understanding of efficient suitable preventative measures is essential for safety
improvements. In this article, hazards due to sound pollution, body vibration, ventilation and
explosion in tunneling are discussed and the latest standards are reviewed.

Keywords: tunnel, sound pollution, body vibration, ventilation, explosion


1 2

.


. %60
.

.
.
. .


: .

-1
.
.

].[1

] .[2
- 1 )(bakhshandeh@kashanu.ac.ir
-2 )(ali.siamaki@gmail.com
- 3 )(shafiee.1679@gmail.com


].[1],[2
8 ] .[3

. 10
].[4

.

-2
.
. .

. ) (Whole Body Vibration
].[5

.
].[6

].[7

.
].[8
-1-2
AS 2670.1 1990 :
) :(Comfort .
) :(Fatigue .
) :(Health ].[8
1 )
.[8](1

 1 ) [8](z

.
.
1 24 ].[8
-2-2
ISO 2632.1
.
.
].[8

. ) :(2
) ()(Likely Health Zone
) ()(Potential Health Zone
) ()(Acceptable Level of Vibration

.
].[8

 2 - ][8

1
.
1 ][8

6 1

1 20

1.5

16

2.5

12

16

LHD

-3
.
.
.
] .[9


. 2 .
2 ][10
)95 dB(A

)100 dB(A

)105 dB(A

)115 - 120 dB(A

)120 dB(A

)140 dB(A

.
. ) 80 dB(A )95 dB(A
] .[9
.
3 ][10

)105 dB(A

)20 dB(A

)110 dB(A

)25 dB(A

)115 dB(A

)30 dB(A

.
. A 8 40
140 .
. 3 2 5
. 4
]. [9

 4 ][9
8 40

)90 dB(A

)5 dB(A

*OSHA

)90 dB(A

)3 dB(A

ISO BOHS

)85 dB(A

)3 dB(A

**ACGIH

** NIOSH

* ) ** 115 dB(A )140dB(A

-4

.
.

.

. .

. 0/ 2 3
] .[11 .
.
.


. 4/4
9 ) 16 ( 5 ) 0/0002(
10 84 20 170 .
%5 %15
2 ].[12


. %0/025
. 5
.

 5 ][13

)(ppm

)(ppm

500

1500

50

100

25

35

10

15

0/1

.
40
25 .

].[11
)(
.

-5
.
.
].[14
.
] .[14
.
.
. ].[15
.
.
6
].[15
6 ][15
)(mm/s

0.5

5.0

15.0

 -6

.
.

[1] Jeremy, S., (2005), Stress at Work, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford.

[2] Myran, T., Underground Work Environment, Chemical and Physical- Causes, Effects and
Prevention, Norwegian Tunnelling Society, Norway.
[3] Wargner, H., (2009), Work Shop on Contract Models, Iranian Tunnelling Association, Tehran.
[4] Singh, B., Goel, R.K., (2006), Tunnelling in Weak Rock, Elsevier, Oxford.
[5] Prevention of Vibration Risks in the Construction Sector, European Agency for Safety an Health
at Work.
[6] ISUR, HIS, BGIA, INSR, HSE, (2006), Guide to Good Practice on Whole-Body Vibration.
[7] Eger, T., Smets, M., Grenier, S., Whole-Body Vibration Exposure Experienced During the
Operation of Small and Large Load-Haul-Dump Vehicles, Ontario.
[8] Mcphee, B., Foster, G., Lang, A., (2001), Whole-body Vibration Exposure in Mining, Joint Coal
Board Health and Safety, Australia.
. (1386 ) [ 9]
[10] Kolymbas, D., (2005), Tunelling and Tunnel Mechanics, Springer, Austria.
. (1385 ) [ 11]
. (1378 ) [ 12]
[13] Robert, C.B., (1999), "Shotcrete Safety and Environmental Control", Mining Research Center,
Washington.
[14] (1999), "Rock Excavation Hand Book", Sandvik Tomrok Corporation.
[15] Roy, P.P., (1999), "Rock Blasting", A.A. Balkema, India.