1、www .osha.go vUnderground Construction(Tunneling)OSHA 3115-06R 2003Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-This informational booklet provides a general overview of a particular topic related to OSHA standards. It does not alteror determine c
2、ompliance responsibilities inOSHA standards or the Occupational Safetyand Health Act of 1970. Because interpreta-tions and enforcement policy may changeover time, you should consult current OSHAadministrative interpretations and decisionsby the Occupational Safety and HealthReview Commission and the
3、 Courts for additional guidance on OSHA compliancerequirements.This publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced, fully or partially,without permission. Source credit is requested but not required.This information is available to sensoryimpaired individuals upon request.Voice phone: (20
4、2) 693-1999; teletypewriter(TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Underground Construction (Tunneling)U.S. Department of LaborElaine L. Chao, SecretaryOccupational Safety and Health AdministrationJohn L. Henshaw,
5、 Assistant SecretaryOSHA 3115-06R2003Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-ContentsIntroduction4Construction operations covered by the OSHA standard.4Employers and employees covered by the OSHA standard.5Requirements of the OSHA standard.6T
6、he need for a “competent person”.6Training requirements.6Notification and communication requirements.7Site control procedures.8Check-in/check-out procedures.8Control of access and egress.9Ground support of portal and subsidence areas.9Ground support of underground areas.9Ground support of shafts.10F
7、ire prevention and control.10Ventilation requirements.12Illumination requirements.13 Special air monitoring requirements.13Test for oxygen first.14Testing for methane and other flammable gases.14Hydrogen sulfide levels.15Special conditions for drilling and blasting underground.152Provided by IHSNot
8、for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Special requirements for using cranes and hoists underground.16Potential hazards that require special precautions.18Gassy or potentially gassy operations.18Emergency procedures.21Recordkeeping requirements.22 OSHA assista
9、nce.22Safety and health management system guidelines.22State programs.23OSHA consultation services.23The OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).24Strategic Partnership Programs.25The OSHA Alliance Program.25OSHA training and education.26Information available electronically.26OSHA publications.27Con
10、tacting OSHA.27OSHA Regional Offices.283Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-IntroductionThe construction of underground tunnels, shafts, chambers, andpassageways are essential yet dangerous activities. Working underreduced light condition
11、s, difficult or limited access and egress, withthe potential for exposure to air contaminants and the hazards offire and explosion, underground construction workers face manydangers. To help employers protect the safety and health of under-ground construction workers, the Occupational Safety and Hea
12、lthAdministration (OSHA) has prepared a number of guidancedocuments, including the underground construction regulations,found in Part 1926, section 800 of Title 29 of the Code of FederalRegulations (29 CFR 1926.800).OSHA regulations relating to underground construction wereoriginally adopted in 1971
13、 and revised over the years to add newprotective measures and enhance worker safety. This publicationsummarizes OSHAs regulations related to underground construc-tion. As such, it should be used as a guide but not as a substitutefor the complete text of 29 CFR 1926.800.Construction operations covere
14、d by the OSHA standardThe OSHA underground construction regulation (29 CFR1926.800) applies to the construction of underground tunnels,shafts, chambers, and passageways. It also applies to cut-and-cover excavations connected to ongoing underground constructionas well as those that create conditions
15、characteristic of under-ground construction. These hazards include reduced natural venti-lation and light, difficult and limited access and egress, exposure toair contaminants, fire, flooding, and explosion. The regulation doesnot apply to excavation and trenching operations for above groundstructur
16、es that are not physically connected to an underground con-struction operation or to underground electrical transmission anddistribution lines.OSHA has developed the following definitions for constructionactivities that fall within the underground construction field:4Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo
17、reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-A tunnel is “an excavation beneath the surface of the ground,the longer axis of which makes an angle not greater than 20degrees to the horizontal.”A shaft is “(1) a passage made from the surface of the ground toa point underground, th
18、e longer axis of which makes an anglegreater than 20 degrees to the horizontal; or (2) a pit in which thereare employees, and it is foreseeable that they may enter (or doenter) the horizontal excavation; or (3) a pit that has typical underground construction hazards and is connected to a horizontal
19、excavation.”Employers and employees covered by the OSHA standardIn general, OSHA authority extends to all private sectoremployers with one or more employees, as well as to civilianemployees in federal agencies. As such, OSHA coverage applies toemployers and employees in the construction industry. Wo
20、rkersnot covered by OSHA include the self-employed; public employeesof state and local governments; employees whose working condi-tions are regulated by other federal agencies, such as mine workersand atomic energy workers; and immediate family members offarming operations that do not employ outside
21、 workers.States can administer their own occupational safety and healthprograms through plans approved by the Department of Laborunder section 18(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)Act of 1970, but they must enforce standards that are at least aseffective as federal requirements. In 2003,
22、 26 states operated theirown safety and health programs under approved programs. (SeeOSHAs website at www.osha.gov for a list of those states.) Ofthese, 23 states cover both private and public employees whilethree states cover only public sector employees. State safety and health standards under app
23、roved plans must either be identical to or at least as effective as federal OSHA standards.5Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Requirements of the OSHA standardThe underground construction standard covers many topics ofconcern to those w
24、ho work in the challenging environment ofunderground construction. A sampling of items covered by thestandard includes requirements for safe access and egress routes,employee training in hazard recognition, a “check-in/check-out”procedure, and emergency procedures. This booklet summarizesall require
25、ments of the standard.The standard provides some flexibility in methods to controlworkplace hazards in underground construction as long as appro-priate precautions are taken to protect workers in a variety of situa-tions. OSHA requires that a “competent person” be responsible forcarrying out several
26、 requirements of the underground constructionregulations. Situations that require intervention by a “competentperson” are identified in the following sections.The need for a “competent person”The definition of a “competent person” in 29 CFR 1926.32 (f) isas follows:One who is capable of identifying
27、existing and predictablehazards in the surroundings or working conditions which areunsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who hasauthorization to take prompt correctivemeasures to eliminate them.Under Subpart S, Underground Construction, caissons, coffer-dams, and compressed air, a co
28、mpetent person is responsible forinspecting and evaluating workplace conditions, including air moni-toring and the presence of air contaminants, ground stability, andthe drilling, hauling and hoisting of equipment, to identify andcorrect any deficiencies.Training requirementsAll employees involved i
29、n underground construction must betrained to recognize and respond to hazards associated with thistype of work. Training should be tailored to the specific require-ments of the jobsite and include any unique issues or requirements.6Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted
30、 without license from IHS-,-,-The following topics should be part of an underground construc-tion employee training program:Air monitoring and ventilationIlluminationCommunicationsFlood controlPersonal protective equipmentEmergency procedures, including evacuation plansCheck-in/check-out proceduresE
31、xplosivesFire prevention and protectionMechanical equipmentNotification and communication requirementsAny time an employer receives a notification of a hazardouscondition, all oncoming shifts must be notified of occurrences orconditions that either have affected or might affect their safety.Examples
32、 of this type of situation include equipment failures, earthor rockslides, cave-ins, flooding, fires, explosions, or release of gas. The employer must also maintain open lines of communicationwith other employers at the worksite to ensure a rapid andcomplete exchange of information concerning events
33、 or situationsthat may impact worker safety.Employers must maintain lines of communication withemployees during underground construction activities. To ensureeffective communications are always available, communicationsystems must be tested upon initial entry of each shift to the under-ground and as
34、 often as necessary at a later time to ensure they arein working order. Powered communication systems must operateon an independent power supply and be installed so that the use ofor disruption of any single communication device or signal locationwill not disrupt the operation of the system in any o
35、ther location.7Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-If natural unassisted voice communication is ineffective at anytime, a power-assisted means must be used to ensure communica-tion between the work face, the bottom of the shaft, and thesu
36、rface. In the case of an individual employee working aloneunderground in a hazardous location who is out of range of naturalunassisted voice communication and not able to be observed byother employees, the employer must provide an effective means ofobtaining assistance in the event of an emergency.A
37、ll shafts being developed or used for personnel access orhoisting require two effective means of communication. Inaddition, hoist operators must have a closed-circuit voice communi-cation system connected to each landing station, with speaker-microphones located so that the operator can communicate
38、withindividual stations while the hoist is in use. (See the section oncranes and hoists later in this booklet for more specific information.)Site control procedures Check-in/check-out proceduresThe employer must maintain a check-in/check-out procedure toensure that above ground personnel maintain an
39、 accurate account-ing of the number of persons underground and to prevent unautho-rized persons from gaining access to the site. This is especiallyimportant in the event of an emergency but is a common senserequirement at all times. The only time this procedure is not required is when an under-groun
40、d construction project designed for human occupancy iscompleted to the point that permanent environmental controls areeffective and any remaining construction activity does not have thepotential to create an environmental hazard or structural failure inthe construction area. Any time an employee is
41、working underground, at least one des-ignated person must be on duty above ground. This person isresponsible for calling for immediate assistance and keeping anaccurate count of employees who remain underground in the eventof an emergency. 8Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking
42、permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Control of access and egressIn addition to establishing a check-in/check-out procedure, theemployer must ensure safe access to and egress from all worksta-tions at the construction site to protect employees from potentialhazards, such as being struck by excavat
43、ors, haulage machines, orother moving equipment. To help control access, all unused openings, including chutesand man ways, must be tightly covered, bulk headed, barricaded,or fenced off, and posted with warning signs that read, “Keep Out”or similar language. Ground support of portal and subsidence
44、areasPortal openings and access areas must be guarded by shoring,fencing, head walls, shotcreting or equivalent protection to ensurethat employees and equipment have a safe means to access theseareas. Subsidence areas must be similarly guarded by shoring,filling in, or placing barricades and warning
45、 signs to prevent entry.Adjacent areas must be scaled or secured to prevent loose soil,rock, or fractured materials from endangering portal, subsidence,and access areas.Ground support of underground areasA competent person must inspect the roof, face, and walls of thework areas at the beginning of e
46、ach shift and as often as necessaryto ensure ground stability. The competent person tasked with suchinspection responsibilities must be protected from loose ground bylocation, ground support, or equivalent means. The ground condi-tions along all haulage ways and travel ways must also beinspected as
47、frequently as necessary to ensure safe passage andloose ground considered to be hazardous to employees must bescaled, supported, or taken down.A competent person must determine how often rock bolts needto be tested to ensure that they meet the necessary torque, takinginto consideration ground condit
48、ions, distance from vibrationsources, and the specific bolt system in use. Only torque wrenchesshould be used when torsion-dependent bolts are used for groundsupport.9Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Employees involved in installing gr
49、ound support systems mustbe adequately protected from the hazards of loose ground. Thebottoms of any support sets installed must have sufficientanchorage to prevent ground pressures from dislodging thesupport base. Lateral bracing (including collar bracing, tie rods, orspreaders) must be provided between immediately adjacent sets toincrease st
