Project's name: SegOS – Safety and Health in underground works

Abstract

The main goal of the SegOS project was to explore the relevance of the "Security and Health" criterion in choosing the excavation method for underground works, analysing its full dimensions: considering occurred events (i.e. work injuries and occupational diseases), potential risks and their valorisation, as well as preventive measures.

As a fundamental element of societal development, underground works have been considered for major financial investment. Currently, there are two main underground excavation methods - Conventional Excavation Method and Tunneling Machine Excavation Method. As per technical and financial reasons, both methods are viable in most cases. Deciding on which method is one of the largest challenges in designing tunnels. This is a thorough and detailed process, given the fact that obtained results might lead to dramatic effects on workers and general public, bearing financial and logistic consequences. Thus, apart from considering the tunnels' length and cross-section as criteria to be analysed when comparing methods, it is also important to analyse the "Safety and Health" criterion and consider both the impact of work injury occurrence and occupational disease incidence.

The SegOS project is quite innovative as, among feasible results, researchers have included a legislation proposal in order to tackle a legislative breach concerning underground works.

In the framework of SegOS, researchers have had the opportunity to provide services to industry in the scope of Security and Health Coordination for Undergoing Works. The project also included an internship at the Northern Line Extension works, carried out by Ferrovial Laing O'Rourke JV, and technical visits to Crossrails. The researchers have also taken on the coordination of the Working Group "Safety and Health" for the Portuguese Tunnel Commission, as well as the Portuguese Representation for the Working Group 5 of the International Tunnelling Association.

Starting date: October 2014

Completion date: December 2017

Budget: 8.000,00€

UMinho's Team: João Pedro Pereira Maia Couto, Manuel Luís Vila Cova Tender (Centre of Territory, Environment and Construction - EEUM)

Consortium: TecMinho , Mota-Engil Engenharia e Construção, ORICA, Domingos da Silva Teixeira, SIKA

More information: www.segos.pt