Basic Safety Guidelines for Tunneling and Underground Construction

D. Allen Hughes, P.E.

Course Outline

1. Construction Standards Covered by the OSHA Standard
2. Employers and Employees Covered by the OSHA Standard
3. Requirements of the OSHA Standard
4. The Need for a Competent Person
5. Training Requirements
6. Notification and Communication Requirements
7. Site Control Procedures
8. Ventilation Requirements
9. Illumination Requirements
10. Special Air Monitoring Requirements
11. Special Conditions for Drilling and Blasting Underground
12. Special Conditions for Using Cranes and Hoists Underground
13. Potential Hazards that Require Special Precautions
14. Emergency Procedures
15. Record Keeping Requirements
16. OSHA Assistance
17. OSHA Regional Offices

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will have learned or been exposed to the following:

• Awareness of OSHA construction operations pertaining to tunneling and underground construction;
• Awareness of the application of OSHA standards to employees and employers;
• Awareness of the need for and training requirements of a competent person;
• Awareness of notification and communication requirements;
• Awareness of site control procedures;
• Awareness of ventilation and illumination requirements;
• Awareness of air monitoring requirements;
• Awareness of special conditions for drilling and blasting underground;
• Awareness of special requirements for hoists and cranes underground; and
• Awareness of OSHA training and education.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for use by engineers, architects, contractors, and regulators.

Benefit to Attendees

Engineers, utility contractors and regulators will gain an understanding from this course of the benefits of proper preparation for underground excavation or tunneling. Additionally, this course could be useful as a guide for implementing an underground construction plan.

Course Introduction

This course demonstrates four general elements critical to the development of a successful safety and health management system:

• Management leadership and employee involvement
• Worksite analysis
• Hazard prevention and control
• Safety and health training

The construction of underground tunnels, shafts, chambers, and passageways are essential yet dangerous activities. Working under reduced light conditions, difficult or limited access and egress, with the potential for exposure to air contaminants and the hazards of fire and explosion, underground construction workers face many dangers. To help employers protect the safety and health of underground construction workers, OSHA has prepared a number of guidance documents, including the underground construction regulations, found in Part 1926, section 800 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR 1926.800). OSHA regulations relating to underground construction were originally adopted in 1971 and revised over the years to add new protective measures and enhance worker safety. This publication summarizes OSHA’s regulations related to underground construction. As such, it should be used as a guide but not as a substitute.

Course Content

The content of this course is based entirely on OSHA 3115-06R. 

Underground Construction (Tunneling)

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Course Summary

This course demonstrates the general elements critical to the development of a successful safety and health management system. The summary of the OSHA regulations can serve to enhance worker safety.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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