Some of the greatest risks facing workers at the tunnelling site relate to accidents involving vehicles and machinery.
This means that it is very important to wear the proper working attire, which includes specially reinforced safety boots.
There are also particular concerns about collapsing rock and thick smoke caused by fire.
However, thanks to modern digging techniques and extensive safety measures, incidents involving personal injury are very rare.
Saint Barbara
For the last tunnel section for the U1 extension in the direction of Oberlaa, a showcase was made by construction workers and the figure of a Saint Barbara was placed in it.
In March 2014, the inauguration took place in the tunnel construction site thirty meters below the Favoriten distribution circle.
After the tunnel excavations were finished, the showcase with the statue was removed again, as usual.
Tunnel stop by tunnel sponsor Barbara Prammer
The tunnel sponsorship for the last section of the U1 extension in the direction of Oberlaa was taken up in spring 2014 by the then President of the National Council, Barabara Prammer.
The sponsorship is always taken over by a woman.
She is supposed to bring good luck to the miners. During construction, the tunnel will be named after her first name.
Hammer and recovery iron
The hammer and the iron crossed over represent the symbol of mining.
They are still occasionally used in modern tunneling for minor clearing work.
Work clothing
In tunneling, the visibility of the stripes on work clothes is especially important.
The colors of the stripes on the helmets provide information about the function of the wearers.
- Yellow stands for laborers and machinists,
- blue for mechanics, the workshop staff and electricians.
- White indicates site management and safety specialists.
Safety in tunnel construction
Reversing in the tunnel
- Separate driving and walking paths
- Visual back space monitoring
- Clean vehicle windows regularly and replace broken mirrors
- Ensure sufficient lighting
- Wear protective clothing with reflective strips
Clean up
- Stone fall
- Break down due to failure of the working face
Use of spray manipulators
- Do not enter danger zone
- Distance between nozzles and wall ≤ 1.5 m
- Wear shotcrete safety helmet
- Wear dust mask
- Reduction of dust and pollutants by wet shotcrete with alkali-free accelerator
Dust development
- Ventilate adequately
- Vacuum dust
- Precipitate dust with water
- Wear suitable respiratory protection
Blasting
- Fly stone
- Poisoning by blasting vapor
Belt conveyor
- Being pulled in by open running rollers
