Review for revision of BS 6164 code 28 Feb 2019

Industry practitioners, health and safety specialists, tunnel clients and insurers were invited to review and comment on the 2019 revision of the BSi British Standard BS 6164 code of practice for health and safety in tunnelling.

The previous revision to BS 6164 was published in 2011. Since then, advances in technology and equipment and new techniques that will impact legislation and guidance relating to health and safety and environmental matters have prompted the 2019 revision.

The text has been updated extensively, by a range of technical experts, to reflect the latest best practice in tunnelling projects and to address the health and safety of those engaged in the tunnelling process and those who could be affected by it.

The revision and update introduces numerous changes including references to:

• The ITA International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association guidelines for refuge chambers in tunnelling;
• Formal procedures for design checking including the resolution of differences between a designer and a design checker;
• Restructuring and extension of clauses 23 and 24 in respect of fire, mobile elevating work platforms, use of plant underground and rail operations;
• Recommendations for undertaking high pressure compressed air exposures;
• Material on sprayed concrete lining and exclusion zones and
• Real time dust monitoring.

This BSi code makes recommendations for, and gives guidance on, health and safety practices in shaft sinking and tunnel construction. The standard includes health and safety recommendations that are also relevant to cut-and-cover tunnelling, immersed tube tunnels and other forms of underground construction, as well as to the construction aspects of maintenance, renovation and repair of shafts and underground infrastructure.

The recommendations in BS 6164 are intended for underground civil engineering works and not for application to the construction of shafts or tunnels for the purpose of mineral extraction. Safety of tunnelling machinery, including TBMs and pipejacking rigs, is covered by BS EN 16191:2014 Tunnelling machinery - Safety requirements.

The public consultation for the 2019 revision of BS 6164 ran until 25 April 2019 and comments were submitted online.