As the extensive project continues, RVT are on site protecting those on and around site against a range of hazards
1st January 2023
HS2 is the brand-new high-speed railway, set to form the backbone of Britain’s transport network. It will connect towns and cities in the South, the Midlands and the North of England with faster, greener and more reliable travel.
As the project requires extensive construction works across a large number of sites, there is huge potential to impact upon people and the environment across the country. Therefore, the HS2 team are determined to keep disruption to a minimum and health and safety remain one of their top priorities through their Safe at Heart initiative. This is one of the company’s four core values, devised to protect the workforce, communities along the route, future passengers and the public. The initiative is also striving to set new industry standards of best practice and innovative solutions, making it a trailblazer for all future major projects.
RVT Group have been working closely with HS2 and all contractors/ subcontractors to provide a range of innovative health hazard controls on site that support the Safe at Heart initiative. We are currently providing solutions against hazards which include dust, noise, diesel particulate matter (DPM) and water pollution across multiple sites. The sites that we have supported include; the Chiltern Twin Tunnels, Chalfont St Giles Shaft, Old Oak Common Station, Ruislip and Long Itchington.
Two 2,000 tonne Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are being used simultaneously to create the twin-bore Chiltern Tunnel. Boring is in operation 24-hours a day. At 10 miles long, this will be the longest tunnel on the HS2 route between London and Crewe. RVT have provided Pinssar Diesel Particulate Monitors and EnviroHub® Water Treatment Solutions to this site.
To monitor DPM levels within the tunnels, RVT suggested the Pinssar Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) Monitor. This solution is designed to measure diesel particles smaller than 0.8 micron or 800 nanometres (nm) in real time, sending updates to those on site. A total of four units are installed within the tunnels, working alongside the tunnels’ own fixed ventilation systems, making the project compliant with the BS6164:2019 guidance.
Envirohub Water Treatment systems were supplied to prevent the risk of silt or alkaline water impacting nearby watercourses. The application of EnviroHub® protects the ecosystems surrounding the site, preventing harmful pollutants from being discharged into the environment.
The Chiltern Tunnel incorporates four shafts along the route, designed to provide ventilation and emergency access; each will be topped with a headhouse holding the permanent ventilation equipment. The Chalfont St Giles ventilation shaft and headhouse is one of four structures being constructed to provide ventilation and emergency access to the Chiltern tunnel. RVT Group provided temporary ventilation solutions during excavation of the shaft.
Excavation of the shafts involved the use of diesel machinery below ground within a confined area, which required a robust ventilation system to be installed to ensure a safe working environment. For the Chalfont St Giles Shaft, a forced ventilation system comprising of two 800S Centrifugal Fans was supplied, with the design based on the shaft volume and the diesel emissions produced. Bespoke duct suspension and extension systems were also supplied to allow the ducting to be installed and easily adapted with minimal work at height during the excavation stage.
For the subsequent slightly smaller shafts, forced ventilation was provided by 600S centrifugal fans. Once the initial excavation was complete and other contractors took over for the RC stage a lighter-duty ventilation system comprising of 450S centrifugal fans and complete with smaller ducting was installed.
© HS2 Ltd
The Old Oak Common Station project is set to produce the best connected and largest railway station ever built in the UK. Featuring 14 platforms, it will offer high-speed rail services to the Midlands, the Southwest, Wales, the North, Scotland and access to central London and Heathrow via the Elizabeth line. Ground works, piling and RC works were producing high levels of noise, so RVT provided Soundex® noise barriers to protect local businesses and residents.
By placing high attenuation acoustic barriers close to the noise source(s) on site, the free flow of noise waves were blocked and the line of sight interrupted between the noise source(s) and the site operatives, nearby workers and residents. This has protected site operatives from excessive noise exposure and significantly reduced the impact of nuisance noise on nearby workers and residents.
13.5km (8.4miles) of twin-bore tunnels are being constructed between West Ruislip and Green Park Way (Northolt Tunnel). The boring machines (TBMs) are in operation 24 hours a day. To help control dust on site, RVT supplied several Hydramist water cannons.
A number of Hydramist 40GT and Hydramist 35GT dust suppression units have been sited at Ruislip to intercept airborne dust from general site activities and to keep surfaces and material stockpiles damp. Controlling the airborne dust not only protects the respiratory health of site workers and nearby residents, but also protects the local environment.
This 1-mile-long twin bore tunnel will run under Long Itchington Wood. One tunnel boring machine is being used to create this tunnel. When the first of the twin tunnels has been completed, the TBM will be disassembled, returned to the original launch site, re-assembled and will begin boring the second. RVT supplied fume extraction and ventilation equipment to maintain good air quality on site and to keep workers safe and healthy.
Four 800S Axial Fans and attenuators are providing forced ventilation into a deep tunnel portal excavation which will receive the TBM as it breaks out of the ground. Large diesel plant is currently in operation, necessitating ventilation.
Substantial welding activities are being carried out within a temporary enclosure due to onsite assembly of the tunnel boring machine. To protect the respiratory health of site operatives, RVT have supplied multiple welding fume filtration systems. These comprise a Ravex® WandaFilta Plus unit, teamed with a capture hood, flexible ducting and a Ventex® 300M centrifugal fan, creating a mobile Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system. The WandaFilta plus units filtered particulate to HEPA level and provided three individual extract hoses from the same system. This provided protection for three welders per kit.
For more information on how RVT can support on your site, please call 0808 178 3286 and speak to one of our technical experts today.
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View our full EnviroHub Water Treatment range here.
