ITA
COSUF: Focus on Tunnel Safety in Europe. International Forum satisfies high
Demand on Information, Discussion and Networking
Rotterdam
(NL)/Lausanne (CH), 31 March 2016. More than 50 Tunnel Safety Officers (TSO)
and Tunnel Safety Experts from 14 European countries joined the 4th European
Tunnel Safety Officers Forum from 9th to 10th of March 2016 in Rotterdam (The
Netherlands). "This meeting was a great opportunity to support the
activities, the exchange of experiences and the network of European Tunnel
Safety Officers and also a chance for the dialogue in the European Union,"
emphasized Atilla Eordogh, representative of the European Union, the major
importance of the very well-prepared event.
The two-day
conference was organized by the ITA Committee on Operational Safety of
Underground Facilities (COSUF) in co-operation with the World Road Association
(PIARC) and the European Commission. "We connect the right people and help
to learn from best practice. That´s the reason why we offer an event like
that," explained Dr. Roland Leucker, Chairman of ITA COSUF, the intention
of the Forum. A day before the international event the ITA COSUF Steering Board
and the four Activity Groups (AG) took the chance for internal meetings and
up-to-date decisions.
Current Trends and
Information for Tunnel Safety Officers in Europe
The two-day event was
filled with important information about the latest safety trends in Europe with
the main topics on "Operating Tunnels Safely during Refurbishment"
and "Commissioning and Testing of New and Refurbished Tunnels". Also
the attendees took the chance to visit the existing Maas Tunnel – which is
planned to be refurbished.
After short welcome
addresses of the representatives of the organizing entities (Fig. 1), John
Wheeler presented how a tunnel can be safely managed during refurbishment.
Several experiences were shared and Frank Embert-Kreiser did it extensively
with the noise prevention works under running traffic of the A1 Tunnel in
Cologne-Lövenich. Especially the details of emergency plans which need to
function while systems are changed and additional live monitoring on site were
discussed. The second topic "Long-term tunnel operation below minimal
operating requirements", presented by André Stein, was complemented with
the A7 Tunnel case, explained by Georg Mayer. Discussions rose about the
questions, how to deal with the missing or only partially working ventilation
and about the measurements to be taken and to be changed in the different phases
of the refurbishment.
Ahead of the Maas
Tunnel visit in the afternoon the participants were welcomed at the
"Euromast" by the city of Rotterdam, owner of the Maas Tunnel, the
oldest road tunnel in the Netherlands – and a listed monument (Fig. 2). To refurbish
this monument, particular safety challenges have to be faced. The visit
included the control centre, the ventilation building and the original
escalators (Fig. 3, 4).
Experiences with
Commissioning and Testing of New and Refurbished Tunnels
During the second day
of the forum it appeared that the role of the TSO in procedures for
commissioning and testing becomes more and more important. This presented topic
was lively discussed. Unfortunately one keynote speaker could not attend the
forum, but that gave Johan Bosch the opportunity to provide insight in the
Heinenoord Tunnel accident development. A very confronting video footage showed
how longitudinal ventilation contributes to safety and the extent on how
instructions can influence mostly irrational human behaviour. Further cases
taught how different tests, inspections and exercises can be planned. The
importance of software development strategy for commissioning and testing was
shown and it was explained how the work of TSOs can be organised in a large
tunnel network. The highly skilled presentations were held by Lukas Rakosnik,
Ron van den Ende, Corinne Chiodini and last but not least Johan Bosch, Leader
of COSUF Activity Group 4 (Road Tunnel Safety Officers), who gave some detailed
information about the activities of this group.
Finally, as an
"add-on" for the remaining attendees after the official closure, the
speech of Ron van den Ende about the refurbishment of the Velser Tunnel
demonstrated the benefits of BIM (Building Information Management) in
combination with SE (Systems Engineering) including interface management,
construction phase, operations and maintenance.
Next TSO Forum
planned for 2018
After a very
successful meeting, profound presentations, an interesting site visit and
comprehensive opportunities for networking all participants and presenters
appreciated that the preparations for the next European Tunnel Safety Officer
Forum in 2018 just started with switching off the lights of the last
presentation.
Platform for Road
Tunnel Safety Officers in Europe
The trans-European
road network is growing more and more. For this reason, the European Union
decided on 29th April 2004 with the Directive 2004/54/EC to create the position
of a Tunnel Safety Officer to make sure that a minimum of safety requirements
for tunnels in Europe will exist. In 2005, the first Committee on Operational
Safety of Underground Facilities (COSUF) of ITA (International Tunnelling and
Underground Space Association) was founded with 4 Activity Groups. Group 4 –
Road Tunnel Safety Officers – aims to be the platform for European Tunnel
Safety Officers to exchange experiences through its biannual forum and for
development of best practices.
Activity Groups of
COSUF
All COSUF members are
encouraged to take part in at least one Activity Group (AG). However, AG4 is
reserved for Road Tunnel Safety Officers appointed according to the EU
Directive 2004/54/EC and a few other reference members appointed by the AG4
leader. Only COSUF members can take part in the AG activities. Exceptions can
be allowed by the COSUF Steering Board (SB), e.g. to allow the participation of
experts or representatives of other organizations. AG leaders are appointed by
and report to the SB in which they also take part in the activities. Activity
Groups normally meet twice a year, if possible in conjunction with a COSUF
event (e.g. a workshop).
The main topics of
interest in Activity Group 4 are maintenance and refurbishing during operation,
the role and responsibility of emergency services, degrading of tunnels and
failures, minimal operation requirements and best practices on tunnel safety
documentation. The scope of COSUF is safety and security in all kinds of
tunnels and underground facilities in operation.
Centre of Excellence
ITA COSUF is the first
committee of the ITA, the International Tunnelling and Underground Space
Association, founded in 2005. It is the Centre of Excellence consisting of
approx. 80 corporate member organisations and companies from 25 countries all
over the world. The World Road Association PIARC is also supporting ITA COSUF.
Since the very first beginning COSUF is a platform for communication on
operational safety and security in underground facilities. Only the best
specialists in the field of tunnelling are discussing in four different
activity groups about the latest developments.
Joining ITA COSUF is
very easy. It´s not needed to be an ITA member and for this reason COSUF
welcomes corporate and individual members.
Figures:
Figure 1: Johan
Bosch, Leader of ITA COSUF Activity Group 4 (Tunnel Safety Officers) welcoming
the participants from 14 European Countries
Figure 2: Overview of
the Northern Portal of the Maas Tunnel (below) with Ventilation Building (white
building, directly at the riverside) and the Entrance Building for pedestrians
and cyclists (left side of the Ventilation Building with green roof)
Figure 3: The Maas
Tunnel has four tubes: two tubes for motor traffic ...
Figure 4: ... and two
tubes with escalators for cyclists and pedestrians
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