Research Article Open Access

Tunneling Operations, Occupational S&H and Environmental Protection: A Prevention Through Design Approach

Davide Labagnara1, Alberto Martinetti1 and Mario Patrucco1
  • 1 Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructural Engineering (DIATI), Faculty of Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy

Abstract

The study refers on the main results of a research work that has been carried out by the Safety and Health group of the Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI) at the Politecnico di Torino, with reference to the substantial difference that exists between the case of an established absence of hazards due to the presence of noxious materials such asbestos, crystalline silica, in the rock mass to be excavated and the situations in which these minerals can be present. Since, when carcinogenic substances can be expected, corrective action following exposure or dispersion is clearly unacceptable, the presence of critical pollutants requires special preventive actions for the health of the workers and the muck which can introduce risks for the users (e.g., during mechanical processing involving feeding, crushing, milling, sizing and sorting operations) should not be considered for any reuse.

American Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 10 No. 11, 2013, 1371-1377

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2013.1371.1377

Submitted On: 18 September 2012 Published On: 11 September 2013

How to Cite: Labagnara, D., Martinetti, A. & Patrucco, M. (2013). Tunneling Operations, Occupational S&H and Environmental Protection: A Prevention Through Design Approach. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(11), 1371-1377. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2013.1371.1377

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Keywords

  • Asbestos
  • Muck Reuse
  • Occupational and Environmental Risk Assessment and Management
  • Prevention Through Design
  • Tunneling
  • Waste