Rescues from tunnels and underground structures (April 2013)

This generic risk assessment examines the hazards, risks and control measures relating to fire and rescue personnel, the personnel of other agencies and members of the public when attending incidents in tunnels and underground structures.

For the purposes of this generic risk assessment a tunnel or underground structure is defined as a natural or manmade structure, where all or part is below ground level or covered, to where people can resort to for work, pleasure or transit.

This includes underpasses, or any associated shafts, but excludes basements.

The locations can range from a strategic transport tunnel such as the Channel Tunnel to a utilities tunnel that may allow for occasional access for maintenance purposes. Included within the scope of this generic risk assessment are: (i) Tunnels for transportation (eg road, rail, pedestrian, waterways, cycle); (ii) Tunnels for utilities (eg cabling, water supply and drainage, gas, steam, oil); (iii) Manmade and natural underground structures (eg caves, mines, bunkers, storage facilities, military installations); (iv) Tunnels under construction (eg bored tunnels, cut and cover technique, sprayed concrete lining, or undergoing significant refurbishment).