HIGH STANDARDS UNDERGROUND: HOW ITALY AND AUSTRIA COOPERATE ON SAFETY IN THE BBT
Safety in the Brenner Base Tunnel is an ongoing process of cooperation between Italy and Austria. To gain insight into the dynamics at Austrian construction sites, we interviewed Andreas Töchterle. As Head of the Safety Department in Austria, he explains how standards are harmonised between Italy and Austria in practice, and the role of companies.
How are Austrian occupational safety regulations coordinated to ensure a harmonised approach on BBT construction sites?
The site-specific safety and health protection plans (SiGe plans), which the contracting authority is responsibile for preparing, are of fundamental importance. These plans define how coordination between the various subsystems is carried out, as well as which protective measures must be adopted for risky work. The SiGe plans form part of the works contracts and, taking into account the specific conditions of the sites, are largely harmonised across the major BBT lots in Austria. Compliance with these plans is monitored by the respective site coordinators. In addition, BBT SE employs its own personnel in the form of a “Safety Support Team”, which carries out daily on-site inspections to verify compliance with all relevant safety regulations, also across multiple lots.
What role do the Austrian companies involved in the project play in ensuring high safety and training standards for their workers?
According to legal provisions, each employer is responsible for the health and safety of their workers. Employers must take care of all work-related aspects. Furthermore, all employers present on a construction site are obliged to ensure the safety and health of workers by coordinating activities properly. To further increase the level of safety on construction sites, construction companies also organise dedicated safety days in the major lots. During these days, workers are provided with essential safety information and technical safety priorities are defined. All employees working on site, including service providers and staff working in offices, are required to participate.
To what extent has the partnership between Italy and Austria contributed to the development of common protocols for emergency management and occupational safety?
During last year's breakthrough of the exploratory tunnel between Italy and Austria, and during the planned breakthroughs in the main tunnels in the coming months, cross-border coordination for emergency management is carried out. In this context, BBT SE is working with construction companies on the Brenner Base Tunnel on both sides of the Brenner Pass, as well as with the relevant safety authorities in the province of Bolzano and Tyrol, and with representatives of rescue organisations from both countries.
Safety is not a matter of chance, but the result of excellent collaboration. We thank Andreas Töchterle for these insights. Thanks to cross-border coordination between project management, companies and authorities, prevention and emergency management go hand in hand in the BBT, ensuring a safe working environment on both sides of the Brenner.
