Health and safety coordination for the stabilization of Block A3-6 of the Montserrat FGC Rack Railway
General Information:
- Location: Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain
- Client: Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC)
- Date: October – December 2021
- Photographs: SOCOTEC
SOCOTEC has collaborated with Ferrocarrils Generals de Catalunya through the Health and Safety services to improve the stabilisation of the A3-6 rock block located on the route of the Montserrat Rack Railway line. This block has been monitored in recent years to improve its safety factor.
The monitoring has been carried out with the support of the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia, which was already monitoring the movements of this block. Once the action has been carried out, it will continue with data collection, based on the new registration systems installed. In this way, it will be possible to see the scope of the improvement carried out as a study for future stabilization actions.
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SOCOTEC has been contracted for the Health and Safety Coordination during the actions that consisted of drilling to introduce passive bols at different points of the rock, placement of metal cable strips anchoring the block with risk of overturning, and the construction of a reinforced concrete structure at the base of the rock to favor its support.
SERVICES
Health and Safety in Vertical Jobs
Recent projects have highlighted the importance of vertical workings and health and safety in challenging environments. The morphological nature of the mountain and the elements to be stabilized required the intervention of companies specialized in vertical work to guarantee safe access for personnel to the points of action. In addition, to facilitate access to machinery and material, the use of helicopters was employed on several days, demonstrating our ability to adapt to changing terrain conditions.
Recent projects have highlighted the importance of vertical workings and health and safety in challenging environments. The morphological nature of the mountain and the elements to be stabilized required the intervention of companies specialized in vertical work to guarantee safe access for personnel to the points of action. In addition, to facilitate access to machinery and material, the use of helicopters was employed on several days, demonstrating our ability to adapt to changing terrain conditions.
The usual space for the Montserrat car park had to be occupied, with occasional traffic cuts, regulating both the passage of vehicles and pedestrians with the help of signalling staff.
The inherent complexity of these projects is reflected in the need for numerous multi-stakeholder coordination meetings. These include not only the companies directly involved in the work, but also the Abbey of Montserrat and other entities in charge of slope stabilization and mountain cleaning in nearby areas.
Experts in Health and Safety Coordination
This coordination process demonstrates the importance of meticulous planning and effective communication to ensure the safety and effectiveness of each phase of the project. In this context, Socotec's Health and Safety department stands out as an expert in comprehensive risk management and the implementation of preventive measures, ensuring compliance with the highest safety standards at all times.
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