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Nationwide Hazardous Management

Tyne Tunnel

The Tyne Cyclist and Pedestrian Tunnel (TPCT) was Britain’s first purpose built cycling tunnel. It runs beneath the River Tyne between Howdon and Jarrow, and was opened in 1951.

This grade II listed tunnel was used by 20,000 people per day. These tunnels included the first purpose built cycle tunnel in the UK and was the first tunnels to be used by both cyclists and pedestrians.

When the TPCT opened, the Waygood-Otis escalators used to access the tunnels were the highest single rise escalators in the world, with a rise of 84ft (26m) and a continuous length of 197ft (60m). Today the escalators are the longest wooden thread escalators in the world.

We were appointed as Principal Contractor to undertake major asbestos removal and encapsulation works as part of a larger refurbishment upgrade to the TPCT.

Our works comprised of a full decontamination of the tunnel network, escalators, lifts and entrance hubs on both sides of the Tyne.

Client: 

North East Combined Authority

Services delivered:

Principal Contractor

    Asbestos Removal

    Location: 

    Newcastle, Tyne and Wear

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    Asbestos the Facts
    Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material regularly used in building work from the 1950’s up until the late 1990’s. Any building built or refurbished before the year 2000 may contain asbestos. Asbestos was often used as an insulation and fire-proofing material and is regularly found in products such as ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, boilers, sprayed coatings and garage roofs. There are three main different types of asbestos, chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue). Removing asbestos is particularly dangerous as the fibres become harmful when disturbed and released into the atmosphere. The risk of releasing these dangerous fibres is particularly high without proper training, equipment and control measures and if handled incorrectly and inhaled can cause serious asbestos related diseases. It can take as little as 10 years and up to 50 years to develop these diseases depending on exposure. Asbestos exposure causes 5,000 deaths every year, vastly more than the number of people killed on UK roads.
    Technology
    We operate a business platform that standardises the way our staff undertake business critical tasks, providing them with the necessary tools to aid them in completing their job more efficiently. Each site team are assigned a 'tablet' hand held device which allows them to access all work instructions and relevant documentation required for the task. This platform streamlines the management of the asbestos contract processes and adherence to sector legislation. Planned and responsive works such as risk assessments, re-inspections, asbestos removal and containment are effectively scheduled and managed. The system digitally deploys compliance checklists and records key data on ACM's, air testing, waste consignment, exposure rates, H&S, staff training and sustainability. A centralised management dashboard allows multiple sites to be monitored in real time. Records of scheduled works are updated instantly. Clearance certificates are issued and distributed at the touch of a button.
    Skills and Training
    We recognise the value and importance of providing opportunities to staff to develop their job-related knowledge and skills and expects that with development and training individual effectiveness and motivation will increase. All staff are continuously assessed through audit and competency checks carried out by our Compliance Team, Managers and Site Supervisors. This information is gathered to enable us to produce a relevant training needs analysis (TNA) programme delivered using our state of the art training facility to ensure that all individuals' needs are met.
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    Directly employed trade operatives