An Introduction to the An Introduction to the Boulby Underground LabsBoulby Underground Labs

An Overview of the Health An Overview of the Health & Safety Structure& Safety Structure

Boulby - Where?Boulby - Where?

Plymouth

London

Birmingham

Liverpool

Newcastle

Edinburgh

Inverness

Belfast

Dublin

Redcar

Hartlepool

Peterlee

Middlesbrough

Billingham

Newton Aycliffe

Stockton

Darlington

• UK’s only operational Potash mine

• 1100m deep

• Shafts sunk 1970

GeologyGeology

Bunter sandstone – water bearing strata. Whilst sinking shafts rock had to be frozen due to saturation

Bunter mudstone horizon prevents water ingress

Potash mining horizon ~ 1100m to 1350m

Lias Shales

Mine PlanMine Plan

Map of the mine excavations

Stub 2

Stub 2a,3

Map of the old Dark Matter research areas

‘H’ Area

JIF Area

• 900 kms of tunnels!• 8 miles North, 5 miles South

The Good Old Days - 1990The Good Old Days - 1990• B & Q Garden Shed

• Germanium detector

• Liquid Nitrogen Dewars

Development of Lab AreasDevelopment of Lab Areas

Mid 90’s – Stub 2 - ZEPLIN experiment

Stub 2a/3 - 200 Ton Water Tank

Late 90’s – H Area

Home to NAIAD crystals

2002 onwards – JIF Area

1000m2 new lab area housing 2nd Generation dark matter detectors

Health & Safety StructureHealth & Safety Structure

Figure 1: Interrelationship between stakeholders, relevant safety Figure 1: Interrelationship between stakeholders, relevant safety codes and rulebooks and facility users and experimental projectscodes and rulebooks and facility users and experimental projects

StakeholdersStakeholders HM Mines Inspectorate

Cleveland Potash Ltd

Boulby Underground Facility Owners & Operators

Experimental Institute H&S Groups

Experimental Group

Power to close MinePower to close Mine

Power to close facilityPower to close facility

responsibility to ensure health responsibility to ensure health and safety codes are and safety codes are implemented implemented

responsibility to ensure duty responsibility to ensure duty of care is discharged of care is discharged

responsibility to ensure responsibility to ensure experiments comply with H&S experiments comply with H&S regulations and proceduresregulations and procedures

HM Mines InspectorateHM Mines Inspectorate

Branch of the Health & Safety ExecutiveBranch of the Health & Safety Executive HMI is the authorative body for Mines & Quarries HMI is the authorative body for Mines & Quarries

in the UK.in the UK. Regular inspections and recommendations @ Regular inspections and recommendations @

Boulby Mine.Boulby Mine. Has the authority to serve prohibition working Has the authority to serve prohibition working

notices.notices. Investigates in event of incident/accidentsInvestigates in event of incident/accidents HMI has visited the JIF lab area in July 03 and HMI has visited the JIF lab area in July 03 and

made recommendations.made recommendations.

Cleveland Potash Ltd (CPL)Cleveland Potash Ltd (CPL) Mine operators.Mine operators. Authorising agent for Health & Safety on site.Authorising agent for Health & Safety on site. Ultimate Duty of Care resides with CPL.Ultimate Duty of Care resides with CPL. They have the power to shutdown experiments/or They have the power to shutdown experiments/or

lab areas for breaches in Health & Safety.lab areas for breaches in Health & Safety. The “Managers Rules” are the H & S Bible @ The “Managers Rules” are the H & S Bible @

Boulby.Boulby. Frequent ‘Spot Check’ visitsFrequent ‘Spot Check’ visits

Boulby Underground FacilityBoulby Underground Facility

Boulby Management Board discharges H Boulby Management Board discharges H & S responsibilities to operational team.& S responsibilities to operational team.

Clear communication through regular Clear communication through regular reporting.reporting.

Any disputes between Users & Facility Any disputes between Users & Facility resolved.resolved.

Facility owned by University of Sheffield Facility owned by University of Sheffield and operated by CCLRC.and operated by CCLRC.

Boulby Underground Facility Group Boulby Underground Facility Group (BUFG)(BUFG)

Is the sole point of contact between Users Is the sole point of contact between Users and mine operators (designated CPL and mine operators (designated CPL Manager)Manager)

Mechanism to delivery Users Mechanism to delivery Users needs/requirements.needs/requirements.

BUFG ‘Gate Keeper’ for operational safety.BUFG ‘Gate Keeper’ for operational safety.

Health & Safety ProcessHealth & Safety Process

HMI recommended mechanism by which CPL had an oversight of science operations.

The Project Implementation Plan (PIP) was born.

All new experiments have to follow this procedure before deployment.

Change Control is part of the process

PIPPIP

1. New Experiment – initial evaluation

2. Green Light by BMB for full evaluation

3. Full Study (management of risks, hazards, methods and in the experiment ) approved by Stakeholders including CPL

4. Implementation phase for exp. PIP a ‘living’ document. Change Control forms part of the process

Boulby Safety PanelBoulby Safety Panel

Meets bi annually. Meets bi annually. All Home Institute User groups All Home Institute User groups

represented. (Sheffield, CCLRC, Imperial represented. (Sheffield, CCLRC, Imperial College).College).

Audit underground visits to BoulbyAudit underground visits to Boulby Form an advisory group in PIP @ Form an advisory group in PIP @

Feasibility stage.Feasibility stage.

Safety CodesSafety Codes

Multi layered system.Multi layered system.

1.1. DM Rules (The Bible) written by JM taking into DM Rules (The Bible) written by JM taking into account CPL Managers Rules (Fire Risk Assess account CPL Managers Rules (Fire Risk Assess etc)etc)

2.2. CCLRC Risk Assessment’s / Method statements CCLRC Risk Assessment’s / Method statements for Experimentsfor Experiments

3.3. COSHHCOSHH4.4. Radiation Local RulesRadiation Local Rules5.5. Boulby Safety System (daily booklet completed Boulby Safety System (daily booklet completed

in Mess room prior to work)in Mess room prior to work)6.6. On Site practical risk assessment for hostile On Site practical risk assessment for hostile

underground environment.underground environment.

SupervisionSupervision

Again multi layered approach:Again multi layered approach:

1. Daily Supervisor – appointed by Facility Team. – appointed by Facility Team. Min. of 50 shifts u/g. Must have passed written Min. of 50 shifts u/g. Must have passed written exam for competency. Can supervise working exam for competency. Can supervise working people.people.

2. Approved Persons – Min. of 20 shifts u/g Must – Min. of 20 shifts u/g Must have passed written exam for competency. have passed written exam for competency.

3. New Starts - Close Personal Supervision. Must - Close Personal Supervision. Must be within ear / eye shot at all times. < 20 shifts be within ear / eye shot at all times. < 20 shifts u/g.u/g.

4. Visitors - same as New Starts - same as New Starts

Problems with u/g lab areasProblems with u/g lab areas Mine roof closure – closure rate increased due to unusual Mine roof closure – closure rate increased due to unusual

geological conditions. Lab reconstruction and relocation of geological conditions. Lab reconstruction and relocation of services. services.

Air-conditioning of labs required. Temps can reach 35-40 Air-conditioning of labs required. Temps can reach 35-40 degrees underground.degrees underground.

Power outages – unreliable supplyPower outages – unreliable supply Materials have to go vertically down 5m wide shaft. Materials have to go vertically down 5m wide shaft. Underground persons limit is 10. Under discussion with CPL. Underground persons limit is 10. Under discussion with CPL. Ingress of Hydrogen Sulphide gas (replacement of Ingress of Hydrogen Sulphide gas (replacement of

equipment, restrictions to access to labs.)equipment, restrictions to access to labs.) Salt very soluble – limited use of fresh water.Salt very soluble – limited use of fresh water. Salt corrosive atmosphere – regular checking of equipment Salt corrosive atmosphere – regular checking of equipment

that travels in and out of the Pit.that travels in and out of the Pit.