• Specialty:

  Air Quality
  Fugitive Dust
  Health / Safety / Compliance
  

• Location:

  Transportation
  

• Type:

  Environmental Study
  

• Timespan:

  2008

• Location:

  Boston, MA

Central Artery Tunnel Worker Safety

SERVICE:

Construction Air Quality Assessment

DESCRIPTION:

The Central Artery is a section of freeway in downtown Boston, Massachusetts made up of tunnels that were built as part of the Big Dig (Central Artery/Tunnel) project. Inspectors who worked in the tunnel during construction were concerned abo­ut dust exposure. The concerns included total dust exposure and exposure to specific compounds of concern.

Tech Environmental conducted an air quality assessment in the Central Artery Tunnel, which included monitoring for airborne particulate matter and collecting and analyzing composite dust samples from various areas to determine the composition. The measured PM levels were shown to be safely in compliance with worker exposure guidelines. Each of the different particulate agents were at levels well below the established limits.

 

Key Points

• Inspectors of the "Big Dig" had dust safety concerns during underground construction operations.
• Tech conducted an air quality assessment in the tunnel and determined that total dust and contributing compounds of concern levels were safely in compliance.