In this issue of T&TI we are running an article on the challenges faced at the dawn of tunnelling in 6th century BC Greece, as well as a focus on the latest developments in the Asia Pacific, the final paper from the three Harding Prize finalists (this month by Spyridon Konstantis) and technical reports covering hand mining and its alternatives, and EPB shield spoil conditioning.

It seems a good issue, like any other. But, little did we realise that an investigation of one of these topics would be treated with much suspicion and even fear. Contractors and consultants alike, on big projects and small would volunteer an opinion, in some cases an observation spanning decades, only to add ‘but don’t put my name to that’.

I am referring to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).

Few outside of the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have been willing to speak openly and reportedly on the topic. It feels clandestine and something is very, very wrong if members of a learned society feel unable to contribute to a reasoned discussion on an issue that even the chairman of the BTS says we do not know enough about.

The issue is not a new one, merely one we have stirred up in the course of our investigations. The subject has been debated hotly in closed committee rooms. The reluctance to speak out against HAVS seems to stem from the HSE’s decision to make it an enforceable offence less than 10 years ago. No contractor wants to risk falling foul of the HSE.

But off the record many tell T&TI that HAVS is not a concern for tunnellers, that there has never been a tunneller suffering from the syndrome (tell us if you know of one). BTS chairman Bob Ibell has called for more research into the subject, in an attempt to shed further light on the issue. While the HSE believe further research would not be cost effective – so stick to the rules as they are.

There are many issues in the industry that are hard to speak openly about. Perhaps this would be a good time to suggest the re-introduction of a too-long neglected section of T&TI: ‘The Drifter’ – items written anonymously to protect the good name of the author, often on important subjects or positions considered too controversial, non-PC, or in some other way, career-‘Kryptonite’.

Any takers?

Meanwhile, from the haze of shuffling feet, clarification of party lines and covert tip offs that belong in a crime thriller, T&TI presents what it has learned of the HAVS ‘debate’. Turn to page 32 to begin…


Jon Young