Utility tunnel access | UW Facilities Partner Resources

Subject

Utility Tunnel Access

Purpose

The UW Utility Tunnel Access (UTA) Program provides the process to control access and identify security and potential hazards associated within the UW Utility Tunnel System.

Practice

All UW or contractor employees entering the tunnel must follow the UW Utility Tunnel Access Program. Access to the UW Utility Tunnel System must be controlled to secure utility systems and to control potential exposure to hazardous conditions. Potentially hazardous conditions such as permit required confined spaces, regulated materials (ie, asbestos-containing materials, lead, silica) or exposed sources of potentially hazardous energy, are present and must be communicated to personnel authorized to enter the UW Utility Tunnel System.

References

Responsibility: Action

Role	Responsibility
Campus Utilities and Operations (CUO) Communications Center	Request utility tunnel key approval from the Assistant Director – Campus Utilities. Have the requestor read and sign the UTA Agreement. Issue utility tunnel keys and UTA Map. Provide a copy of signed UTA Agreement to the requestor. Retain original signed UTA Agreements per record retention schedule. Confirm safe exit for daily utility tunnel key check out.
UW Departments that require frequent access (such as Project Delivery Group (PDG), UW IT, RMO, MC)	Shall notify all personnel or contractors under their supervision that they shall not enter any Utility Tunnel System without reviewing the UTA Program and having at least one (1) person in the work group sign the UTA Agreement. Ensure all personnel or contractors under their supervision comply with the UTA Program. If new keys are required, order them from the UW Facilities Lock Shop. Prior to beginning work, the UW department supervisor(s) or project manager shall confirm all utility tunnel entrants are trained to recognize the expected hazards.
Assistant Director - Campus Utilities	Is responsible for approving all utility tunnel key requests, maintaining and updating the UTA Agreement, UTA Program and overseeing routine utility tunnel inspections. Will periodically review the UTA Program with EH&S.
UW Facilities Lock Shop	Request utility tunnel key approval from the Assistant Director – Campus Utilities. Have the requestor read and sign the UTA Agreement. Issue utility tunnel keys and UTA Map. Provide a copy of the signed UTA Agreement to requestor. Retain original signed UTA Agreements per record retention schedule. Audit forms every 60 days to assure keys are returned. For lost keys, a risk and cost assessment is conducted to determine if re-keying is necessary.
EH&S	Maintains the UW Confined Space Inventory List. Will periodically review the UTA Program with the UW Assistant Director – Campus Utilities.
UTA Agreement Holder	Adhere to the UTA Agreement and UTA Program. Must return the utility tunnel key and UTA Map upon the agreed time. Disseminate all UTA Program information to utility tunnel entrants and assure compliance. Account for all utility tunnel entrants at the end of each day/shift/job assignment. Ensure all utility tunnel entrants wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Assure all identified hazards are mitigated or controlled. Report any safety hazards observed while working in the Utility Tunnel System to the Assistant Director - Campus Utilities via your reporting structure. Prior to beginning work, the UTA Agreement Holder shall confirm all utility tunnel entrants are trained to recognize the expected hazards.