Work area in front of emplacement chamber 7

A new work area has been established for the drilling works in a depth of 750 m. A tent construction, the so-called housing, separates the danger zone from the residual mine. The drilling crew can only enter or leave the work through an air lock.

The picture shows the key components of the equipment and the areas where the drilling occurs, the drilled material is collected and controlled for radiation. Also important are the introduction of fresh air and the extraction of stale air. A large ventilator extracts the exhaust air from the housing via a 60-cm thick tube. The extracted air is led through a radiological filter and cleaned before it is re-introduced into the mine. Fresh air flows into the housed-in area through an opening.

The drilling machine is operated hydraulically. For this purpose tubes need to be laid, as well. An air-compressor unit provides for the debris arising during the drilling process being blown out of the bore hole. The debris is again collected in a collecting container set up for this purpose, the debris bunker.

In case of emergency, also nitrogen can be introduced into the bore hole. In case of a fire during the process of drilling into the emplacement chamber, this could be immediately extinguished with nitrogen.

When leaving the work area, the workers are controlled for possible contamination. The same applies to the material coming from the bore hole.

The workers can take their breaks in a personnel container which has been erected for this purpose only as it is not allowed to eat or drink in radiation protection areas.