Diploma in Emergencies in Tunnels and Large Works
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in emergencies in tunnels and major works. 8 modules covering emergency risks in tunnels and major works, the regulatory framework, site emergency plans, protection and rescue equipment, operational tunnel safety, drills and training, and crisis management and continuity, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify emergency scenarios in tunnels and major works.
Apply the regulatory framework for self-protection and tunnel safety.
Prepare site emergency and self-protection plans.
Size protection, refuge and rescue equipment.
Analyse the safety of operational tunnels using simulation.
Design drills and training programmes.
Manage crises and continuity on major works.
Who it's for
- Site emergency managers.
- Tunnel safety coordinators.
- Self-protection technicians.
- Tunnel safety officers.
- Fire safety consultants.
- HSE managers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter underground construction.
What you'll work with
- Spanish Royal Decree 393/2007 (Basic Self-Protection Standard)
- Directive 2004/54/EC (minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network)
- Spanish Royal Decree 635/2006 (minimum safety requirements for road tunnels)
- Regulation (EU) 1303/2014 (TSI on safety in railway tunnels)
- NFPA 502 (road tunnels, bridges and other limited access highways)
- Spanish Royal Decree 1627/1997 (health and safety on construction sites)
- ITA-AITES Guidelines for good practice in occupational health and safety (underground construction)
- ISO 22301:2019 (business continuity management)
- FDS Fire Dynamics Simulator
- Pathfinder
- Smokeview
- ANSYS Fluent
- SafetyCulture iAuditor
8 modules
1.1Emergency scenarios in underground construction1.2Tunnel fire1.3Collapses and face instability1.4Flooding and water inflows1.5Hazardous atmospheres and gases1.6Ventilation failure1.7Machinery accidents1.8Medical emergencies in remote locations1.9Risks on major surface works1.10Case study: analysis of the Mont Blanc tunnel fire
2.1Basic Self-Protection Standard2.2Safety requirements for road tunnels2.3European tunnel directive2.4Safety in railway tunnels2.5Emergency plans on construction sites2.6Coordination with emergency services2.7Coordination with civil protection2.8Contractor responsibilities2.9International PIARC and ITA guidelines2.10Workshop: self-protection requirements for an underground project
3.1Emergency risk analysis3.2Structure of the self-protection plan3.3Emergency organisation and teams3.4Response procedures3.5Communications and alarms3.6Evacuation and assembly points3.7First aid in remote environments3.8Drawings and signage3.9Review and updating3.10Practical exercise: emergency plan for a tunnel under construction
4.1Refuge chambers in tunnels4.2Self-rescue equipment4.3Gas detection and monitoring4.4Fire detection and suppression4.5Emergency ventilation4.6Evacuation lighting and signage4.7Rescue vehicles4.8Rescue equipment for work at height4.9Equipment maintenance4.10Case study: sizing refuge chambers
5.1Safety installations in tunnels5.2Longitudinal and transverse ventilation5.3Escape galleries5.4Control centre5.5Quantitative risk analysis5.6Evacuation simulation5.7Smoke simulation with CFD5.8Operation and maintenance5.9Operator training5.10Lab: smoke simulation in a tunnel
6.1Designing drills6.2Tabletop exercises6.3Live drills with external services6.4Evaluation and observers6.5Training response teams6.6Worker training6.7Coordination with the fire brigade6.8Lessons learned from drills6.9Improving the plan6.10Workshop: evacuation drill script
7.1Crisis management on major works7.2Emergency communication7.3Relations with the media and families7.4Continuity of the works7.5Post-incident investigation7.6Psychological support for affected workers7.7Resuming activity7.8Insurance and liability7.9Knowledge management7.10Case study: crisis management after a collapse
8.1Description of the works8.2Risk analysis8.3Emergency organisation8.4Response procedures8.5Protection equipment8.6Drill programme8.7Training plan8.8Maintenance plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is FDS Fire Dynamics Simulator, Pathfinder, Smokeview, ANSYS Fluent and SafetyCulture iAuditor, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures such as the emergency plan for a TBM-driven tunnel under construction, a smoke and evacuation simulation in a road tunnel and an evacuation drill with the fire brigade. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Standards covered: Spanish Royal Decree 393/2007; Directive 2004/54/EC; Spanish Royal Decree 635/2006; Regulation (EU) 1303/2014; NFPA 502; Spanish Royal Decree 1627/1997; ITA-AITES Guidelines for good practice in occupational health and safety; ISO 22301:2019.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with FDS Fire Dynamics Simulator, Pathfinder, Smokeview, ANSYS Fluent and SafetyCulture iAuditor, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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