Workers - nothing functions without them
More than 1,300 men were engaged on the building of the Albula Tunnel between 1898 and 1903. Now, over 110 years later, technology has developed to such an extent that we employ between only 50 and 80 people at the Preda and Spinas ends.
Twenty-four-hour shift operation involves four teams of five workers tunnelling in each direction. Each team consists of the following:
One team leader
Two tunnellers
Two machine operators
Tasks can be reassigned individually within the team, as each skilled member is trained to carry out all the functions involved, operate all machinery to the required standards and handle explosives safely.
Other specialists and skilled tradesmen are likewise available on the construction site. They are trained and qualified to deal with the following tasks, among others:
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Vehicle maintenance and repair
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Conveyor-belt maintenance
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Preparation and mixing of concrete
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Laboratory analysis of excavated material
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Administrative tasks
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Landfill management
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And much more
Worker accommodation is provided at the Preda end, in the form of a temporary "Portakabin village", where all workers are entitled to their own room. This is likewise an aspect that has changed somewhat since the construction of the first Albula Tunnel, when certain shift workers had to put up with "hot bedding" in communal dormitories.
Today's workers have a recreation room at their disposal, along with a 23-hour canteen with opening times scheduled to coincide with the corresponding shifts.
