Switzerland – Health and safety services – Projekt Mitholz: Fachunterstützung Querschnittsthema Sicherheit

During World War II, an underground ammunition depot for the Swiss Army was built in Mitholz (Municipality of Kandergrund, Canton of Bern). In December 1947, several explosions occurred. According to expert estimates, up to 3 500 gross tonnes of ammunition with several hundred tonnes of explosives are still present in the collapsed plant sections and in the debris cone. In connection with the planning of a new data center, risk assessments were carried out again in 2018 and 2020 on behalf of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS). It was found that unacceptable risks exist according to the Ordinance on Major Accidents (StFV) and the VBS Directives on the Safety Concept for Handling Ammunition and Explosives (WSUME). Based on the project order «Clearing of former ammunition depot Mitholz» of 16.01.2021, a further risk analysis VBS was developed in 2022 and evaluated by the VBS expert group and the BAFU. The aim of the 2022 risk analysis was to better support the basis for calculation through more detailed investigations. The probability of occurrence and the extent of damage defined therein form the basis for all risk-reducing measures before and during the clearance. On 04.12.2020, the Federal Council instructed the VBS to submit a message on a commitment credit for the clearance of the former ammunition depot Mitholz by the end of October 2022 and to set up a project organisation for the planning of the «Overall Concept for Clearance». Only with the clearance can the risks be reduced to an acceptable level according to StFV and WSUME and finally eliminated. On 16.11.2022, the Federal Council adopted the message on a commitment credit for the clearance of the former ammunition depot Mitholz. The Federal Council's decision on the commitment credit of CHF 2.59 billion was made on 19.09.2023. The project was transferred from the VBS General Secretariat to armasuisse as of 31.12.2025. The project team is directly subordinate to the Head of armasuisse Real Estate. With the transfer, the project order and the project organisation were also adapted. Safety in the project constitutes an essential component of the clearance of the former ammunition depot. The present order defines the following tasks and services of the «Specialist Support Cross-Cutting Issue Safety»: · Client support (Lot 1) · Fire Protection Engineer (Lot 2) · Expert in Occupational Medicine, Safety and Hygiene (Lot 3) · Inspector for general explosion protection measures (Lot 4)