MAN HOLE COVER AWARENESS

A manhole (alternatively utility hole, cable chamber, maintenance hole, inspection chamber, access chamber, sewer hole, or confined space) is the top opening to an underground utility vault used to house an access point for making connections, inspection, valve adjustments or performing maintenance on underground and buried public utility and other services including water, sewers, telephone, electricity, storm drains, district heating and gas.

Manhole closings are protected by a manhole cover, a flat plug designed to prevent accidental or unauthorized access to the manhole. Those plugs are traditionally made of metal, but may be constructed from precast concrete, glass reinforced plastic or other composite material (especially in Europe, or where cover theft is of concern).

Manholes are usually outfitted with metal, polypropylene, or fiberglass steps installed in the inner side of the wall to allow easy descent into the utility space. Because of legislation restricting acceptable manual handling weights, Europe has seen a move toward lighter weight composite manhole cover materials, which also have the benefits of greater slip resistance and electrical insulating properties.

The access openings are usually circular in shape to prevent accidental fall of the cover into the hole.

Manholes are generally found in urban areas, in streets and occasionally under sidewalks. In rural and undeveloped areas, services such as telephone and electricity are usually carried on utility poles or even pylons rather than underground.

Just like every other industrial material tools/equipment, man hole covers come with their own safety challenges and issues. There are couple of hazards associated with them, some fatal and other risks of serious injuries and man hour lost due to manifestation of the hazard. Some of the risk of man hole covers include but not limited to electrocution, cover blow out, manual handling, hand tools, rusting and indirect risk of handing hand tools, heat exhaustion, stress etc.

Cover blow out: statistic has it that world over there is at least one recorded case of man hole cover blow out every day. Whenever there is a fault from the underground utility or installation, most especially a fault from an electrical source. Carbon monoxide {CO} is built up to a point where the CO/air mixture concentration is greater than or equals to 10%. At this point, all that is needed for an explosion to occur is a little spark which will surely come from the underground system itself. The explosion can throw the cover up to 20meters from the man hole surface into the air and any human, animal or object standing on the man hole at the time of the explosion can be seriously injured or killed. There has been reported cases of mischievous people putting fireworks into man hole all in the name of fun, trust me you can be killed instantly if stricken by the flying heavy metal cover.

Most man hole covers are made of Metal covering high voltage underground cables or telecoms cable. In the event of faulty connection, the cable may come in contact with the man hole cover electrocuting to death any life who stepped on it. In urban areas, stray voltage issues have become a significant concern for utilities. In 2004, Jodie S. Lane was electrocuted after stepping on a metal manhole cover, while walking her dog in New York City.

The minimum weight of a man hole cover is 55kg. this according to the Health and Safety Executives is too much of a weight to be lifted by one individual. It requires two or more people lifting one cover following the right lifting techniques or using a lifting aid.

The next time you see a man hole on the ground while walking or driving, have a second though before you step or drive over it as you will not want to be electrocuted, blown away or hit by a 55kg flying metal object.

Stay safe.

Hammed Usman {IDIPNEBOSH, GIFireE, ANISP}

HEALTH and SAFETY EXPERT II FIRE SAFETY INSTRUCTOR II FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR

08098558872

Sheconcept@gmail.com

Twitter:@hamshol