COLLECTION SAFETY SYSTEM PART 2 ( GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS)

General Safety Precautions

The following are the proper procedures and general safety precautions that will be followed

before entering a manhole for the purpose of taking flow measurements, performing inspections

or making sewer repairs:

1) Always organize and plan the work before entering a manhole. Avoid lengthy stays in

manholes.

2) Before starting the work, all employees expecting to work in the manholes and sewers,

should obtain typhoid and tetanus inoculations.

3) Never enter a manhole without a backup person attending topside.

4) Before opening any manhole, always place markers or traffic cones around it to caution

pedestrians and motorists. An open manhole should always be watched by a guard and have

safety markers placed around it.

5) Never smoke in or around a manhole.

6) Use the proper tools to open a manhole cover to avoid hurting your back, feet, and fellow

workers. The tool that is generally used to open a manhole is a manhole hook or crowbar.

7) Before entering, a manhole the employee must get a confined space entry permit from his/her

supervisor. The employee must then determine if there are any dangerous gases in it. This is

done by using the gas analyzer that is provided. Use the same analyzer to determine it there is

sufficient oxygen present in the manhole. The employee should never assume that a manhole is

safe because it was safe the last time entered. Never assume that a manhole is safe because there

is no smell of gas.

8) The person (s) entering the manhole should always wear personal safety equipment (See

Section C). The employee should wear long trousers and heavy-duty work shirts to avoid scrapes

and bruises.

9) Make sure that the manhole's brickwork is sound and if the steps are unsafe or missing use

the manhole ladder that is provided.

10) Never leave any small loose tools or other objects near an open manhole. In order to avoid

the possibility of being hit in the face or eyes by falling objects, do not look up while in the

manhole.

11) Do not lift another person out of a manhole by his arms unless it is an absolute emergency.

This may cause a serious shoulder separation.

12) Never tie the end of a safety harness rope to a car or truck.

13) Should your co-worker loose consciousness while in the manhole, call 911 and ventilate the

manhole until emergency personnel arrive. DO NOT ENTER THE MANHOLE.