A combination of failing fall-restraints and cover segments weighing in excess of 70kg made the Health and Safety risks unacceptable for Severn Trent Water on this Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) site. With RIDDOR statistics attributing over half of injuries (resulting in absence from work) to manual handling it’s logical that reducing hazards in this area is a priority for UK water companies.

With no need for hinges or mechanical parts, there is no potential for failure and no requirement for ongoing maintenance- the Fibrelite FM45 is a ‘consistently dependable’ ‘fit and forget’ product. What’s more, with the weight lifted not going beyond 25kg, Fibrelite’s trench panels tick all the boxes in terms of Health and Safety. Mark Corbett Safety Coach for West Waste Water said:

“Using these covers eliminates manual handling issues and injury; the keys are at waist height so there’s no need to bend down and the covers don’t seize up so we don’t need to bend down with extra tools to release them. And because they’re so light, lifting is quicker which means we get more work done.”

Severn Trent Water approached Fibrelite with problems relating to the security of manhole and trench access covers. For remote areas or anywhere there is a requirement for increased security various locking options and restraining methods are available from Fibrelite.

Everything from simple screws to a terrorist proof lock is an optional addition to a Fibrelite cover. In this instance, the below lock was used with a ‘tork key’ rather than allen key as a deterrant to unwanted access.