- Use mechanical lifting aids such as manhole cover lifters for all heavy ironwork units
- Wear heavy-duty gloves to protect hands from crushing when positioning ironwork frames
- Set ironwork to the correct level using the SROH specification for the road type
- Ensure traffic management is in place before starting any ironwork installation on highways
- Protect hands and skin from mortar and concrete bedding with chemical-resistant gloves
- Check for buried services adjacent to manholes and gullies before any breaking out
- Use team lifts where mechanical aids are not available for heavy iron covers and frames
- Barrier off open manholes and gullies to prevent falls while ironwork is being installed
- Compact bedding material to specification to prevent settlement and rocking of covers
- Inspect installed ironwork before reopening the road to confirm correct level and seating
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- DON'T manually lift heavy manhole covers alone — always use lifting aids or team lifts
- DON'T leave open manholes or gullies unguarded while ironwork is being replaced
- DON'T install ironwork without traffic management on any public highway or footway
- DON'T set ironwork above or below the surrounding road surface outside tolerance limits
- DON'T handle mortar or concrete bedding without chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection
- DON'T drop heavy ironwork onto chamber walls — lower carefully to prevent structural damage
- DON'T work in live carriageways without high-visibility clothing and signed traffic management
- DON'T place fingers under ironwork edges when lowering covers into frames
- DON'T reuse damaged or cracked ironwork — replace with new units to the correct class
- DON'T backfill around ironwork frames without proper compaction to the SROH specification
See also: Footway Reconstruction Safety | Manual Handling Awareness
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