• 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

• 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