3 utility workers die in a manhole
I used to go down manholes all the time; now I don't like kneeling down next to an open one...
Stay safe my friends.
Thanks for sharing.
Let's stay alert!
I have explicit instructions for my guys to never enter into a confined space. There is only one survey company in town that has that training that I am aware of. To properly enter a manhole, it costs a few thousand dollars from what they say.
When I think of all the times I foolishly entered manholes ... let's just say I am really lucky, as I'm sure a lot of us are.
I have explicit instructions for my guys to never enter into a confined space. There is only one survey company in town that has that training that I am aware of. To properly enter a manhole, it costs a few thousand dollars from what they say.
I had the training years ago, and we went into manholes with the correct equipment and procedures.?ÿ I think the winch alone was a few thousand dollars.?ÿ And the training probably cost a bit too.?ÿ Had to get vaccines for hepatitis A & B, and typhoid too.
So sad.?ÿ Nobody should lose their life in such conditions.?ÿ I've been through?ÿplenty of training for confined space entry from?ÿmy days contracting with telecommunication and utility?ÿproviders.?ÿ There are distinct procedures for entering buried and enclosed vaults and manholes.?ÿ Primarily is, of course, is determining the presence of breathable air.?ÿ Toxic gases and things like?ÿhydrocarbons are next.?ÿ
I'm not sure of municipal requirements nowadays, but all the communications carriers?ÿI've worked with?ÿrequire forced air purging of the atmosphere in an enclosure (for a prescribed length of time determined by size) and then retesting at prescribed intervals.?ÿ Entry by personnel should only be done after completion of these tests..with all the necessary safety gear and personnel in place?ÿEVEN if everything initially tests good.
This should not be happening! Where is their training? Their bosses should be fired!
These things are proven killers.
My heart goes out the families.
joe
I do see that this was a story from Jan. 2017, but it is still very upsetting. I have been in charge of many crews for many years and my biggest fear has always been that someone doesn't come home.
?ÿWhere is their training? Their bosses should be fired!
?ÿ
When I worked in Canada for a while it was drummed into my head that Canadian law allows for criminal prosecution of managers if it is found that an employee death or injury results from a lack of training.?ÿ
?ÿCanadian Criminal Code
"217.1 Every one who undertakes, or has the authority, to direct how another person does work or performs a task is under a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person, or any other person, arising from that work or task."?ÿ
I generally don't watch TV news but I caught part of CBS last night. They replayed part of an earlier video?ÿreport where "desperate parents putting their children into manholes" to escape the missiles.?ÿ I cringe at the implication that manholes are safe places under any circumstances.?ÿ ?ÿ
Specifically 0:47 of the video which was replayed last night.?ÿ
I generally don't watch TV news but I caught part of CBS last night. They replayed part of an earlier video?ÿreport where "desperate parents putting their children into manholes" to escape the missiles.?ÿ I cringe at the implication that manholes are safe places under any circumstances...?ÿ
I watched that when it first aired and thought the same thing.?ÿ?ÿ I guess the fear of clowns hiding in curb inlets takes a back seat to a nuclear decimation.
I believe the practice of entering a manhole or underground shelter during a missile attack was primarily to make it to where they would not bear witness to the massive destruction that occurs during the end of the world.
I remember as a child during a tornado or massive storm approach we would go a few miles to my uncle's home and all the women and children would go into a well supplied underground storm shelter the size of a double garage and play board games by the light of a couple of kerosene lanterns while the men sat on the back porch and put away grandpa's port wine and/or other spirits.
I believe the practice of entering a manhole or underground shelter during a missile attack was primarily to make it to where they would not bear witness to the massive destruction that occurs during the end of the world.
I remember as a child during a tornado or massive storm approach we would go a few miles to my uncle's home and all the women and children would go into a well supplied underground storm shelter the size of a double garage and play board games by the light of a couple of kerosene lanterns while the men sat on the back porch and put away grandpa's port wine and/or other spirits.
I have some fond memories of huddling in my grandparent's cellar during "cyclone" season.?ÿ We just sat on a bench that went the length of one wall while my grandmother dusted off her canned goods on the shelves.?ÿ It was a big deal the day I was old enough to stand on the steps by my granddad and peer out the slightly opened cellar door to see it the storm had passed.?ÿ
We have a house in escrow, built in 1935, it has what I believe is officially a cellar (a concrete pit not part of the foundation, completely below grade, no windows). The house has concrete subfloors, cmu walls (first floor), and a lot of old growth redwood. Sometimes described as 1-1/2 story (12-12 roof impinges on second floor rooms like my grandmothers house). It is in Carmichael, Sacramento County, California.
I generally don't watch TV news but I caught part of CBS last night. They replayed part of an earlier video?ÿreport where "desperate parents putting their children into manholes" to escape the missiles.?ÿ I cringe at the implication that manholes are safe places under any circumstances.?ÿ ?ÿ
Specifically 0:47 of the video which was replayed last night.?ÿ
I can't believe people randomly have lid pullers laying around?
Sledge hammer + crowbar = open most anything