What Barrier is Needed When Working in a Manhole or Confined Space?

OSHA requires that "a railing, temporary cover, or other barrier" be erected around the manhole immediately after the manhole cover is safely removed. This is to prevent accidental falls into the space and protect employees who enter the space from objects falling on them from above.

There are lots of choices when it comes to barriers for manholes, so what are some of the factors to consider when choosing which barrier to use?

1. Deployment- How easily and how quickly can the safety railing, barrier or cover be deployed around the manhole?
2. ?Visual-?How easily can it be seen by others? Does it come in bright colors to be seen from a distance? Does it have reflective areas to be seen during low light or at night??
3. Entry- How easy is it for the worker to access the manhole while keeping other people and objects from falling into the manhole?
4. Compatible- How compatible is it to work with confined space lifts and hoses?
5. Portability-?How easy is it to remove, store and reuse?
6. Cost-?Is the barrier cost effective to meet your budget?

The JSP Workgate? is suitable for many different applications including temporary barriers for manholes and confined spaces. Supplied as a 4 gate system, the barrier allows a worker to access the manhole while restricting access for others. The barrier system works well with most confined space lifts and tripods.?

Workgate? is made from polypropylene for lightweight durability and comes in a highly visible bright orange color. An engineering-grade reflective panel increases visibility in low light and allows the barrier to be seen from a distance. The Workgate? barrier folds flat for quick and easy deployment, removal and storage until the next job.??

For more information contact JSP Safety, Inc

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