The Magnetic Manhole Lifter brings a whole new approach to the age-old work of lifting manhole and drain covers. Since its introduction in mid 2007 by PWM distribution, the product has been widely adopted within many industry sectors and has become a significant growth area for the company. Specification information, images and video footage can be accessed through webpage http://www.pwm-distribution.com/html/manhole_lifter.html on this website. The following summarises some of the general issues arising from the practice of lifting manhole and drainage covers and in doing so, will create a better understanding of why the Manhole Buddy manhole lifter was created and how this new approach makes the work of lifting manhole and drain covers significantly safer and faster.

Whilst there are numerous manhole cover lifting methods and systems, they invariably share a common feature, that is, they use a form of lifting key to attach to the manhole cover. The one exception to this rule is the PWM Manhole Buddy, a magnetic attached manhole cover lifter. Most significantly, NO COVER LIFTING KEYS are needed with the Manhole Buddy.

Many people still lift heavy manhole or drain covers using levers to pry the cover out of the frame and then by applying their hands directly onto the cover. By any measure, this is an extreme foolhardy activity. Manhole covers come in all shapes, sizes and weights. Amongst the multitude of dangers present when trying to directly handle manhole covers, the greatest is the risk of trapping hands or feet between the cover and the frame or the ground. Put simply, manhole and drain covers should never be handled directly!

More commonly, people use manhole cover lifting keys if they are going to lift manhole and drain covers by hand. Imagine the physical effort and risks involved when straddling a heavy drainage cover, trying to get a comfortable lifting position, then having to manoeuvre the drain cover away from the opening – and it probably weighs much more than the HSE advise. And then there’s the ‘fun’ of refitting it! As previously advised, manhole or drain covers should never be handled manually!

The majority of manhole cover designs require the cover to be lifted vertically to clear the frame. Unseating or freeing a manhole or drain cover from its frame is often the hardest part, as it has been pounded into the frame by passing traffic, the joints are full of dirt and corrosion may have set in. If we accept that using sledge hammers and pry bars is inherently unsafe, then some form of mechanical system is desirable to lift the cover. With the notable exception of the magnetic attached manhole cover lifter (the Manhole Buddy), virtually all manhole lifting systems use the fixed position key slots to connect with the manhole cover. Whilst these fixed positions might ensure a cover is lifted evenly and uniformly, they create the need for undue force when trying to unseat the manhole cover – or put another way, they do not permit an unseating effort to be applied right at the edge of the cover, which is precisely where it is needed.

It was to improve upon such situations and to speed up the complete task that the Manhole Buddy was created. It is worth noting that the vast majority of drain covers are only raised for a quick visual inspection – then it’s on to the next one to find where the blockage or problem is. More detailed information on the Manhole Buddy solution can be found on webpage http://www.pwm-distribution.com/html/manhole_lifter.html