Woman Falls Into Sewer After Stepping on Loose Manhole Cover

Case Overview

Questions to the Occupational Health and Safety expert and their responses

Please describe your experience in civil engineering, particularly as it relates to manhole covers.

I have a degree in Civil Engineering and I am a registered Civil Engineer in the state in question here. I have done a significant amount of consulting work at water and wastewater facilities and public works facilities over the years. I have previously designed piping systems that included manholes and I have written specifications for them.

Have you ever reviewed a similar case?

I have had similar fall cases that included holes, utility covers, manholes, openings and other related fall hazards that were direct contributing factors to personal injuries including major injuries and deaths.

What responsibility does a municipality or county have to maintain its manhole covers?

Industry standards require that walkway surface hardware, including manhole covers, be maintained flush with the surrounding surface within the foreseeable pedestrian path. Since the municipality owns it then it would be their responsibility to comply with industry standards. The municipality's internal operation and maintenance procedures should also be reviewed. The type, size and location of this manhole should also be evaluated regarding requirements related to usage, maintenance schedule, and inspection.

How might a cover become loosened to the point that it would flip when stepped on?

Most manhole covers are cast iron and quite heavy and held in place under their own weight. Manhole covers subjected to wheel loads in roadways are usually bolted in place to prevent them from being dislodged by vehicular traffic. A dislodged manhole cover in a grassy right of way, that is not a roadway, could only occur as a negligent or intentional act unless there was a spontaneous combustion event or similar dynamic loading condition that may dislodge the cover.

About the expert

This expert has over 25 years of experience as a practicing engineer and life safety consultant responsible for accident investigations, building code interpretations, facility condition assessments, and engineering investigations related to accidents, personal injuries, and building code violations. He has specialization in focusing on investigation of accidents involving personal injuries related to human factors, OSHA/ADA, trips and falls, and construction materials. Additionally, he has provided expert witness testimony related to human factors, falls on stairs and common areas, building code violations, defective construction, and life safety issues. He is currently a Consulting Engineer at a civil engineering consultancy.