Posted By Stuart Nagle Brian. Good manual handling would be the easy answer, but it involves a little bit more here. Manhole and inspection covers come in all shapes and sizes, some very heavy some lighter, some hinged, some not, some double triangular bolted through and some not so come apart when lifting, some round, some oval.... etc etc. generally you should first secure and sign (in accordance with the new roads and streetworks act) the site to prevent anyone falling into the manhole or inspection chamber and where practicable, particularly for the larger covers, use lifting equipment, liftinf keys and an old srewdriver for clearing the lifting key holes and chisle points around the covers. Whilst there are a range of lifting appliances on the market, nothing replaces easing of the covers first with chilsels and/or crow bars to prevent excessive strain on both men and the lifting keys and equipment. ALWAYS use chisels to lift the cover first by using the chisel points around the edges of the cover and rocking the cover in the frame to ease it before attempting to lift. Clean key holes out so lifting keys can be properly positioned and use keys that fit (if they don't the simple way used to be to use two keys in the lifting eye on the cover to take up the slack space - e.g 4 keys in two key holes). On round covers we used to get 'sprung chisels' made up from old car spings by the local blacksmith - they worked a treat and often lifted the cover right out of the frame without the use of keys at all.... be careful not to split the frame on round covers whilst using chisels thought, and word of warning, the sprung chsels 'sing' and tell you when they are ready to 'pop' from the frame, so be careful with these, but expereince is the only way to judge!! Hand protection and eye protection are recommended. I have often smashed my fists into iron covers when chisels have slipped, hammer shafts broke etc, and splintering metal from chisels can ricochet up into eye quite easily (experience speaking here!!) Always lift with straight backs and use the legs and arms... not the back to lift (if you get my meaning) to avoid sprains and worse. If using lifting equipment read the instructions and follow them, although I must say in practice I always found these things ungainly and not a lot of use. The best one we had was a 'home made' version that employed a steel 'H' bar with keys fitted supported on two hydraulic bottle jacks... worked a treat... So, some food for thought for you.... Regards... Stuart