An underground storage vault having a hatch affixed to a hatchway. The underfloor storage vault may be incorporated into a larger structure such that the surface of the vault's hatch may be flush with the surrounding floor, allowing for the hatch to be easily concealed. Once the concealment has been removed, fasteners can be undone so that the hatch can be removed from inhibiting access to the hatchway. Valuables and possessions can be stored in the vaults storage compartment and safely secured by re-affixing the hatch to the vault's hatchway.

A manhole assembly including a base, riser, and cap. The base having an upper surface forming a bench, a bottom surface, and a radially outward surface with penetrations there through; and a radial spigot in the radially outward upper edge of the base. The base having a corrosive-resistant layer covering the channels, bench, and radial spigot. Also disclosed is a riser comprised of a corrosive-resistant polymer pipe having a radially outward surface, an inner surface and a bottom surface in contact with, supported by, and sealed to the radial spigot. The cap having a radial spigot, and access hole; the radial spigot in the radially outward bottom edge of the cap resting upon and sealed to an upper edge of the riser. The radially outward surface of the cap and base are aligned with the radially outward surface of the riser.

A safety apparatus includes a safety fabric that in use is positioned in an access opening of a subsurface chamber. The safety fabric has a mesh with a plurality of mesh openings and a band formed around a perimeter of the mesh. At least one safety indicator is attached to the band by at least one strap. The safety indicator may be positioned outside of the access opening by extension of the strap when the safety fabric is positioned in the access opening. The subsurface chamber with the access opening may be an inlet chamber of a lift station.

A safety landing may include a first support panel positionable within the shaft and having a first support surface and a second support surface spaced apart from the first support surface. At least a first platform may have a first end that is movably connected to the first support panel and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The first platform may have an upper surface, an opposing lower surface and an end surface at the first end. The first platform may be movably between a closed position in which the first platform extends laterally across the shaft, and in which the lower surface rests on the first support surface and an open position in which the first platform is generally upright and the end surface of the first platform rests on the second support surface.

In one embodiment, an electronically controlled hatch system for safe ingress, egress, hazard detection, and methods thereof are provided to reduce or eliminate hazards to personnel, including protection of people above and below a scuttle hatch, access port, skylight or elevated deck. Said hatch system reduces the risk of falls while ascending or descending a ladder through an access port. In certain embodiments, severe weather, hazard, security, and other safety information are detected and transmitted to a central control unit for processing and regulating the opening and closing of a hatch covering the access port and/or raising and lowering a safety railing system based on said information and/or user input. Said hatch system may include an actuator and guides for automatically locking/unlocking and opening/closing a hatch, an actuator and guides for automatically raising/lowering a railing system, safety monitoring detectors/apparatuses, and a centralized controller.

An apparatus for use with a manhole and a cable, and a method thereof, is provided. The apparatus comprises a frame having an opening and a coupling mechanism for releasably securing the frame about the manhole such that the opening communicates with the manhole. The apparatus also includes a bearing secured to the frame adjacent the opening, the bearing having a surface over which a cable may travel in a manner that reduces wear on the cable when the cable is fed into or drawn through the opening in the hole.

A grate hatch and folding barrier assembly has a pair of doors that open in a cabinet-style manner and lie flat or generally flat atop a support structure within which the grate hatch and folding barrier assembly is installed. A folding barrier gate assembly may be deployed from a collapsed position to complete a four-sided barrier around the hatch or opening. The folded barrier gate assembly has two opposing barrier gates, and a pair of secondary barrier gates that connect with and extend between the two opposing barrier gates to form the four-sided barrier around the hatch opening when fully deployed. When the barrier is no longer needed, the barrier assembly may be folded or collapsed and stored in the opening beneath or below the doors and the doors may then be closed.

A safety apparatus includes a safety fabric that in use is positioned in an access opening of a subsurface chamber. The safety fabric has a mesh with a plurality of mesh openings and a band formed around a perimeter of the mesh. At least one safety indicator is attached to the band by at least one strap. The safety indicator may be positioned outside of the access opening by extension of the strap when the safety fabric is positioned in the access opening. The subsurface chamber with the access opening may be an inlet chamber of a lift station.

A removable obturation device is provided for transversely obstructing a passage delimited by a cylindrical side wall wherein it includes: a) a support and blocking element having a central block supporting a plurality of arms disposed perpendicularly in a radial position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the block and of the side wall, each arm having an extensible rod including a pad intended to be blocked against one the side wall, and b) at least one complementary obturation element extending in a radial transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, at least partly in or opposite the space between the arms so as to prevent an individual from falling through the passage. The obstruction element is preferably removably fastened to the support and blocking element.

A manhole assembly including a base, riser, and cap. The base having an upper surface forming a bench, a bottom surface, and a radially outward surface with penetrations there through; and a radial spigot in the radially outward upper edge of the base. The base having a corrosive-resistant layer covering the channels, bench, and radial spigot. Also disclosed is a riser comprised of a corrosive-resistant polymer pipe having a radially outward surface, an inner surface and a bottom surface in contact with, supported by, and sealed to the radial spigot. The cap having a radial spigot, and access hole; the radial spigot in the radially outward bottom edge of the cap resting upon and sealed to an upper edge of the riser. The radially outward surface of the cap and base are aligned with the radially outward surface of the riser.