Walk down a crowded city street and see those big metal covers on the ground? That is a MANHOLE COVER! It plays a vital role in covering the opening of underground areas where basic systems are present such as sewage and drainage. Waste and rainwater, for example, are managed through these systems so as to ensure that our cities remain unsoiled yet safe.
Most manhole covers are round. This constitutes a very handy option because its round shape is anything but the perfect object to block here and there, it never ends up being where you wanted to put them before or not long would they have fallen back into that gap. Manhole covers are typically composed of resilient metals such as iron or steel and may weigh several hundred pounds each. Think of this as wrapping up your stuff and making them prettily visible with some fun patterns so you stand out from the crowd (haha).
Manhole covers are one of those things that have been around for (seemingly) ever. They would be employed for the first time on record in 1st century Rome, to conceal openings above underground sewers. With the spread of cities and their development at some point excavations (undergrounds) were invaluable, now you still needed to cover up those holes for safety/health issues.
Two centuries later, men found that spending their entire lives in manholes was no good and so tried to make the construction of standard-sized covers. This implied that they began shaping the implants in comparable shapes and sizes to build up a less complex use. Manhole covers had even became a design effort and main point of city planning & development by the 1900s In fact, certain cities went as far as to host competitions for the best and most artistic manhole cover designs, proving just how much we value them.
In Tokyo, Japan their manhole covers are designed to look like works of art with drawings that include cherry blossoms or koi fish – all nods to Japanese culture. In Seattle, Washington the manhole covers reflect salmon swimming upstream to honor the local wildlife. All these well thought and creative designs make the city more colorful for any passer-by.
Maintaining the network, which encompasses manhole covers is super crucial. They must be cleaned and repaired often in order for the ground systems to work. Manhole covers can turn into hazards for people walking or driving by should they not be looked after in the right way. If a cover is loose or damaged, for instance it can be danger to pedestrians and cars which might lead to accidents.
Manhole covers playing essential role for cities, but at the same time by opening Manholes this be risk. Solid covers may become dangerous, if they are not fastened well enough or broken. Not only that but gasses can congregate underground and this poses a real danger to workers who have to go down into the depths in order to make repairs. The accident serves as a reminder that workers need to take precaution when working around manhole covers.
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