Using composite materials eliminates the use of heavy lifting equipment and allows for safer manual handling and avoids the high risks of injuries. Fibrelite, a leading manufacturer of composite covers and trench panels, has taken note and responded by using fiber glass reinforced plastic composite (FRP), (GRP), a type of composite material, in order to provide a safe and risk-free alternative. Fibrelite’s FRP GRP covers have been designed to eliminate the risk of burns by not exceeding high-temperatures on the surface regardless of the temperatures below the cover. As an added safety feature, they also designed an anti-slip/skid surface that reduce falls, slipping and sliding in order to eliminate as many health risks as possible.

By definition, the majority of access covers are lifted, sometimes frequently. And while traditional metal or concrete covers are heavy and may even require specialist equipment making lifting time-consuming and expensive; composites are different.

David Holmes, Fibrelite Technical Director, explained: “As well as being lightweight – typically a third of the weight of metal or concrete – our covers are designed for safe lifting, having up to two lifting points for ergonomic lifting handles which means that just one or two operatives can move them quickly and easily without risk of back injury or crushed fingers or toes, even at the heavier load ratings.”