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46
Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell.
Proposed Regulations for Preventing Accidents in Sewers, etc.
1. Each gang working in a sewer, which in these instructions includes also
any manhole, side entrance, sump, or underground chamber, shall be provided
with :—
Safety Lamps (oil or electric);
1 Detector Lamp (Davis-Boss or other approved type);
1 Miner's Safety Lamp (where electric lamps only are used);
Lead acetate test papers in stoppered bottle;
Life line and safety sling in case.
2. Before men are allowed to enter any sewer, as many openings as possible
shall be uncovered and time allowed for the air to be changed.
3. When, owing to the want of ventilation, to unusual smells, or to discharges
from factories, there is any doubt as to the purity of the air in any sewer, it shall be
tested before any man enters the sewer by means of: (a) detector lamp; (b) test
papers, in the manner described in the printed instructions supplied with them.
4. These tests shall also be carried out, or repeated, if any doubt arises as to
the purity of the air while men are working in the sewer or have occasion to enter it.
5. No open light nor fire shall be allowed near any entrance to a sewer. No
smoking shall be permitted nor naked lights used nor matches struck in any sewer.
No man working in any sewer shall, when in the sewer, have in his possession
matches or any other means of creating a flame.
6. All oil lamps shall be lighted above ground at least 10 feet from the sewer
opening, or further, if any smell of gas or other unusual smell is noticed. No
damaged lamp (oil or electric) shall be taken into any sewer. Where electric
lamps only are in use a miner's safety lamp shall be provided and taken down by
the first man entering the sewer. If at any time this lamp (or any oil lamp where
such is in use) is found not to burn freely, or a "cap" form over the flame, the men
should at once withdraw and test the air as described in para. 3 above.
7. The only dangerous state of the air in sewers which the above tests might
fail to detect is that due to the presence of poisonous gas. This is unlikely to occur.
Should, however, any unusual smell be met with in a sewer, especially a smell
of almonds, the sewer shall immediately be vacated, and a report made to the
Superintendent or Foreman Ganger.
8. In all cases where safety chains or bars exist, such chains or bars shall be
fixed across the sewer at the side entrance immediately below where the men are
to work, by the man first entering the sewer. A lighted lamp shall be fixed above
the chains or bars. In cases where no chains or bars exist, struts or other efficient
substitutes shall be fixed at the same place, with a lighted lamp above them.
9. No man shall enter any sewer unless there is a man stationed on top of
the manhole or entrance shaft at the place from which work is to be carried out.
The man shall keep in touch with the men in the sewer by calling or signalling
to them— if necessary, at frequent intervals.
10. In case of any accident to men working in sewers and additional assistance
being required, the London County Council Fire Brigade shall be at once communicated
with by telephone. In answer to the operator's query "Number
please," the call is "Fire Brigade." When the Fire Brigade replies, the place and
the fact that the accident is in a sewer should be stated. For this purpose, gangers
must ascertain the location of the nearest telephone (call box or private telephone
where available), before commencing work. When a telephone is not available,
the nearest fire alarm post should be used, and the arrival of the Fire Brigade
awaited at the post.
11. The Superintendent, Foreman Ganger, or Ganger in charge shall take
any further precautions he may consider necessary to meet special conditions in
any particular case.
12. The Superintendent or Foreman Ganger shall obtain the signed statement
of each man employed in the Sewers Department that he has been supplied with a
copy of these rules and has read and understood them.