IT is often forgotten that many aspects of the work carried out in the plumbing industry can prove hazardous, particularly when working in confined spaces, such as deep drains, manholes and access chambers. The presence of flammable substances, toxic gas, fumes or vapours, oxygen deficiency, flash-flooding and overheating all cause a number of injuries each year, some proving fatal.

If health and safety standards are to be upheld then manufacturers must seek safe new ways to allow plumbers access to previously restricted areas.

HSE (health, safety and environment) regulations in the UK now dictate an approved code of practice to help combat some of these incidents and ensure the safety and well-being of practitioners. The 'Safe Work in Confined Spaces' regulations, 1997, were made under the Health & Safety at Work Act (HSW Act) and came into force in early 1998. The 'confined spaces' referred to in the regulations are any place including: chambers, tanks, vats, silos, pits, trenches, pipes, sewers, flues and wells which, by virtue of their enclosed nature, pose a reasonably foreseeable risk to those working in them.

It would be easy to brush these regulations off as applying to the UK industry alone. However, health and safety issues should not be isolated to local areas but should be the concern of the plumbing industry worldwide, and in particular for those British companies working abroad.

The plumbing industry must invest in research and development in order to provide safer alternatives to the traditional concrete or brick-constructed deep drains for use in future projects.

Some manufacturers are already leading the way in developing innovative products that ensure the safety of practitioners and efficiency in installation and maintenance. Geberit Terrain is one such company which is committed to providing plumbing solutions which are practical, easy to install and meet the high safety standards demanded by the industry.

David Hayward of Geberit Terrain Overseas explains the company's position on health and safety in the Gulf: "Geberit Terrain has a strong commitment to the plumbing industry as a whole. This means that the products that we design and manufacture for all markets are of a high quality and adhere to the highest standards possible, whether they be used in projects in the UK or in the Gulf."

Products which can allow easy maintenance such as Geberit Terrain's Shallow Access and Inspection Chambers, can provide cost-effective and workable, alternative drainage systems and allow practitioners to maintain systems safely. These products are manufactured to British Standards in durable PVCu.

Geberit Terrain has long been a provider of innovative plumbing solutions, designed to provide safe and practical solutions for working in confined spaces. The Marscar Bowl is one such innovation. The Marscar Bowl is installed straight into the ground and offers a safe, effective alternative over traditional concrete or brick manhole or access chamber construction. Developed to adhere to the 'Safe Work in Confined Spaces' regulations, the Marscar Bowl has a diameter of 450 mm and can be installed to a depth of one metre. It has been designed to allow up to four connections to the precut inlet holes with 110-mm lateral connections at a slight angle. Featuring inlets, each adjustable to accommodate pipe runs, the Marscar Bowl has one centre outlet which enables it to be rotated in any direction to suit connections. As the system is designed on a push-fit basis, no sealing compound is required to fit it to other Geberit Terrain Underground products.

Its design ensures that the circular flow self-cleans the system and the four rotating connections allow greater installation flexibility. The design also allows it to be installed at a shallow depth. Costing far less in materials than any concrete or brick structure, the Marscar Bowl is quick and very easy to fit, offering labour-saving costs. Because the Marscar Bowl rests so close to the surface, cleaning and maintenance can be carried out using simple traditional techniques.

The plumbing and drainage industry must look out for the safety of installers, drain layers and construction workers. At the same time, the industry must be aware of incurring costs and excessive demands on manpower. With innovation from designers and manufacturers working with the end-users, the industry will and must now adapt in order to go forward - products such as Geberit Terrain's Marscar Bowl are one step in the right direction.