Device providing safe access to a confined space, notably a lateral-access confined space

An enclosure comprising;

• a lateral wall provided with a manhole having a perimeter, the perimeter having an outer lip at a distance from the lateral wall, an access device secured to the manhole, the access device having:
• a rectilinear support strut,
• a first arm fixed rigidly to an end of the strut and extending at right angles to the strut,
• a second arm fixed rigidly to another end of the strut and extending at right angles to the strut, in a same plane as the plane defined by the first arm and the strut but in a direction opposite to the first arm,
• and in which:
• the first arm comprises at least one anchoring element situated at a predetermined distance from the strut,
• the second arm is provided with a first pulley and a second pulley whose axis of rotation is at right angles to the plane defined by the strut and the first and second arms, the first pulley being situated at an end of the second arm fixed to the strut and the second pulley being situated at a predetermined distance from the strut, the anchoring element and the first and second pulleys being arranged so as to allow the passage of a cordage to the first and second pulleys without interfering with the strut and the first and second arms,
• the strut has at least one fixing member adapted to cooperate with an opening of the confined space
• the strut of the access device extends substantially vertically above the manhole, the first arm extending substantially at right angles to the lateral wall of the enclosure and the second arm extending inside the manhole, bearing against a top inner surface of the manhole,
• wherein the at least one fixing member of the access device is bearing against the outer lip and secured thereto.

A method for installing an access device on a manhole formed through a lateral wall of an enclosure, the manhole having, on its perimeter, an outer lip, the method comprising the following steps:

• providing an access device, the access device comprising:
• a rectilinear support strut,
• a first arm fixed rigidly to an end of the strut and extending at right angles to the strut,
• a second arm fixed rigidly to another end of the strut and extending at right angles to the strut, in a same plane as the plane defined by the first arm and the strut but in a direction opposite to the first arm,
• and in which:
• the first arm comprises at least one anchoring element situated at a predetermined distance from the strut,
• the second arm is provided with a first pulley and a second pulley whose axis of rotation is at right angles to the plane defined by the strut and the first and second arms, the first pulley being situated at an end of the second arm fixed to the strut and the second pulley being situated at a predetermined distance from the strut, the anchoring element and the first and second pulleys being arranged so as to allow the passage of a cordage to the first and second pulleys without interfering with the strut and the first and second arms,
• the strut has at least one fixing member adapted to cooperate with an opening of the confined space
• placing at least one fixing member of the access device bearing against the outer lip, the strut extending substantially vertically above the manhole, the first arm extending substantially at right angles to the lateral wall of the enclosure and the second arm extending inside the manhole, bearing against a top inner surface of the manhole,
• securing of at least one fixing member to the outer lip.