Temporary manhole cover and method

A temporary manhole cover comprising:

• an annular perimeter portion defining a vertically-extending cylindrical wall configured to fit closely within and to engage a circular manhole opening;
• a horizontally-extending shelf extending radially inward from a top edge of the vertically-extending cylindrical wall to an inner profile surface and defining an interior opening there-through;
• a first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, each attached with and extending from a first side of the horizontally-extending shelf, across the interior opening, to and attached with a second side of the horizontally-extending shelf;
• a second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, each extending perpendicularly from and attached with a first one of the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, across an interior portion of the interior opening, to and attached with a second one of the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
• the temporary manhole cover defining a plurality of openings there-through, including:
• a first opening defined between the inner profile surface and the first one of the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
• a second opening defined between the inner profile surface and the second one of the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
• a third opening defined between the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members and between the second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
• a fourth opening defined between the inner profile surface, the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, and a first one of the second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
• and
• a fifth opening defined between the inner profile surface, the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, and a second one of the second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
• wherein at least two of the plurality of openings are sufficiently large that a user can pass a hand of the user there-through, while none of the plurality of openings are sufficiently large that an entire body of the user can pass there-through.