Alignment tool for a manway cover

A method of aligning a manway cover to a manway body/flange comprising:

• providing an alignment tool comprising:
• a body/flange alignment tool plate having a plurality of plate openings each spaced from a first edge of a plate body and a tool beam support extending transversely from the body/flange alignment tool plate;
• a cover attachment plate having at least one cover plate opening sized and positioned to align with a corresponding manway cover opening in the manway cover;
• a threaded height adjuster extending between and connecting the tool beam support to the cover attachment plate, wherein the cover attachment plate is vertically translated using the threaded height adjuster;
• attaching the body/flange alignment tool plate to the manway body/flange;
• attaching the cover attachment plate to the manway cover;
• and
• adjusting the vertical position of the threaded height adjuster to raise or lower the cover attachment plate, thereby vertically translating the manway cover and causing alignment of the openings in the manway cover with the openings in the manway body/flange.