--- title: IUPUI PERL Students Help Citizens Fill a Unique Need description: IUPUI PERL Students Help Citizens Fill a Unique Need image: https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/hubfs/20211213_090612.jpg --- [![](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/hubfs/Engauge/engauge-logo.jpg)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge) [![](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/hubfs/Backgrounds/search-mobile.png)](https://www.citizensenergygroup.com/Search) # IUPUI PERL Students Help Citizens Fill a Unique Need By Laura O'Brien on 5/3/22 9:33 PM ![](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/hubfs/20211213_090612.jpg) When Citizens Energy Group began exploring the idea of creating a new tool to open manhole lids, we didn’t have to go far for some fresh ideas. Mechanical engineering students in the Partnership for Excellence in Research and Learning (PERL) program at IUPUI took on the challenge using resources from Citizens including tools, access to structures, standard operating procedure (SOP) for current work practices, and access to staff with knowledge of the industry. *Why would we need a new tool to open manhole lids?* you might ask. Well, if you’ve never lifted one, manhole lids (and other sewer structures) often weigh in excess of 100 pounds and require significant physical effort to open. Most structures are opened using a tool called a manhole lid hook to pry and ultimately lift the lid off its frame. The strain from opening and lifting structures is a frequent source of workplace injury for our employees. Common injuries include rotator cuff tears and back strains. In a typical year, nearly 10 percent of Citizens’ workforce will experience a structure-opening-related strain. Several of these cases require extended time off work and result in lost production as well as increased healthcare costs for both the employer and employee. The number of injuries has increased as our workforce continues to advance in age. As a result, this project is aimed at exploring alternative ways to open a structure with less effort and potential for injury. The PERL students at IUPUI were enlisted to produce the following deliverables: a prototype for a potential new manhole lid tool, SOP for using the tool, and a report detailing the tool. The new tool designed by the IUPUI mechanical engineering students uses a cantilever arm to reduce the force needed to pry open the manhole lid. In addition, the tool scoops the lid to allow the user to wheel the manhole lid around as needed. Roger Hanas, Manager Wastewater System Renewal, said, “The IUPUI students genuinely cared about working to reduce workplace injuries, and they proved that through their final design. I was impressed with the technical knowledge the students applied to develop an innovative and safety-focused tool.” Wastewater Operations crews are in the process of testing the manhole lid tool to see how it performs and how future groups of students may be able to improve the design. ![20211213_090640](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20211213_090640.jpg?width=650&name=20211213_090640.jpg) *Mechanical engineering students at IUPUI created a new tool for opening manhole lids as a part of the Partnership for Excellence in Research and Learning (PERL) program. Because the lids can weigh more than 100 pounds, employees experience rotator cuff tears and back strains. The goal of the project is to reduce workplace injuries among Citizens' field personnel.* ### Current Articles ### Recent Issues - [November 2019 (23)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2019/11) - [November 2018 (21)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2018/11) - [January 2021 (21)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2021/01) - [October 2021 (21)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2021/10) - [February 2020 (20)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2020/02) - [December 2021 (20)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2021/12) - [October 2018 (19)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2018/10) - [January 2019 (19)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2019/01) - [June 2020 (19)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2020/06) - [August 2019 (18)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2019/08) - [October 2019 (18)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2019/10) - [April 2020 (18)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2020/04) - [September 2022 (18)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2022/09) - [July 2019 (17)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2019/07) - [July 2020 (17)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2020/07) - [June 2021 (17)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2021/06) - [April 2019 (16)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2019/04) - [January 2020 (16)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2020/01) - [October 2020 (16)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2020/10) - [December 2020 (16)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2020/12) - [April 2021 (16)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2021/04) - [July 2021 (16)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2021/07) - [September 2020 (15)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2020/09) - [March 2021 (15)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2021/03) - [June 2022 (15)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2022/06) - [February 2019 (14)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2019/02) - [May 2019 (14)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2019/05) - [May 2022 (14)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2022/05) - [July 2022 (14)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2022/07) - [October 2023 (13)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2023/10) - [September 2021 (12)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2021/09) - [March 2023 (12)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2023/03) - [May 2023 (12)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2023/05) - [June 2023 (12)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2023/06) - [February 2022 (11)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2022/02) - [August 2018 (10)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2018/08) - [August 2023 (10)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2023/08) - [March 2022 (9)](https://blog.citizensenergygroup.com/engauge/archive/2022/03) [![PDF Archives](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2545024/33b9e93c-8f43-4101-9b48-7e78154731f5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2545024/33b9e93c-8f43-4101-9b48-7e78154731f5) **Engauge** is published by Citizens Energy Group, Corporate Affairs Department, under the direction of Shannon Stahley, Director of Corporate and Public Affairs. It is distributed to the company’s employees and retirees, and to other interested parties upon request. **Editor:** Adam Lowe **Graphic Arts:** Joel Bustamante and Wayne Stohs The Corporate Affairs Department welcomes any ideas, comments, or suggestions from readers on how this publication might better serve you. Please email the Corporate Affairs Department at alowe@citizensenergygroup.com. Copyright © Citizens Energy Group. All rights reserved. - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.citizensenergygroup.com/Terms-Conditions) - [Privacy & Security](https://www.citizensenergygroup.com/Privacy-Security) - [Accessibility](https://www.citizensenergygroup.com/Accessibility) - [Site Map](https://www.citizensenergygroup.com/Site-Map)