Defects of mechanical origin are quite often found on the structural elements of the devices of the production facilities of the fuel and energy complex. One of the most common mechanical defects is scratches and hairlines on the outer surface of the structural elements. The current regulatory and technical documentation establishes standards for the rejection of defects of various types, which provide for the decommissioning of objects with unacceptable defects for repair or subsequent dismantling. However, in most cases, mechanical defects such as scratches are within acceptable sizes and do not have a decisive effect on the life, reliability and safe operation of vessels and apparatus. However, the presence of such defects can change the stress-strain state of the object to a more unfavorable side, and therefore accelerate the process of accumulating damage at points of concentration of increased stresses. Subsequently, places with a concentration of increased voltages under certain operating conditions can be sources of premature destruction of the element and failure of the object as a whole. Therefore, the actual work is the simulation of the stress-strain state of the flat manhole cover with a scratch, having a different arrangement. In this work, the stress-strain state of the flat manhole cover is examined depending on the location of the scratch on it at a different angle relative to the vertical axis of symmetry of the cover.