Fiber
Optic Safety
Almost all Fiber
U Courses have lessons covering safety, because
safety is important in every aspect of a fiber optic project. This
course will focus on safety alone. There are two lessons in this course,
fiber optic construction and fiber optic installation. The dividing
line between the two courses is the installation of the fiber optic
cables. Construction leads up to and/or is completed when the cables are
installed. Installation begins when the fiber tech installs the cable,
then completes the splicing, termination testing and documentation. The
overlap between the two is the installation of the cables where both
construction personnel and fiber optic techs are involved.
Level: Basic
Intended For:
Designers
of fiber optic communications networks
Operators of fiber optic communications networks
Project managers and supervisors.
Contractors and techs who install, operate and maintain
them.
Objectives:
From this self-study program you should learn:
Safety issues in fiber optic construction
Safety in aerial construction
Safety in fiber optic installation
- Prerequisites
Introduction
Safety
must be the number
one concern of everyone involved with a fiber
optic project as well as those involved in training fiber techs. Besides
the usual safety issues
for any kind of construction, generally covered
under OSHA rules (OSHA 10 and 30),
fiber optic installation adds concerns for eye
safety, chemicals, arcs from fusion splicing, disposal of fiber shards
and
more.
Reminder: Before beginning any installation, safety rules
should be posted on the classroom wall, lab wall or on the
job site and reviewed with all onsite personnel. All
personnel must wear construction safety gear
(PPE - personal protection equipment) plus everyone must wear eye protection whenever working
with fiber.
What Are Safety Issues?
An FOA technical advisor and instructor provided this list of the most
common safety problems. Begin your lesson by reading this list and
considering all the possible issues you migh have or will encounter.
Most Frequent Industry Recognized Safety Violations
- Improper drop bonding with power
- Poor workmanship
- Incomplete construction
Project Site Safety
- Material storage
- Parking
- Break areas
- Bathroom/cleanup facilities
- First aid equipment availability
- Work areas
- Power hazards
- Stray voltage possibilities
- Ladders
- Working in public access areas
Outside Plant Safety
- Traffic/defensive driving
- Traffic control plan with permits where needed
- Power hazards
- Clearance issues when working and driving
- Off-road access issues
- Weather hazards
- Unsafe work areas (Including people)
- State mandated regulations (General Orders)
- Aerial construction issues
- Underground construction issues (800-USA DIG)
- Aerial lifts
- Ladders
- Working in public access areas
This course will cover many of these issues as they relate to fiber
optic projects, but some are quite general and should be considered on
any project.
Assignments
For
this lesson plan you will be instructed to watch the
video, read
the references
and take a quiz (Test Your Knowledge) to complete the
course.
Lesson
Plan
Watch
the videos, read the sections in the FOA Guide and take
the quiz. For this course, we recommend watching the
videos first and then reading the FOA Guide page on
Restoration. There is a short quiz you can use to check
your comprehension. The Certificate of Completion test
is based on those materials.
Videos
Watch
a Lecture on Fiber Optic Safety on YouTube
FOA Guide
Safety In Fiber Optic Installation.
Safety In Fiber Optic Construction.
Test Your Comprehension
Fiber Optic Safety Quiz.
When
you finish all the assignments you can take an online test
on this course to qualify for a "Fiber U Certificate of
Completion." The test cost is $20US.
Go here to take the Fiber U "Fiber Optic Safety"
Certificate of Completion test. Here
are detail directions if this is your first time
taking a Fiber
U Certificate of Completion exam.
This information is
provided by The Fiber Optic Association, Inc. as a
benefit to those interested in teaching, designing,
manufacturing, selling, installing or using fiber optic
communications systems or networks. It is intended to be
used as an overview and/or basic guidelines and in no
way should be considered to be complete or
comprehensive. These guidelines are strictly the opinion
of the FOA and the reader is expected to use them as a
basis for learning, as a reference and for creating
their own documentation, project specifications, etc.
Those working with fiber optics in the classroom,
laboratory or field should follow all safety rules
carefully. The FOA assumes no liability for the use of
any of this material.
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