Besides the usual safety issues for all construction, generally covered under OSHA rules in the US (OSHA 10 and 30), fiber optics adds concerns for eye safety, chemicals, sparks from fusion splicing, disposal of fiber shards and more, covered in Part 1. This tutorial on fiber optic safety is in two parts - construction and fiber installation. While these cables are engineered for durability (with some rated to last 25+ years), they are not invulnerable. Without proper care, handling optical fibers can result in physical injuries from shards, or optical damage from laser light exposure. In this article, we will explore some of the most common problems that can occur with single-mode and multimode fiber optic cables. Before beginning any installation, safety rules should be posted on the. As electrical professionals, most of us take fiber optic (FO) safety for granted.
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