Safety Issues of Fiber Optic Cable Installation
While talking about electrical applications, one may consider the tough copper because of its high conductivity and great tensile strength. But when it comes to telecommunication situations, here comes the fiber optic cable. Instead of braided or bundled metal, hair-thin fiber optic cables are glass or plastic strands, serving as the communication medium to send optical signals. Fiber optic connectors (e.g.. ST, SC, LC, MTP) are often attached to the fibers in a fiber optic cable, like SC patch cord whose ends are capped by SC connectors. Nowadays, fiber optic cables have great use in many applications, and are sure to see even more growth in future. Now question occurs. Since more and more fibers are deployed in fiber optic systems, how to ensure the safety in fiber optic cable installation? This article is gonna to have detailed description about safety issues in installing fiber optic cable.
While installing fiber optic cables, it’s advised to avoid exposure to invisible light radiation carried in the fiber, and to have proper disposal of fiber scraps produced in cable handling and termination. Besides, the hazardous chemicals used in termination, splicing or cleaning must be handled safely. The following passages list the safety issues that should be followed.
- Eye Protection
It’s recommended to wear safety glasses with side shields. Certainly, the safety eyewear should comply with relevant requirements. In addition, after handling fiber optic cables, to wash hands thoroughly and carefully before touching eyes or contact lenses.
In no case should one look directly into the end of any optical fiber unless it is certain that no light is present in the fiber. The light used for signal transmission in fiber optics is generally invisible to the human eye, but may operate at power levels that do harm to the eye. Inspection microscopes can concentrate the light in the fiber and increase the danger. Keep in mind to use an optical power meter to verify that no light is present in the fiber. When using an optical tracer or continuity checker, look at the fiber from an angle at least 12 inches away from the eye to determine if the visible light is present or not.
- Proper Disposal of Fiber Scraps
During the termination and splicing process, the small scraps of bare fiber may occur. In such a case, these scraps must be disposed of properly in a safe container and marked according to local regulations, as it may be considered hazardous waste.
Under no circumstance can fiber scraps be dropped everywhere, like on the floor, since these scraps will stick in carpets or shoes and be carried elsewhere. The right way is to place them in a marked container or stick them to double-sided adhesive tape on the work surface.
After finishing installation, it’s imperative to clean the work area carefully and thoroughly. And it’s ill-advised to use compressed air to clean off the work area. Remember to sweep all scraps into a disposal container. Of course, one should carefully inspect clothing for fiber scraps when finish working with fiber.
It’s known that fiber particles can be harmful if ingested, so don’t eat, drink or smoke near the working area.
Because confined spaces, such as equipment vaults, manholes can contain toxic or explosive gases or insufficient air to sustain life, it’s better to work only in well-ventilated areas. Besides, because materials and chemicals used in installation processes may be hazardous, they must be handled properly. During splicing process, fusion splicers create an electric arc. Thus, one should ensure that no flammable vapors and no liquids are present.
After discussing safety issues wit h fiber optic cable installation, here goes to another issue. Actually, this issue closely related to fiber optic cable is the cleanliness. The small size of fiber optic cables makes them very sensitive to dust and dirt. Thus, in order to achieve the optimized performance, it’s of great importance to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, including do the following thins: work in clean areas; keep protective dust caps on connectors, mating adapters, patch panels, or test and net- work equipment; don’t touch the ends of the connectors; use lint-free wipes and pure reagent grade isopropyl alcohol to clean connectors. Other solvents can attack adhesives or leave a residue. Cotton swabs or pads may leave threads behind and are not recommended. Surely, the test equipment should be cleaned periodically.
For safe installation, it’s advised to follow those tips mentioned above. Of course, the points listed in this text are not comprehensive, with only several common issues are talked about. (The premise of safe installation is to choose high-quality fiber cables. You can turn to Fiberstore, whose fiber optic cables available in many types are all test and quality assured, like LC SC cable. You can go there and have a look yourself.)
