Safety In Fiber Optic Construction
This tutorial on fiber optic safety is in two parts - construction and fiber installation.
Part 1: Safety in Fiber Optic Installation
Watch
a Lecture on Safety on YouTube
Download a safety
poster from the FOA!
Safety in the lab or on the job site must be the number
one concern of everyone. 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.
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 the usual construction safety gear
plus everyone must wear eye protection whenever working
with fiber.
Remember every fiber optic installation is unique, so these are general
guidelines that must be interpreted and applied to the special
conditions of any particular installation. Most of the information below
refers to outside plant (OSP) projects, but at the end are some
guidelines for premises installations.
General Health and Safety Guidelines
It is important to adopt an approach that minimizes or
better still, eliminates possible accidents.
Responsibility of Management
It is the responsibility of management to ensure that all
team members and supervisors are trained and familiar with
applicable safe working practices, and that they take
immediate and decisive action when safe and approved work
methods are not followed.
Responsibility of Supervisors
It is the responsibility of the supervisors to ensure that
each member of his team wears the required PPE and to ensure
that the work area is protected by the use of the necessary
signs, cones, flashing lights, traffic control personnel,
etc. Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to
protective clothing, hard hats, safety glasses, or other
garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body
from injury. On top of this, practice safe and approved work
methods, as generally outlined here.
Each Party must at all times comply with health and the
safety legislation, regulations and guidelines (e.g.
OSHA in the US), which must include, but is not limited to:
A competent person shall, before the commencement of any
construction work, perform a risk assessment which shall be
written into the health and safety plan to mitigate risks
and shall include:
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Activity-specific hazard and risk identification.
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Assess and evaluate each identified hazard and
risk and rank them i.e. high, medium or low.
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The best way to protect people is to eliminate
the hazard or risk and second best, minimize it.
All areas used by the public shall be maintained free from
debris or equipment that may constitute slipping, tripping,
or any other hazard.
Adhere to all the health and safety management plan
procedures.
Develop and obtain approval for a Traffic Management Plan
(TMP).
Report and record all Work Site accidents, incidents and
property damaged.
Establishing safe air space requirements prior to the use of
lifting and construction equipment.
All personnel shall be required to wear the following
personal protective equipment (PPE):
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Protective overall (at all times).
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As a general rule, steel-toed safety boots should
be worn at all times.
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Hard hat (when performing work that requires the
use thereof).
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Safety glasses (when performing work that
requires the use thereof).
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Work gloves help prevent cuts and bruises from
sharp or rough edges on pipe/ducts and other objects.
-
Wear high-visibility vests (at all times).
The contractor shall ensure that all necessary guards,
protective structures and warning signs are used to protect
both workers and third parties. All necessary barriers and
fences shall be erected to guide pedestrians and traffic
around the work area.
A first aid box will be provided and allocated to a
trained,
certified first aide person. The vehicle(s)
containing first aid equipment should be properly identified. Every
injury occurring on site must
be treated and recorded. Should an injury require
professional medical treatment, the supervisor in
charge
must complete an accident report. Ensure that the
first aid
kit is available and accessible, correctly stocked
and a
register exists to account for used/missing items.
Vehicles should be equipped with fire extinguishers and other emergency equipment. The vehicle(s) containing emergency equipment should be properly identified.
Any incident requiring use of emergency or first aid equipment must be
reported to supervisors and management and proper reports filed.
Training And Certification
All employees, management personnel and visitors shall
undergo induction training carried out by the Site Manager
or a designated deputy before going onto site for the first
time. Inductions records shall be kept on site for the
duration of the project. Certifications such as the FOA CFOT
or CFOS should be considered as requirements for working on
fiber construction projects.
Typical Table of Contents for a Site Safety File
1. Notification of Construction Work
2. Letter of Good Standing
3. Organization Chart or Organogram
4. Health & Safety Policy
5. Health & Safety Plan
6. Environmental Policy
7. Environmental Plan
8. Waste Management Plan
9. Fall Protection Plan
10. Emergency Plan
11. Emergency Contact Numbers
12. List of Sub Contractors
13. 37.2 & 5.3.b Legal Agreement
14. Appointments
15. Certificates of Competency
16. Risk Assessments
17. Induction Records
18. Toolbox Talks
19. Inspection Registers
20. Visitors Register
21. Complaints Register
22. Site Diary
23. Weekly Statistics
24. Safety Minutes
25. Audit Template
26. Vehicle List
27. Incident Records
28. Client’s SHE Specification
29. Public Liability Insurance
Working Environment
Worker safety involves many factors but one often overlooked is the
working environment. Projects may require working outdoors in places and
times when it is very hot or very cold. Special consideration needs to
be given to both extremes.
Safety While Working In Extreme Cold
Working in extreme cold is very hard with fiber optics. Cables
become stiff and hard to handle. Equipment is not designed to work in
extreme cold and many processes require manual dexterity impossible with
gloves. Heated tents can be provided for splicing and some other
projects, but personnel working outdoors need to wear adequate clothing
and know how to prevent frostbite. Treatment. of afflicted personnel
needs to be done quickly to prevent harm.
Safety While Working In Extreme Heat
Temperatures above 100
degrees F (38 deg C) are no longer unusual in the summer. Techs working
on fiber optic installations and their supervisors need to understand
the risks of working in high heat and humidity and signs of worker
health issues. Splicers should have shade to work under and cooling
fans. Other workers on construction should know the signs of heatstroke
and respond promptly if anyone shows symptoms.
Heatstroke is a condition caused by your body
overheating, usually as a result of prolonged exposure to or physical
exertion in high temperatures. This most serious form of heat injury,
heatstroke, can occur if your body temperature rises to 104 F (40 C) or
higher. Symptoms of heatstroke may include rapid, shallow breathing,
flushed red skin, headache, nausea and vomiting, racing heart rate,
confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures
and coma - and death.
Heatstroke requires immediate emergency treatment. Untreated heatstroke
can quickly damage your brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The damage
worsens the longer treatment is delayed, increasing your risk of serious
complications or death. While waiting for medical personnel, keep the
person into the shade or cool areas indoors and cool the person with
sprays or mists of water or cold ice packs.
There are many
good websites like this one from the Mayo Clinic about heatstroke that explain what to look for and how to provide emergency treatment. For more information on heat illness prevention, go to OSHA.gov/heat.
Companies need to ensure employees understand the risks of working in
extreme low or high temperatures, a health and safety issue just like any other.
Traffic Management Plan (examples)
It
is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure that every law
regarding traffic, safety, traffic signs and barricading is complied
with.
No work should commence on a public roadway without first
obtaining a permit or wayleave from the road authority concerned. It
is the responsibility of the supervisor/s to ensure that
each member of his crew wears the required PPE and to ensure
that the work area is protected by the use of the various
signs, cones, flashing lights, traffic control personnel,
etc.
-
Traffic movement shall be inhibited as little as
possible. Should this be unavoidable, alternative access
to routes must be made available.
-
Work carried out on busy roads, should be
restricted to outside the following periods; from 06:30
to 09:00 and 15:30 to 18:00, to ensure the free flow of
traffic during peak hours.
-
Roads shall be kept free of debris or equipment.
Excavated material unsuitable for re-use shall be
removed from site as soon as possible.
-
Where cyclists and/or pedestrians are likely to
be present, their need for safe and convenient passage
must be considered and sufficient, safe crossings shall
be planned for.
-
Create ‘no go’ zones around hazardous areas and
implement safe work distances.
-
Choose signs with messages clearly indicating the
actions drivers or pedestrians are required to take.
-
Where necessary, trained traffic control persons with proper signs (STOP/GO/SLOW) shall be
used to provide positive guidance to motorists.
-
Remember that the visibility of hazards/workers
can be greatly diminished in darkness and/or poor
weather conditions.
Selecting Signs
Choose signs that are appropriate; signs that accurately
describe the work situation.
Start with general sign messages at the beginning of the
work zone. Then use signs with more specific messages,
stating what action should be taken, closer to the actual
work area.
The overall effect of signs should be to make drivers aware
of what they are approaching and what action(s) will be
required of them.
Drive through checks should be made every so often, both at
night and day, to ensure that signs are properly located to
allow adequate driver response time.
Use only signs that appear in the local Road Traffic Signs
Manual.
Signs must be kept clean and well maintained if they are to
be effective.
Flagging PPE and Communication
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A high-visibility reflective vest
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A white hard hat
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Steel-toed safety boots
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Full length pants or coveralls - no shorts
-
During rainy weather, highly visible rainwear
-
When two flaggers are used, they can communicate verbally or
visually if they are close enough to each other.
-
It is desirable to appoint one of the flaggers as the
coordinator.
-
Where the end of a one-lane section is not visible from the
other end, the flaggers must communicate via two-way radio.
-
The safety of workers and the travelling public, while
passing through the construction area, depends on the
efficient actions of flag persons.
-
A Warning Flag Signal may also be used to warn a road user
to proceed slowly, and be alert of a hazard in or adjacent
to the roadway ahead.
- A good, active flag person can be as effective as any other
means of drawing attention to a hazard in the roadway.
Aerial Installation Safety
Aerial
cable installation can be hazardous as personnel may working at
considerable height above the ground on ladders, bucket trucks or even
climbing poles and near electrical transmission wires. All workers
should have proper training and personal protective equipment before
being allowed to work on aerial installations. Poles should be inspected
to ensure they are structurally sound and will not fail under stress.
Pole Handling Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
- Safety harness to prevent falls
- Safety boots with steel caps.
- Protective clothing with long sleeves.
- Shoulder pads.
- Gloves.
- Hardhat.
Climbing Ladders
- Keep hands free of tools or materials when climbing or descending a pole or ladder.
- Workers
climbing up or down ladders must always face the ladder and maintain a
3-point contact. This effectively means that 2-hands and 1-foot or
2-feet and 1-hand must be on the ladder at all times.
- Ladder must be positioned correctly (1-4 ratio).
- Ladder must be properly secured (lashed and held).
- Ladder must be in a good condition.
- The ladder must suit the application.
- A worker must be correctly positioned on the ladder.
- A safety harness must be worn and secured to the pole once the working position is reached.
- Never climb intermediate poles if the span they support is being placed under tension.
Power Lines
- Workers near power lines are at risk for
electrical shock and must maintain adequate separation from power lines.
Assume all power lines could cause electrocution and maintain
adequate clearance from them. Safety standards generally require greater
separation for higher voltages, so ensure you know the voltage of power
line near the project work area.
- If there is a need to work close to a power line, call a qualified electrical lineman.
- Use a spotter to help maintain appropriate clearances from energized components.
Working On Bucket Truck
Using aerial lifts safely requires owners and operators to
understand and follow the aerial device manufacturer’s guidance and
applicable federal, state and local regulations.
- Follow OSHA and manufacturer's guidelines for bucket truck safety.
- Clear the area around the truck and only work from a secure, stable spot on the ground or roadway.
- Always take precautionary measures to prevent falls.
- Always use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as lanyards and helmets.
- Always wear the proper PPE. For fall protection on
truck-mounted aerial devices, wear a full-body harness and fall-arrest
lanyard, hooked to the designated anchor point.
- Don’t lean over the edge of the bucket or stand on anything within the platform.
- Don’t climb or sit on the bucket’s edge. Keep your feet firmly on the floor of the platform.
Bucket Truck Operation:
- Properly position and stabilize the truck
before operation. Set all outriggers on solid footing within the
allowable slope permitted by the manufacturer.
- Never move the vehicle while personnel are in the bucket.
- Once the bucket is raised and the boom is in motion, do not adjust outriggers.
- To protect yourself from falling debris or objects stay out from under the aerial device work area.
- Do not touch the vehicle or any attachments while the booms are raised.
- All ground personnel must know how to operate the aerial from the lower controls in case of emergency.
- When operating the boom, operate in smooth, gradual movements — avoid abrupt starts, stops and reversals of direction.
- Make sure that no part of your bucket truck,
including the boom and platform, comes into contact with fixed objects
like trees, buildings or utility poles.
- If you become aware of any dangerous condition,
unusual operation or unusual sound while operating your bucket truck,
stop all movements immediately.
- When experiencing a dangerous condition, do not
move the truck until the problem has been diagnosed and resolved. No
matter how long it may take to get help, it’s critical to the safety of
the operators, and bystanders, to resolve the situation using good
judgment and common sense.
Underground Installation Safety
Underground
cable installation can be hazardous as personnel may be working around
heavy equipment and construction generally involves working around
currently installed utilities. All workers
should have proper training and personal protective equipment before
being allowed to work on underground fiber optic installations.
Call Before You Dig (Call 811 or call811.com or Click Before You Dig )
The old story about the most likely fiber optic
communications system failure being caused by "backhoe fade"
is not a joke – it happens every day. But it reminds us that
digging safely is vitally important. The risk is not just
interrupting communications, but the life-threatening risk
of digging up high voltage cables or gas lines. There are
several services that maintain databases of the location of
underground services that must be contacted before any
digging occurs, but mapping these should be done during the
design phase and double-checked before digging to ensure
having the latest data.
The Common Ground Alliance is an organization devoted to digging safely. The CGA website has information on best practices for underground construction.
At the same time as the cable is installed, markers like
these indicating its location and ownership can also be
installed.
Underground Utility Location
Underground utilities are a major safety hazard for construction.
Damaging any underground utility can be a problem, but electrical and
gas lines are highly dangerous to workers and, especially in the case of
gas, also to the locality.
Calling before you dig is not sufficient in many areas. It is the
responsibility of the contractor to locate all existing services. No
excavation work should begin without having a copy of the approved
permits/wayleaves on site. A utility representative can be asked to
point out the position of a service and sometimes even oversee the work.
- Cable Locators can find the exact path and even estimate the depth of the utility service.
- Ground
penetration radar (GPR) is the best investment for fail-safe trenching.
They are used to identify underground services and formations although
readings can be affected by the presence of high voltage power cables.
- Any
trenching done in the vicinity of existing services should be done very
carefully to prevent accidental damage to a service.
- Hand excavating may be necessary to uncover known services prior to commencing with mechanical excavation.
- Directional
boring is especially hazardous. The tool may be tracked by underground
locators to ensure safe operation around existing utilities.
- Any damage to existing services must be reported immediately to the project manager.
Premises Cabling Installations
Many of the guidelines above are for OSP projects, but premises
cabling installations need some caution also. When working indoors,
installing fiber optic cables or ducts may involve working around other
systems such as electrical. grounding, gas, water, sewer or steam,
Power cables are always a safety hazard. Although premises cable is
called "low voltage" and fiber optic cables are non-conductive, it runs
in areas full of power cables that can be a shock hazard. Not all
premises power cables will be properly marked, so extreme care must be
taken, especially if the work involves removal of unused cables.
If working in an area where others are
present or will be passing the work area, block off your work area, especially when working above the
ceiling, to protect others in the area.
PPE such as hard hat, safety glasses, appropriate gloves. etc. are required, and steel toe shoes are recommended.
Observe ladder safety rules (above) - many installations require work at height or above ceilings.
While not hazardous to the workers, local codes require knowledge of
fire hazards from combustible cable or hardware, and firestopping
between floors. Follow local codes to ensure a safe installation for
those who work or live on the premises.
Note: Installation
of fiber optic cabling does not normally involve
electrical hazards unless the cable includes conductors.
However, these cables are often installed in proximity to
electrical and conductive cables. Whenever you are near
these cables, there is always a potential shock hazard. Be
careful! If you are not familiar with electrical safety,
we recommend you take an OSAH course and a course on the NEC (National
Electrical Code) and safety practices for installers!
Part 1: Safety Working With Optical Fiber
Watch
a Lecture on Safety on YouTube
Download a safety
poster from the FOA!
Take the Fiber U self-study course on Fiber Optic Safety and get your Fiber U Certificate of Completion.
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