Besides the usual safety issues for construction, generally covered under OSHA rules (OSHA 10 and 30), fiber optics adds concerns for eye safety, chemicals, sparks from fusion splicing, disposal of fiber shards and more. Optical fiber networks form the backbone of our global communications infrastructure, carrying nearly 100% of transoceanic data traffic. As more cables stretch across seas and land to meet surging bandwidth demands, we must balance connectivity with conservation. As electrical professionals, most of us take fiber optic (FO) safety for granted. Before beginning any installation, safety rules should be posted on the. Unlike older copper-based systems, fiber optic cables rely on light rather than electrical current to move data, fundamentally altering the nature of any potential hazard.
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