STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This handbook provides clear supervision to all employees, safety managers with general safety rules, task safety procedures and excellent working techniques in working for a best quality fiber optic systems. It is a Policy of the Company to comply with local, state and national electrical standard procedures as well as manufacturers instructions in working at all time with fiber optic systems.
If the project specifications, government or industry codes, manufacturer instructions exceed the company’s safety standards, then the superintendent will inform the officer in-charge next to him about the situation and will automatically assume maximum and full charge of supervision to employees directly under with his jurisdiction in complying with the most stringent fiber optic requirements.
This handbook provides general guidelines and instructions to employees who will be working in the fiber optic plant with a confined space entry. These guidelines include general and specific information dealing with Disposal, Housekeeping, Workmanship and Industrial Hygiene issues. These should not be considered completely but as a guide as to what is expected when performing job duties.
The basic purpose is to give complete knowledge about the safety procedure one should take when he or she is in the work place. It aims to create awareness to all employees about the importance of safety and instilling the habits of importance and necessity to follow all required procedures.
Building upon the continuous advances made throughout the organization and fiber optics field to provide safe and healthy working conditions. To provide trainings and seminars to enhance further the competence of every individual personnel available in the field of fiber optics technology. Encouraging collaboration and cooperation between all subordinates and management personnel to reduce injuries arising out of employment.
General principles:
- To provide all employees with safety and healthy standards in the fiber optic technology field. Compliance shall be made by all employees of the organization with regards to all the rules, regulations and orders that are clearly stipulated within this employee handbook.
- Employee handbook will be given to all employees as well as an environment with safety and healthy working atmosphere free from that physical or emotional harm.
- To ensure complete safety of all employees during execution of any and all work duties at all times.
- To make certain all parties have proper outlets to address safety problems that arise involving all employees and/or situations at the work place.
- Ensuring that all necessary corrective actions shall be established to handle safety measures that may arise within at all times.
- Ensuring that OSHA safety and health guidelines will be strictly followed at all times throughout the organization.
- If ambiguity or difficulties throughout the organization arise OSHA will be the leader and facilitator of any and all issues at times.
DISPOSAL
All fiber scraps should be disposed properly at all times according to safety and healthy standard procedures. Scraps should be placed in a container suitable for glass splinters, disposable in nature and sealed with an approved top.
HOUSEKEEPING
- All working areas including working surfaces and surrounding carpeting or floors are to and should be kept at all times neat and orderly at all times.
- Remove all fiber pieces with double sided tape and dispose in labeled and sealed containers.
WORKMANSHIP
- To alleviate connection loss or production damage, work is not to be completed in or around heating or air conditioning outlets.
- Employees must keep connection points free of “airborne dust particles” at all times with through use of “lint free pads, isopropyl alcohol and dust cap connectors” at all times.
- Working area should be inspected and cleaned of any particles and debris upon completion of any job procedure at all times.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
- Employees must wash their hands thoroughly upon departure from working area to decrease the ability of ingesting or spreading of stray pieces or fibers and free from any chemical content.
- Employees are advised not to eat, drink or smoke within working areas or in all vicinity of fiber optic cables that are being handled.
- Disposable aprons must be worn by all employees at all times to decrease the ability of transferring particles to clothing, food, beverages and other non-work related areas.
- Double sided tape will be provided as confirmation that no fibers transferred to an employee clothing throughout the day.
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY
- Confined Space Entry Procedure – Employees will be provided confined space monitors upon entering confined spaces.
- PURGING – Before entrance of confined spaces purging should be done to the atmosphere as well as to test in verifying proper oxygen level that no toxins are present which could lead to fire or cause physical hazards.
- ENTRANCE PERSONNEL – The OSEWD shall designate employees to remain at the entrance of the space at times of working duties to provide assistance if safety or health emergency shall occur or take place. This individual will continuously monitor air quality and should be certified in basic first-aid, CPR procedures and have proper harnesses available for personnel retrieval without entering space to prevent further additional injury.
- HOISTING EQUIPMENT – Hoisting equipment will be available in all work sites to entrance personnel. Such equipment will allow removal of fellow employees without entrance into space.
- ACCIDENT PREVENTION PLAN – All employees throughout the company are required to read the accident prevention manual and to attend accident prevention seminars as may be called by OSEWD.
References
- CWA Occupational Safety and Health Department, (2005). Confined Spaces & the Workplace. Retrieved October 31, 2006. from http://www.cwa-union.org/issues/osh/articles/page.jsp?itemID=27339091.
- Washington Group International, (2003-2006). Confined Spaces & the Workplace. Integrated Engineering, Construction and Management Solutions. Retrieved on 25 Nov 2006 . from http://www.wgint.com/project.php?id=32
- U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (2006). Safety and Health Topics, Occupational Safety, Retrieved December 1, 2006. from www.osha.gov.
- http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode29/usc_sec_29_00000651—-000-.html
- http://www.pcwebopedia.com/TERM/F/fiber_optics.htm
- http://wi-fiplanet.webopedia.com/TERM/F/fiber_optics.html
- http://www.des.umd.edu/os/csp/csp1.html#gloss
- http://www.thefoa.org/tech/safety.htm
