363-206-285
About This Document
Issue 3 June 2001
xxxv
Lightwave Safety Precautions
In its normal operating mode, a lightwave system is totally enclosed and presents
no risk of eye injury. It is a Class I system under the FDA/CDRH scheme.
The lightguide cables that interconnect various components of a lightwave system
can disconnect or break, and may expose people to lightwave emission. Also,
certain measures and maintenance procedures may expose the technician to
emission from the semiconductor laser during installation and servicing. Unlike
more familiar laser devices, such as solid-state and gas lasers, the emission
pattern of a semiconductor laser results in a highly divergent beam. In a divergent
beam, the irradiance (power intensity) decreases rapidly with distance. The
greater the distance, the less energy will enter the eye and the less potential risk
for eye injury.
Inadvertently viewing an unterminated fiber or damaged fiber with the unaided
eye at distances greater than 5 to 6 inches normally will not cause eye injury
provided the power in the fiber is less than a few mW at the shorter wavelengths
and higher at the longer wavelengths. However, damage may occur if an optical
instrument, such as a microscope, magnifying glass, or eye loupe is used to stare
at the energized fiber end.
!
CAUTION:
Use of controls or adjustments, or performance of procedures other than
those specified herein may result in hazardous laser radiation exposure.
Safety Precautions for Enclosed Systems
Under normal operating conditions, lightwave transmission systems are
completely enclosed; nonetheless, the following precautions should be observed:
1. Because of the potential for eye damage, technicians should neither
disconnect any lightwave cable nor splice and stare into the optical
connectors terminating the cables.
2. Under no circumstances shall lightwave/lightguide operations be
performed by a technician before satisfactorily completing an approved
training course.
3. Since viewing lightwave emission directly with an optical instrument, such
as an eye loupe, greatly increases the risk of eye damage, an appropriate
label must appear in plain view on the front of the main frame or lightguide
termination/interconnection equipment. The label shall read as follows:
NOTICE: UNTERMINATED OPTICAL CONNECTORS MAY EMIT
LASER RADIATION. AVOID DIRECT EXPOSURE TO THE BEAM. DO
NOT VIEW THIS BEAM WITH OPICAL INSTRUMENTS.
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