ASTM F2233-03(2021)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2233 − 03 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Guide for
Safety, Access Rights, Construction, Liability, and Risk
Management for Optical Fiber Networks in Existing Sewers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2233; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 access rights—agreements between various parties to
obtain temporary and permanent access to property for the
1.1 This guide addresses only primary safety concerns,
purpose of constructing, maintaining, or changing optical fiber
easements, constructability, liability of the various parties, and
networks.
risk management related to constructing, installing,
3.1.2 competent person—a person properly trained in the
maintaining,orchanginganopticalfibernetworkinanexisting
safety aspects of an activity.
sewer.
3.1.3 confined space—man entry area that has restricted
1.2 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
access and egress.
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
3.1.4 constructability—the term used to denote the condi-
as requirements of the standard.
tion of a completed set of plans and specifications for a optical
fibernetworkanditsimpacttothehostutility,whichhavebeen
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
prepared with an analysis of practical, feasible methods of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
construction.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1.5 liability—the exposure to claims for damage to an-
mine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.
other party’s health, well-being, or property; in the event that
See 4.1 and 5.1 – 5.1.7 for specific safety information.
a “bond” is considered from a liability perspective, furnishing
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
a bond will guarantee performance or payment of all bills, or
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
both.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1.6 optical fiber network—telecommunicationscablefrom
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
central office to user.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.7 partnering—in construction, teaming between the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
owner, engineer, contractor, and other involved parties.
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.8 risk management—the process of identifying the risks
2.1 OSHA Document: on a construction project, and assigning the risks to the parties
most capable of controlling the risks.
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 Occupational Safety and Health
Standards for the Construction Industry
3.1.9 safety—physical and mental activities that protect the
2.2 Other Document:
health, well-being, and life of workers and third-party people,
U.S. DOT MUTCD Part VI Manual on Uniform Traffic
and activities that protect the property of all parties.
Control Devices
4. Significance and Use
3. Terminology
4.1 Safety factors must be addressed and incorporated into
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
the work to protect the workers and the public, and construc-
tion activities may need to be altered accordingly. Engineering
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F36 on Technology
and construction costs are a part of the analysis.
and Underground Utilities and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F36.10
on Optical Fiber Systems within Existing Infrastructure.
4.2 Access rights to the work should be considered in the
Current edition approved May 1, 2021. Published May 2021. Originally
design of the project.
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as F2233 – 03(2015).
DOI: 10.1520/F2233-03R21.
4.3 Aconstruction professional, who has field experience in
Available from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 200
construction activities similar to the scope of work anticipated,
Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, http://www.osha.gov.
3 should review the plans for constructability prior to starting the
Available from American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), 15
Riverside Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA 22406-1077, http://www.atssa.com. project.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2233 − 03 (2021)
website https://www.engr.wisc.edu/cee/, which is the “Constructability
4.4 Proper insurance and surety bonding to protect the
Analysis” course at the College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-
interests of all parties to the agreement or contract should be
Madison.
considered.
5.1.5 Equipment Safety—All construction equipment and
4.5 Risk management assessment will identify the parties
personal protective gear must meet OSHA regulations, and be
thatareinthebestpositiontocontrolandberesponsibleforthe
ingoodrepair.Crewmembersshouldreceivepropertrainingin
different risks.
safety for all exposures, and weekly (more frequent if war-
ranted) safety meetings should be conducted to identify antici-
5. Performance Requirements
pated hazards, and plan appropriate processes to protect the
5.1 Safety Practices—Safety practices should follow the
crewandpublicfrominjuryordeath.Priortostartingaproject,
guidelines of OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 and other state and
a safety plan should be prepared by the installer or owner’s
local regulations. The installer should refer to OSHA, state,
designated representative. This plan should be implemented
andlocalregulationsbeforeworkbegins.Theseguidelineswill
and followed during the construction.
address confined spaces, a competent person, safety training,
NOTE 2—Safety videos are available from various vendors, including a
structural hazards, trench safety, manhole safety, traffic safety,
variety from the AGC.
and equipment safety.
5.1.1 Confined Spaces—Perhaps the most dangerous ele- 5.1.6 Manhole Safety—Whenever optical fiber devices are
mentofsafetyriskisexposuretoundergroundconfinedspaces.
installed in manholes, certain procedures are used to protect
In the United States, OSHA requires that confined space
people entering the confined space in the future. Cable bend
entrants, attendant, entry supervisor, and rescue team be
guards are to be closed to avoid a tripping and entanglement
trained, provide special equipment, and follow certain proce-
hazard. Where practical, splice enclosures are to be installed
dures when entering a manhole or underground sewer. The
next to the manhole steps or ladder so that workers or rescue
attendant must be equipped to test the atmosphere, monitor the
workers can get into the manholes with self-contained breath-
atmosphere and the crew, control the activities in the confined
ing apparatuses without hindrance or risk of entrapment.
space, and call an emergency response team for any accident.
5.1.7 Installation Safety—Certain electrically powered de-
Besides the air atmosphere, the confined space crew must
vices for cable installation, such as robots, can have an
recognize and protect members from sewage or water in the
electrical potential difference from the pipeline. An electrical
sewers, which can injure or drown a crew member.
failure in the robot and certain conduit attachment methods
5.1.2 Structural Hazards—When cleaning, inspecting, re-
may create sparks. Engineering and construction professionals
pairing the sewer, or installing and maintaining and changing
should assess the conditions and methods, and use appropriate
the fiber and conduit, the crew should inspect entry structures
safety measures to guard against any potential explosion or
and large diameter sewers for structural deficiencies, and
electrical shock hazard.
consider possible point collapses, which could flood the pipe
5.2 Access Rights—As in any construction project, access
with sudden infiltration, or subject the crew to other hazards.
rights are extremely important for constructability, timely
Therefore, appropriate judgment and other precautions should
execution of the project, legal risk management, and public
be considered.
relations. It is recognized that for a project to be constructable,
5.1.3 Trench Safety—Some open trench work or directional
the installer must have access to sewers, manholes, streets,
drilling is required for interconnections and for final connec-
public and private property, and be able to execute the work
tions to users and other telecommunication companies. A
without interfering with other public or private activities.
competent person trained to recognize dangerous conditions
and to protect the crew must be on site. The most common NOTE 3—The APWA has manuals covering procedures for street
access management.
safety concerns in open trench work are cave-ins and other
utility hits. Therefore, shoring, trench boxes, manhole boxes,
5.2.1 In the initial stages of the project the telecommunica-
ladders, locating equipment, and air atmosphere monitoring
tions company (or equivalent) will contract with the sewer
devices are needed to perform these activities. All OSHA
utility for the use of its facilities. Consideration should be
construction standards must be followed.
giv
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