ASTM F2233-03(2015)

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F2233 − 03 (Reapproved 2009) F2233 − 03 (Reapproved 2015)
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
1.1 This guide addresses only primary safety concerns, easements, constructability, liability of the various parties, and risk
management related to constructing, installing, maintaining, or changing an optical fiber network in an existing sewer.
1.2 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
requirements prior to use. See 4.1 and
5.1 – 5.1.7 for specific safety information.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 OSHA Documents:Document:
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry
2.2 Other Documents:Document:
U.S. DOT MUTCD Part VI Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 access rights—agreements between various parties to obtain temporary and permanent access to property for the purpose
of constructing, maintaining, or changing optical fiber networks.
3.1.2 competent person—a person properly trained in the safety aspects of an activity.
3.1.3 confined space—man entry area that has restricted access and egress.
3.1.4 constructability—the term used to denote the condition of a completed set of plans and specifications for a optical fiber
network and its impact to the host utility, which have been prepared with an analysis of practical, feasible methods of construction.
3.1.5 liability—the exposure to claims for damage to another party’s health, well-being, or property; in the event that a “bond”
is considered from a liability perspective, furnishing a bond will guarantee performance or payment of all bills, or both.
3.1.6 optical fiber network—telecommunications cable from central office to user.
3.1.7 partnering—in construction, teaming between the owner, engineer, contractor, and other involved parties.
3.1.8 risk management—the process of identifying the risks on a construction project, and assigning the risks to the parties most
capable of controlling the risks.
3.1.9 safety—physical and mental activities that protect the health, well-being, and life of workers and third-party people, and
activities that protect the property of all parties.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F36 on Technology and Underground Utilitiesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F36.10 on Optical
Fiber Systems within Existing Infrastructure.
Current edition approved May 1, 2009June 1, 2015. Published June 2009June 2015. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 20032009 as
F2233 – 03.F2233 – 03(2009). DOI: 10.1520/F2233-03R09.10.1520/F2233-03R15.
Available from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, http://www.osha.gov.
Available from the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), 15 Riverside Parkway, Suite 100, Fredericksburg, VA 22406,22406-1022, http://
www.atssa.com.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2233 − 03 (2015)
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Safety factors must be addressed and incorporated into the work to protect the workers and the public, and construction
activities may need to be altered accordingly. Engineering and construction costs are a part of the analysis.
4.2 Access rights to the work should be considered in the design of the project.
4.3 A construction professional, who has field experience in construction activities similar to the scope of work anticipated,
should review the plans for constructability prior to starting the project.
4.4 Proper insurance and surety bonding to protect the interests of all parties to the agreement or contract should be considered.
4.5 Risk management assessment will identify the parties that are in the best position to control and be responsible for the
different risks.
5. Performance Requirements
5.1 Safety Practices—Safety practices should follow the guidelines of OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 and other state and local
regulations. The installer should refer to OSHA, state, and local regulations before work begins. These guidelines will address
confined spaces, a competent person, safety training, structural hazards, trench safety, manhole safety, traffic safety, and equipment
safety.
5.1.1 Confined Spaces—Perhaps the most dangerous element of safety risk is exposure to underground confined spaces. In the
United States, OSHA requires that confined space entrants, attendant, entry supervisor, and rescue team be trained, provide special
equipment, and follow certain procedures when entering a manhole or underground sewer. The attendant must be equipped to test
the atmosphere, monitor the atmosphere and the crew, control the activities in the confined space, and call an emergency response
team for any accident. Besides the air atmosphere, the confined space crew must recognize and protect members from sewage or
water in the sewers, which can injure or drown a crew member.
5.1.2 Structural Hazards—When cleaning, inspecting, repairing the sewer, or installing and maintaining and changing the fiber
and conduit, the crew should inspect entry structures and large diameter sewers for structural deficiencies, and consider possible
point collapses, which could flood the pipe with sudden infiltration, or subject the crew to other hazards. Therefore, appropriate
judgment and other precautions should be considered.
5.1.3 Trench Safety—Some open trench work or directional drilling is required for interconnections and for final connections
to users and other telecommunication companies. A competent person trained to recognize dangerous conditions and to protect the
crew must be on site. The most common safety concerns in open trench work are cave-ins and other utility hits. Therefore, shoring,
trench boxes, manhole boxes, ladders, locating equipment, and air atmosphere monitoring devices are needed to perform these
activities. All OSHA construction standards must be followed.
5.1.4 Traffıc Safety—Crews cleaning, inspecting, repairing, installing optical fiber and conduit, repairing sewers and manholes,
and installing new conduit in open trench may be exposed to traffic. U.S. DOT MUTCD Part VI requires that traffic control devices
and flaggers must be in place to protect the crew and the public, if there is exposure to traffic. A competent person should be in
charge of these activities.
NOTE 1—The AGC offers information on Safety, Constructability, Liability and Risk Management, and Partnering through its website. Additional
information about constructability issues is available at the website www.engr.wisc.edu/cee/courses/cee596.html, which is the “Constructability Analysis”
course at the College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
5.1.5 Equipment Safety—All construction equipment and personal protective gear must meet OSHA regulations, and be in good
repair. Crew members should receive proper training in safety for all exposures, and weekly (more frequent if warranted) safety
meetings should be conducted to identify anticipated hazards, and plan appropriate processes to protect the crew and public from
injury or death. Prior to starting a project, a safety plan should be prepared by the installer or owner’s designated representative.
This plan should be implemented and followed during the construction.
NOTE 2—Safety videos are available from various vendors, including a variety from the AGC.
5.1.6 Manhole Safety—Whenever optical fiber devices are installed in manholes, certain procedures are used to protect people
entering the confined space in the future. Cable bend guards are to be closed to avoid a tripping and entanglement hazard. Where
practical, splice enclosures are to be installed next to the manhole steps or ladder so that workers or rescue workers can get into
the manholes with self-contained breathing apparatuses without hindrance or risk of entrapment.
5.1.7 Installation Safety—Certain electrically powered devices for cable installation, such as robots, can have an electrical
potential difference from the pipeline. An electrical failure in the robot and certain conduit attachment methods may create sparks.
Engineering and construction professionals should assess the conditions and methods, and use appropriate safety measures to guard
against any potential explosion or electrical shock hazard.
Available from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, 333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314, http://agc.org. 2300 Wils
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