Are these fibre optic cables used medically for internal examination of various 'cavities'? Or handling the large bundles of fibre optic cable like those used for telecommunications?

Just I dont know whether to look for injury from an internal medical perspective, inhalation, or external skin contact causing irritation / rashes.

Will try to help though if you can clarify

Des

Instead of the usual ask manufacturer / your risk assessment will tell you nonesense I will try and be helpful.

IARC class 3, so non carinogenic (with certain specific exceptions), irritant though I dont have any evidence of 'internal' injury I suppose they could cause a similar condition as asbestos warts / callus like growths?

Glass fibres are extruded/manufactured at specific width so to prevent inhalation deep within the lungs and minimse their health risk. Still could be irritant though.

As telecoms I would presume that exposure would be limited to connecting rather than manufacture or cutting? Or perhaps occasional exposure to broken cables?

Normal handling would be of plastic sheathed cables? So no major handling concerns. Broken cables wear gloves, shouldnt be the need for mask unless exceptional circumstances, enclosed major contamination?

Literature I have found seems to indicate that removal of fibre optic fibres from skin can be complicated.

Further details:
http://broadcastengineer...ting_fiber_optic_safety/
http://www.ieci.org/docs...fety-Procedures-XXII.pdf

Hope this is useful

Des