What safety step must be taken before disconnecting fiber optic cords?

Answer

The correct answer is b. Place the light source in STANDBY. Fiber optic cables carry intense light and heat generated by the light source. If disconnected while the light source is still active, the concentrated beam can ignite nearby surgical drapes, paper, or other flammable materials, posing a severe fire hazard in the operating room. Therefore, the light source must always be placed in standby mode before disconnecting the cable.