Provided are optical switches applicable to various safety apparatuses
which can control an operation of a circuit by detecting a switching
signal such as pathogens and toxic substances, and safety apparatuses
using the optical switches. The optical switch comprises an optical
irradiation unit to irradiate light; an optical interference unit which
can interact with a switching signal, interferes with light irradiated
from the optical irradiation unit and radiates it as interference light,
and can vary the wavelength of the interference light after interaction
with the switching signal; and a switching unit which is provided in the
path of the interference light, detects a wavelength change of the
interference light, and conducts one of activating and deactivating a
circuit. The safety appatatus comprises the optical switch and a hazard
evasive apparatus activating unit which activates a hazard evasive
apparatus using the optical switch.