Lasers hazards

OSHA Safety Health Topics Radiation - Laser Hazards, available http //www.osha.gov/SLTC/laserhazards/ index.html accessed 16 November 2009. 

A Guide for the Control of Laser Hazards, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, OH, 1990. 

Control measures for the safe use of lasers have been established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and presented in Safe Use of Lasers (ANSI Z136.1-1993), which describes the different types of laser hazards and the appropriate measures to control each type. Class lEB and IV lasers should be operated only in posted laser-conholled areas. No one but the authorized operator of a laser system should ever enter a posted laser-controlled laboratory when the laser is in use. 

Laser safety officer—Person with authority to monitor and enforce measures to control laser hazards and effect the knowledgeable evaluation and control of laser hazards. 

OSHA. Laser Hazards Standards available at http //www.osha. gov/SLTC/laserhazards/standards.html (accessed January 23, 2009). 

A military classification system for laser hazards divides lasers into five categories. Table 21-4 details this... 

Laser Hazard Classes. Lasers are divided into four major hazard classifications based on a scheme of graded risk to the eye and skin. 

The ANSI oversees the promulgation of the ANSI-Z136 series of laser safety standards. These standards provide the foundation of laser safety in industry, medicine, research, and government. OSHA evaluates laser-related occupational safety issues by referencing ANSI Z-136 laser safety standards. The Laser Institute of America (LIA) serves as the international society for laser apph-cations and safety. LIA remains committed to the mission of fostering lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. The FDA regulates product performance for all laser products sold in the United States. The manufacturer must meet FDA performance and safety standards to certify products. Each laser must bear a label indicating compliance with the FDA standards and include the laser hazard classification. 

This standard provides information on how to classify lasers for safety, laser safety calculations and measurements, and laser hazard control measures. The standard also addresses requirements for laser safety officers (LSOs) and laser safety committees. The standard specifies that design of signs and labels be in accordance with ANSI Z535 series of standards for accident-preventing signs. 

Research studies, along with knowledge of hazards related to sunlight and conventional manmade light sources, permitted development of safe exposure limits for nearly all types of laser radiation. Establishing limits referred to as MPE led to development of a system of laser hazard categories or classifications. 

A controlled area is an area where the occupancy and activity of personnel within is subject to control and supervision of protection from hazards, such as radiation or laser hazards. 

The four laser hazard classifications determine the required extent of radiation safety controls. These range from Class 1 lasers that are safe for direct beam viewing under most conditions to Class 4 lasers that require the strictest of controls. Laser product classification pertains to intended use only. When a laser product is disassembled for maintenance, and pro-... 

Table 2.15 lists some typical laser related hazards. Lasers always have two primary hazards associated with them eye damage and high-energy heat source. Collateral laser hazards involve hazards from the laser system components, primarily from the lasing medium materials and the energy source used for excitation. 

LSSO refers to personnel functioning as a laser safety authority on a Navy program. The LSSO has authority to monitor, evaluate, and enforce the control of laser hazards. The LSSO must have successfully completed approved laser safety courses. 

Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instmction (OPNAVINST) 5100.27A/Marine Corps Order (MCO) 5104.1B, Navy Laser Hazards Control Program, September 24,2002. 

U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Instruction 5100.128, Navy Laser Hazards Control Program. 

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