LASER SAFETY


NON-BEAM HAZARDS In addition to the direct hazards to the eye and skin from the laser beam itself, it is also important to address other hazards associated with the use of lasers.


These non-beam hazards, in some cases, can be life threatening, e.g., electrocution, fire and asphyxiation. Table 1 indicates some of the potential non-beam hazards associated with laser usage. Because of the diversity of these hazards, the employment of safety and/or industrial hygiene personnel to effect the hazard evaluations may be necessary.


SAFETY STANDARDS


There are a variety of laser safety standards including Federal and state regulations, and non-regulatory standards.


OSHA STANDARDS The regulatory administration of the US Department of Labor with the responsibility of assuring a safe work place is vested in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). At this time, OSHA does not have an all-encompassing and comprehensive laser standard. Currently, only the use of lasers in the construction field is addressed within an OSHA standard (29 CFR 1926).


However, OSHA citations have been issued relative to lasers using the authority vested under the General Duty Clause” of Public Law 91-596; the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. In these cases, OSHA inspectors have asked the employers to revise their reportedly unsafe workplace using the recommendations and requirements of such industry consensus standards as the ANSI Z136.1 standard. For more information, see the “Safety and Health Topics, Laser Hazards” page at www.osha.gov/SLTC/laserhazards/index.html.


ANSI Z136 LASER SAFETY STANDARDS The most important and most often quoted laser safety standards are the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z136 series of laser safety standards. These are consensus documents that represent the standard of safety and are the foundation of laser safety programs in industry, medicine, research and government. The ANSI Z136 series of laser safety standards are referenced by OSHA and many US states as the basis of evaluating laser-related occupational safety issues. For example, OSHA may refer to ANSI Z136.1 standard when applying the General Duty Clause.


ANSI Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers, the parent document in the Z136 series, provides information on how to classify lasers, conduct laser safety calculations and measurements, evaluate and assign laser hazard control measures and provides guidance and recommendations for Laser Safety Officers and Laser Safety Committees in all types of laser facilities.


It is designed to provide the laser user with the information needed to properly develop a comprehensive laser safety program.


FDA STANDARDS For manufacturers of laser products, the standard of principal importance is the regulation of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates product performance. All laser products sold in the US since August 1976 must be certified by the manufacturer as meeting certain product performance (safety) standards, and each laser must bear a label indicating compliance with the standard and denoting the laser hazard classification.


BULLETIN INFORMATION


Noise


X-Radiation Fire


Explosion Electrical


Plasma Radiation Compressed Gas


Laser Generated Airborne Contaminants (LGAC)


TABLE 1: Non-beam hazards associated with laser use.


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