Mr Simon McCallum Laser Safety Officer
Laser Safety Policy
The duties of Laser Users, the Laser Safety Officer and others are as stated in the University Safety Manual Radiations Book 1 “Safe Use of Lasers”, which must be read and understood by Laser Users. Laser Users in the context of this policy fall into two categories, employees explicitly authorised by the Laser Safety Officer to work directly with lasers known as a “maintenance users” and users of laser systems where only a small amount of irradiation is visible during normal use, called “laser users”. A register of both kinds of users is to be kept by the Laser Safety Officer.
The Laser Safety Officer is responsible for writing and reviewing all local rules and risk assessments for all laser equipment and will report changes to the Departmental Safety committee. Any violations of local rules should be reported to the LSO
Class 3 and 4 Lasers
Some work within the department requires use of equipment with high-powered embedded lasers, normal use of this equipment should pose no risk to users because the laser beams are fully enclosed, or in the case of the confocal microscope, the irradiation reaching the user from the lens is assessed to be intrinsically safe.
Local rules are required for all such work. Users of such equipment must abide by these local rules to minimise exposure to laser hazard. Training requirements are decided according to risk assessment and a record of this training kept by the LSO.
The Laser Safety Officer must be consulted as early as possible in the planning stage of any new laser installation and must be consulted before bringing any laser into the department. This includes any class 3 or 4 lasers in embedded laser systems that are serviced on site
The Laser Safety Officer must be informed of changes in the location of-, modification to-, or responsibility for-, any laser equipment
Maintenance and alignment procedures necessary for the proper functioning of the equipment could potentially expose one or more laser beams, and must only be carried out by authorised “Maintenance Users”. All such work must be approved in advance by the Laser Safety Officer and carried out under the local rules for that equipment. Once the work is completed the equipment must be assessed by the Laser Safety Officer to ensure that no laser hazard exists for normal users.
All other employees are expressly forbidden from dismantling or interfering with laser-containing equipment.
Laser Pointers
Only Class 1 or Class 2 Laser pointers should be used – any other classification is forbidden. Laser pointers must not be directed at the audience, nor into the eye of the user.
Contingency plan
In the event of a suspected laser related injury or emergency the
Laser Safety Officer x330149 and Departmental Safety Officer x62604 should be alerted. Power to the laser system should be cut off without delay.
Table of Potential Laser Hazards by Machine: January 2020
| Machine | Wavelength | Potential Eye Damage |
|---|---|---|
| AccuriC6 x 2 | 488/633 | photochemical & thermal retinal injury |
| AriaIII x3 | 355/402/488/561/643 | as above + cataract |
| Ariafusion x 2 | 355/405/488/561/635 | as above + cataract |
| FACSJazz x2 | 402/488/561/635 | as above + cataract |
| Influx x3 | 402/488/561/635 | as above + cataract |
| Fortessa x5 | (355)/405/488/561/633 | as above + cataract |
| CantoII | 405/488/633 | as above + cataract |
| Attune x2 | 402/488/561/635 | as above + cataract |
| Leica LMD6 | 355 pulse | serious tissue damage |
| Zeiss 980 confocal | 402/488/561/635 | as above + cataract |
