Laser Safety Training User of class 1,2, or 3R Dangers staring at laser beam Potential shock hazard Take eye

exam LSO-2 form keep track of requirements Complete and hand to the EHS office Individual is responsible laser user Laser operator status is granted responsible for operation of laser Eye exam required bring LSO-2 form with section 1 and 2 signed RI eye institute 150 East Manning Street Providence RI 02906 401-272-2020 Get doctor signature on form LASER Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation Almost pure monochromatic light beam High intensity Maintains a high degree of coherence More hazard due to above 3 properties Laser media solid, liquid, gas or junction diode which is capable of sustaining stimulated emission Excitation energy lasing process excite atoms of laser media excitation/pump energy lamp, high voltage or another laser beam Fabry-Perot Interferometer pair of parallel mirror at each end of laser media change the direction of laser light so it passes through the laser media one total reflector, one partial reflector Excited atom releases energy by emission of a photon interacts with other excited atoms and cause them to emit photon chain reaction depopulation of excited atoms release big number of coherent photons beam passes through media reflected at first mirror go through again goes out at partial reflecting mirror emission Laser classification maximum power output, pulse duration and laser medium or emitted wavelengths homemade lasers label operator must properly label and classify the laser ANSI Z136.1 Standard of guidance or contact EHS Laser safety officer must confirm the classification Class 1 - incapable of producing damaging radiation exempt from any control measures or other forms of surveillance 1M incapable unless view with optical instrument Class 1 CD players, disk readers Class 2 - visible portion of spectrum (0.4 to 0.7 um) eye protection by aversion response (blink reflex) - eg. Supermarket scanner Class 3R little risk for short periods viewing (<= 0.25 secs) dangerous of collecting optics are used eg. Laser pointers

Class 3B - damaging if intra-beam or specular reflections are observed (mirror-like reflections) for ANY period of time diffuse reflected are not hazardous eg. HeNe laser used for optical alignment in research lab Class 4 hazardous specular and diffuse fire hazard, skin hazard research, welding, cutting, surgery Severe burns, erythema, accelerated skin aging, cancer Predominant cause of tissue damaged is thermal tissue proteins denatured with increased temperature wavelength near ultraviolet to far infrared (315nm 1000nm) Photochemical reaction laser light change chemistry of cells + tissue - wavelength 200-315 nm (actinic ultraviolet) and 400-550nm Acoustic-shock waves burst of high intensity light shockwave that causes indirect damage to surrounding tissue Skin sensitivity large part of spectrum skin has large surface area readily exposed APPROPRIATE CLOTHING TO PROTECT SKIN Primary hazard exposure to eye - near visible and near infrared wavelengths 400-1400nm Intra-beam/specular exposure severe damage to the macula (sensitive part of the retina) damage causes partial or complete blindness - fractions of second even w/ seemingly low powered laser due to eyes focusing capabilities gain of 100000 Diffuse reflections of class 4 lasers 400-1400nm also cause retinal damage Near ultra violet 315-390 nm damage eye lens 1400 nm 1mm and 180 315 nm affects cornea of eye Other hazards Electrical Energy Isolation Procedure and LOCKOUT/TAGOUT procedures Laser Dyes toxic materials Collateral radiation ionizing radiation x-rays electric-discharge exceeds 15 keV Vapors/Fumes laser generated air contaminates some class 4 lasers Fire power density of at least 2W/cm2 polyester or synthetic fibered clothing should not be worn around high powered lasers melt and stick to the body once ignited Engineering controls - mechanism