Applied Optics / EEE Laser Safety Code of Practice

PERSONAL LASER SAFETY CODE

This document is in addition to the departmental laser safety document as well as the yellow book available in the laboratory. You are expected to be familiar to the material contained in these documents.

This code is written to remind you of the extra responsibilities associated with working in a laboratory where several users are operating.

The reason for forming a laboratory with a common user area is to produce a working environment is greatly improved compared to multiple enclosures.

The corollary is that this places considerable personal responsibility on all personnel working in the area, this should not be problem as you are all experienced laser users.

• All your documentation MUST be up to date this includes:
• User registration forms
• Laser registration forms
• Experiment registration / Risk Assessment forms
• Training records
• Laser keys should be removed when the laser is not in use and placed in the key box provided.
• The warning light system must be used whenever lasers are in use (and deactivated when not required).

• Class 3B lasers should be equipped with a neutral density filters or diffusers to reduce the effective power into the 3R region or below. Neutral density filters
• The following are prohibited without special permission from the laser safety officer in writing:
• Lasers over 15mW
• Infrared, invisible or UV sources.
• Unusual hazards not covered in the experimental registration form.
• On the rare occasions when this is not possible you must inform other users and also make extra strenuous precautions that the beam does not escape from your area.
• Experiments must routinely use enclosures to prevent stray beams leaving optical tables.
• If free space beams are required (for instance during alignment) the portable screens provided should be use to prevent the beam(s) escaping into others work areas.
• Secure your lasers and other components firmly so the beam path is well defined.
• Goggles are available when the risk of exposure to the beam cannot be removed.
• Standard maximum permissible exposure (MPE) calculations are to be done for 10000 seconds for CW lasers. Pulsed lasers need both pulse and CW / average MPEs calculating and the lower MPE is to be used.
• Goggles are available when the risk of exposure to the beam cannot be removed.
• All documentation must be signed off by someone with 5+ training. There is one exception to this: All new lasers class 3B or higher MUST be signed off by the Laser Safety Officer (Mike Somekh) BEFORE first use. It is the responsibility of the Academic / Grant holder who bought the laser to ensure that this is done.
• All high hazard areas must be covered by a separate code of practice specific to the risks. This includes all class 4 systems and any unusual system not covered by this code of practice. All people using these areas are to be trained using the specific code of practice and this training is to be recorded on the training forms and signed off.
• All maintenence and working outside normal protocols (eg alignment at high power) must be carried out by qualified people and in accordance with the codes of practice in operation

" We have not had any laser injuries in the more than 10 years of significant laser usage. This has been the result of responsible and thoughtful behaviour. This record must be maintained. "

Please report any safety issue to Mike Somekh.

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