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Safe use of high powered lasers in Physics

The College and Dept of Physics requires all work with class 3B and 4 lasers by staff and students, to be subject toprotocols approved by Heads of Departments/Division. More information on the College policy on use of lasers isavailable here:Use of lasers.

Note: The Physics Departments Safety website holds Laser Safety Documentation, including the General LocalRules for Working Safely with Lasers, undergraduate risk assessment, academic visitors and laser equipmentregistration forms, available at:http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/physics/safety

Users have a duty to protect both themselves and others from the potential hazards involved, particularly whenworking with powerful lasers.

This guidance is for high powered lasers (Class 3B & 4)where there is a potential for exposure. Lasersincorporated within equipment are not covered by this guidance but should be assessed separately.

It is the responsibility of supervisors to ensure written procedures and codes of practice for each high powered laser

facility are in place before work starts. A template risk assessment for use of high powered lasers is available fromthe Dept laser Safety Officer (DLSO)

Laser Safety Offi cers

The Head of Dept has appointed the following Dept Laser Safety Officer:Brian Willey (b.willey@imperial.ac.uk)

Some groups also have local group laser safety officers please ask your Head of Group or Group SafetyCoordinator for details.

Registration of high powered lasers

All high powered lasers in the Dept must be registered with the DLSO and any risk assessments involving high

powered lasers submitted to the DLSO for approval before the work is started.If a new laser system is going to be ordered or installed contact the DLSO for advice on laser safety and controlmeasures.

If a existing registered laser system is significantly modified or moved to a new location notify the DLSO of thechanges and ensure the assessment is reviewed appropriately.

Training for laser users and registration forms

Those in charge of the laser system mustattend the College course:Ensuring Laser Safety

Only personnel authorised and registered to work with lasers are allowed to work with them. Before starting work withhigh powered lasers all users must:

Register with the DLSO before starting work.

Attend the College course:Introduction to laser safety.

Read the Imperial College London Introduction to laser Safety booklet,

Complete a self assessment eye testbefore using the lasers (if any problems contact Occ Health).

Before using the laser system all users must:

Read and understand the risk assessments and associated code of practice associated with the lasers andthe lasers facility.

Be appropriately trained by the Principal Investigator or delegated competent laser user.

Once the laser user is competent notify the DLSO who can update the College laser competence information.

Labs with Class 3B or 4 lasers:Each laser laboratory or experiment, as appropriate, must have its own Code of Practice based upon the conclusionsof a risk assessment.

High powered lasers must only be used by competent individuals.

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/individualpolicies/pc15lasershttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/individualpolicies/pc15lasershttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/individualpolicies/pc15lasershttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/physics/safetyhttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/physics/safetyhttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/physics/safetymailto:b.willey@imperial.ac.ukmailto:b.willey@imperial.ac.ukmailto:b.willey@imperial.ac.ukhttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/training/courseindex/lasershttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/training/courseindex/lasershttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/training/courseindex/lasershttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment/safety/index/lasersafetycourseshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment/safety/index/lasersafetycourseshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment/safety/index/lasersafetycourseshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/training/presentationshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/training/presentationshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/training/presentationshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/OCCHEALTH/guidanceandadvice/eyetests/lasereyetestshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/OCCHEALTH/guidanceandadvice/eyetests/lasereyetestshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/OCCHEALTH/guidanceandadvice/eyetests/lasereyetestshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/training/presentationshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment/safety/index/lasersafetycourseshttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/training/courseindex/lasersmailto:b.willey@imperial.ac.ukhttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/physics/safetyhttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/individualpolicies/pc15lasers

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Each laser laboratory or experiment, as appropriate, must have its own Laser Scheme of Work based upon theconclusions of a risk assessment. The name of the DLSO and the permitted authorised users, the extent of any laserdesignated area and reference to specific protocols that are to be used should be included in the Scheme of Work.About sixty percent of laser accidents in research settings occur during the alignment process; therefore, it isimportant that laser alignment guidelines are included. The control measures indicated in the Departments GeneralLocal Rules for Working Safely with Lasers, should be used, as well as engineering controls in the form of remoteinterlocks, safety interlocks, key control, beam stop/shutter as required. The Scheme of Work must be displayed in aprominent position or be readily available.

Undergraduates and lasers

If reasonably practicable, undergraduate work should be restricted to Class 1/1M, 2/2M or visible 3R lasers, especiallyfor class experiments. Sometimes it is possible to downgrade a higher powered laser by the use of neutral densityfilters or beam expanders. Students must be made aware of the written scheme of work/local rules posted in eachlaboratory. In addition it is a requirement that a separate risk assessment is made of their project work, and a copyhanded over to the DLSO. Students involved in using lasers on project work in the research laboratories will betreated as laser workers and be subject to the normal registration process.

Academic Vis itors (less than three months)

There is a separate registration form for academic visitors who have a requirement to use lasers as soon as possible.Written evidence of training for laser use from another institution must be provided.

If the visitor is here for more than three months they are treated as a member of staff and need to go through therelevant training and registration processes.

Working with lasers outside of normal working hours

Outside of normal working hours, high risk work may only be carried out if there is more than one persons present,one of them being fully competent in the task being undertaken (i.e. a supervisor), and all persons being fully trainedin the appropriate emergency procedures.

All work outside normal working hours must be notified to the Principal Investigator for approval.

Appropriate signage must be in place including the class of laser within the lab, the name of the PI, DLSO and CollegeLaser Safety Officer and their contact details.

Regulatory information on lasers

The safety of laser products is covered by the British Standards Institute (BSi), BS EN 60825 series of documents.The 60825 standard encompasses a range of standards for manufacturers on lasers, fibre optics systems, laserguards, components and users guide etc. Of particular importance for users is the Technical Report PD IEC TR60825-14:2004 which is a detailed users guide that incorporates a risk assessment approach to laser safety. ImperialCollege has internet access to British Standards Online (via ATHENS website) and has a license allowing standardsto be downloaded.

There is a legal requirement to identify risks and take appropriate action to eliminate or control those risks. Users havea duty to protect both themselves and others from the potential hazards involved, particularly when working with themore powerful lasers.

The lowest power laser suitable for the purpose should be used, and lasers should be operated so that individuals arenot exposed to levels in excess of the Maximum Permissible Exposure Levels given in the current BS EN document.These levels can often be established by calculation. In some cases appropriate measurements using specificdetectors/instrumentation may be necessary; if this is the case than a suitably qualified person will be required toundertake the measurements. Written procedures for the safe operation of lasers must be drawn up and applied.

Accidents and Emergencies

Details on measures to take when there is a serious incident in the laboratory must be written into the appropriate riskassessment and all users made aware of the requirements and actions to take. Information on actions to take can befound in the Departments General Local Rules for Working Safely with Lasers. Every laboratory using lasers musthave a copy of this document on display.

If an eye injury is suspected you must immediately contact Occupational Health on 020 7594 9401for an assessmentand possible referral to hospital. In all instances the line manager and DLSO and FSM must be informed.