1.0           Overview

The Brigham Young University Laser Safety program includes the following major elements:

-      Overall administrative control of the Laser Safety Program resides with the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee. This Committee reviews and approves all principal investigators, and laser control areas. Committee approval is also required for protocols involving risk factors not listed in the initial control area approval. The Laser Safety Officer serves as a consultant to the Committee.

-      A Laser Safety Officer (LSO) is appointed to maintain day to day supervision of the Laser Safety Program. The LSO inspects control areas, checks standard operating procedures and provides training and consulting resources to laser users and the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee.

-      A laser control area is established for all high power lasers. The control area is established through physical barriers, interlocks, warning signs and administrative procedures to reduce the risk of personal injury associated with the use of high power lasers.

-      A comprehensive well documented training program must be in place for all people entering the potential danger area of a high power laser (the danger area is termed the nominal hazard zone or NHZ).

-      Medical surveillance is required for all people working in the NHZ of a Class 4 laser. Medical surveillance includes a baseline eye examination with annual follow-up exams. A final optical evaluation is conducted at the termination of laser use.

2.0       POLICY

Brigham Young University students and employees, who enter the NHZ of a high power laser or operate a research laser, will adhere to the stipulations found in the University Laser Safety Program. Lasers classified as Class 3b or Class 4 by the FDA are considered high power lasers.

3.0           REQUIREMENTS

Title 29 USC Chapter 15 Section 654            (General Duty Clause)

Title 21 CFR 1040.10 (FDA Laser Regulations)

ANSI Z136.1 (ANSI Laser Standard)

4.0       PURPOSE

This program is designed to minimize the risk of injury or illness associated with both the beam and non-beam hazards produced by high power lasers and to ensure compliance with regulatory laws and standards.

5.0       SCOPE

This program applies to all Brigham Young University employees and students who enter the NHZ of a high power laser or operate a research laser. This program does not cover the use of lasers for entertainment or performances.

6.0       PROCEDURES

            6.1       Control area

                        A control area will be established for all high power lasers. A control area                          includes all locations in which the direct beam or a reflected beam could be                          present above the maximum permissible exposure level (MPE). The MPE is                                     defined by ANSI Z136.1 and is based on the level of laser exposure that can cause                         damage to the skin or eye. The control area will include the following elements:

-      Control areas are under the direct supervision of a knowledgeable principal investigator (PI).

-      Control areas are delimited by physical barriers to prevent unintentional entry into the NHZ. This will typically be a locked door.

-      Control areas have non-defeatable safety latches, entryway, or area interlocks whenever possible. When non-defeatable entry controls are not possible either defeatable or procedural controls or a combination of the two will be used to eliminate the possibility of unintentional entry into the NHZ.

-      Warning signs shall be placed at the entry to the control area. Warning signs will include the beam hazards, a list of authorized persons, and required personal protective equipment. The warning sign will include the standard laser hazard symbol and the word ÒDangerÓ.

-      Control areas will have an audible or visible signal at the entry-way indicating when the laser is being operated at Class 4 levels.

-      The NHZ will be clearly delineated on a floor plan or map of the laser laboratory. The diagram showing the extent of the NHZ will be maintained in the laboratory laser safety manual.

-      Non-beam hazards including laser generated products such as gases and fumes will be mitigated by engineering controls or other appropriate measures.

-      Control areas and protocols involving risk factors not already presented to the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee must be approved by the Committee.

6.2       Beam Height

            The optical path of the laser beam will be below four feet above the normal floor level (walking surface) unless there is a valid scientific need for the beam path to be higher. The Laser Safety Officer and Radiation/Laser Safety Committee will review all protocols that require establishing a beam path more than four feet above the laboratory floor level.

6.3       Beam Path

            The beam path should be clearly delineated, marked or otherwise defined. A beam path intended to go beyond a single room must be approved by the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee.

6.4       Alignment

            A written alignment procedure will be developed for all alignment operations that require the use of a beam intensity above the MPE. Alignment SOPÕs will be approved by the LSO and included in the laboratory laser safety manual.      

6.5       PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

            The PI will create a written PPE assessment. PPE will reduce laser exposures to levels below the MPE. The written PPE assessment will be placed in the laboratory laser safety manual and will include:

-      The optical density (OD) of laser safety eyewear;

-      The wavelength for which the eyewear is required;

-      The calculation used to derive the eyewear OD; and

-      The skin protection required in the laboratory.

            6.5       Specular Reflecting Surfaces

                        No specular reflecting surface, other than the optical elements required to create                             the beam path, will be allowed in close proximity to the normal beam path                          without a written authorization by the PI. Specular reflecting surfaces may                           include items such as rings, bracelets, watches, laminated cards, tools, etc.

6.6       Laser locks

            All Class 4 lasers will be equipped with an instrument lock or code sequence that can prevent the emission of Class 4 intensity laser light. Only authorized operators will have access to the key or code.

6.7       Laser Safety Manual

            A laser safety manual will be located in each laser research laboratory and include the following information:

-      Written alignment procedures;

-      PPE assessment and requirements;

-      OD calculations for eyewear;

-      Administrative controls and procedures; and

-      A copy of this Laser Safety Program.

7.0       RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1 The Radiation/Laser Safety Committee:  

-      Approves PIÕs to use high power lasers based on their education and experience;

-      Approves control areas for the use of high power lasers based on the description of the laser, anticipated experimental protocols, physical characteristics and procedural controls as defined by the PI.

-      Reviews all laser accidents involving personal injury.

-      Approves open beam experiments not defined, or beyond the scope of, the original approval process.

7.2       The LSO

-      The LSO serves as a consultant to PIÕs and the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee in implementing the Laser Safety Program.

-      The LSO classifies or verifies classification of all high power lasers.

-      The LSO reviews control areas to assure that required control measures are in place.

-      The LSO evaluates alternative control measures and makes recommendations concerning these proposals to the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee

            7.3       Principal Investigators

-      Ensure that students and employees working in a laboratory with a Class 3b or Class 4 laser receive the proper training, as outlined in section 8.0 of this program.

-      Select and procure appropriate laser safety eyewear.

-      Prepare and maintain a Laser Safety Manual that includes specific laboratory policies and procedures.

-      Submit user authorization information to the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee.

-      Submit facility authorization information to the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee.

7.4       Students and Employees

-      Follow the guidelines, rules, and provisions found in this program, and use the appropriate personal protective equipment and procedures put in place by the PI.

8.0       TRAINING

All students and employees falling within the scope of this program are to be trained upon initial job assignment and at least annually thereafter. Training must also be provided, when an existing job task is altered, or when a person is required to perform a new job task that warrants such training.

8.1 Training must include at least the following elements:

-      Instruction on fundamentals of laser operation (physical principles construction, etc.);

-      Training on biological effects associated with laser radiation;

-      Description of the significance of specular and diffuse reflections;

-      Instruction on non-beam hazards of lasers to include electrical hazards, reaction by-products, laser produced gases, metal fumes, etc.;

-      Information on ionizing radiation (if produced);

-      Description of laser classification;

-      Information on laboratory specific procedures;

-      Delineation of laser safety responsibilities;

-      Information on management structure and reporting lines;

-      Description of medical surveillance procedures; and

-      Training on CPR (if work involves exposed high voltage devices).

8.2       The PI will maintain a training record for each person working in a laser control area. Training records will be kept for at least three years. The training records will include:

-      The training date;

-      The content or a summary of the training session; and

-      The names and qualifications of persons conducting the training.

9.0       MONITIORING

9.1           The Radiation/Laser Safety Committee will review the Laser Safety Program at least annually.

9.2           The Laser Safety Officer will check all control areas at least once per year and submit an annual laser safety report to the Radiation/Laser Safety Committee. The Laser Safety Evaluation form found in Appendix A will be used by the LSO in conducting annual control area reviews.

10.0     APPENDIX

APPENDIX A

Laser Safety Evaluation

Control Area (Laboratory)          PI _____________________

Date:_________________

Evaluator (LSO):______________________

Yes = laboratory has appropriate systems, controls or records in place.

No = Laboratory lacks appropriate systems, controls, or records.

NA = This item does not apply to this control area.