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Transcript of ©Sumerra LASER SAFETY. ©Sumerra Basics of Lasers and Laser Light Laser Beam Injuries Laser...
©Sumerra www.summera.com
LASER SAFETY
©Sumerra www.summera.com
• Basics of Lasers and Laser Light• Laser Beam Injuries• Laser Hazard Classes• Laser Safety Standards• Laser Control Measures
COURSE CONTENTS
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L L ight
A A mplification by
S S timulated
E E mission of
R R adiation
BASICS OFLASERS AND LASER LIGHT
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WAVE NATURE OF LIGHT
Light is an electromagnetic wave.
Different wavelengths in the visible spectrum are seen by the eye as different colors.
Wavelength
Red: = 700 nm
Blue: = 400 nm
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Radio
Long WavelengthShort Wavelength
Gamma Ray X-ray Ultraviolet Infrared Microwaves
Visible
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
Lasers operate in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared.
Radio
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STIMULATED EMISSION
Incident Photon
Excited Atom
Laser-Professionals.com
Stimulated Photon same wavelength same direction in phase
Incident Photon
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CHARACTERISTICS OF LASER LIGHT
MONOCHROMATIC
DIRECTIONAL
COHERENT
The combination of these three properties makes laser light focus 100 times better than ordinary light
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LASER COMPONENTS
High ReflectanceMirror (HR)
Output CouplerMirror (OC)
ActiveMedium
Output Beam
Excitation Mechanism
Optical Resonator
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HELIUM-NEON GAS LASER
Courtesy of Metrologic, Inc.
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Rear Mirror
Adjustment Knobs
Safety Shutter Polarizer Assembly (optional)
CoolantBeamTube
AdjustmentKnob
OutputMirror
Beam
Beam Tube
HarmonicGenerator (optional)
Laser Cavity
PumpCavity
Flashlamps
Nd:YAGLaser Rod
Q-switch(optional)
Courtesy of Los Alamos National LaboratoryCourtesy of Los Alamos National Laboratory
NEODYMIUM YAG LASER
Laser-Professionals.com
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LASER SPECTRUM
10-13 10-12 10-11 10-10 10-9 10-8 10-7 10-6 10-5 10-4 10-3 10-2 10-1 1 10 102
LASERS
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 10600
Ultraviolet Visible Near Infrared Far Infrared
Gamma Rays X-Rays Ultra- Visible Infrared Micro- Radar TV Radio violet waves waves waves waves
Wavelength (m)
Wavelength (nm)
Nd:YAG 1064
GaAs 905
HeNe 633
Ar488/515
CO2 10600
XeCl 308
KrF248
2Nd:YAG 532
Retinal Hazard Region
ArF193
Communication Diode 1550
Ruby 694
Laser-Professionals.com
Alexandrite 755
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LASER BEAM INJURIES
High power lasers can cause skin burns.
Lasers can cause severe eye injuriesresulting in permanent vision loss.
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SKIN BURN FROM CO2 LASER EXPOSURE
Accidental exposure to partial reflection of 2000 W CO2 laser beamfrom metal surface during cutting
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TYPES OF LASER EYE EXPOSURE
EYE
INTRABEAM VIEWING
LASER
DIFFUSE REFLECTION
LASER
SCATTERED LIGHT
MIRROR
SPECULAR REFLECTION
LASER
REFLECTED BEAM
ROUGHSURFACE
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HUMAN EYE
Choroid
Aqueous
Cornea
Macula
Optic Nerve
Sclera
Vitreous
RetinaLens
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25
Photo courtesy of U S Air Force
THERMAL BURNSON
PRIMATE RETINA
Laser-Professionals.com
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MULTIPLE PULSE RETINAL INJURY
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Photo courtesy of U S Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine
EYE INJURY BY Q-SWITCHED LASERRetinal Injury produced by four pulses from a Nd:YAG laser range finder.
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CAUSES OF LASER ACCIDENTS
Studies of laser accidents have shown that there are usually several contributing factors. The following are common causes of laser injuries:
• Inadequate training of laser personnel
• Alignment performed without adequate procedures
• Failure to block beams or stray reflections
• Failure to wear eye protection in hazardous situations
• Failure to follow approved standard operating procedures or safe work practices
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NON-BEAM HAZARDS
Electrical Hazards
Smoke & Fumes
Mechanical Hazards
Process Radiation
Flashlamp Light
Chemical Hazards
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LASER HAZARD CLASSES
Lasers are classified according to the level of laser radiation that is accessible during normal operation.
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CLASS 1 • Safe during normal use• Incapable of causing injury• Low power or enclosed beam
CLASS I Laser Product
Label not required
May be higher class duringmaintenance or service
Nd:YAG Laser Marker
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CLASS 2
CLASS II LASER PRODUCT
Laser RadiationDo Not Stare Into Beam
Helium Neon Laser1 milliwatt max/cw
• Staring into beam is eye hazard• Eye protected by aversion response• Visible lasers only• CW maximum power 1 mW
Laser Scanners
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CLASS 3a
Small Beam
Expanded Beam
CLASS IIIa Laser Product
LASER RADIATION-AVOID DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE
ND:YAG 532nm5 milliwatts max/CW
• Aversion response may not provide adequate eye protection• CDRH includes visible lasers only• ANSI includes invisible lasers• CW maximum power (visible) 5 mW
Laser Pointers
CLASS IIIa LASER PRODUCT
Laser Radiation-Do Not Stare Into Beam or ViewDirectly With Optical InstrumentsHelium Neon Laser
5 milliwatt max/cw
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CLASS 3b
• Direct exposure to beam is eye hazard• Visible or invisible• CW maximum power 500 mW
CLASS IIIb Laser Product
LASER RADIATION-AVOID DIRECT EXPOSURE TO BEAM
2 ND:YAG Wavelength: 532 nmOutput Power 80 mW
Courtesy of Sam’s Laser FAQ, www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm, © 1994-2004
DPSS Laser with cover removed
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CLASS 4
CLASS IV Laser Product
VISIBLE LASER RADIATION-AVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE TO DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION
2 Nd:YAGWavelength: 532 nmOutput Power 20 W
• Exposure to direct beam and scattered light is eye and skin hazard• Visible or invisible• CW power >0.5 W• Fire hazard
Photo: Keith Hunt - www.keithhunt.co.ukCopyright: University of Sussex, Brighton (UK)
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The Federal Laser Product Performance Standard (FLPPS)
of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)
This is federal law and applies to the manufacture of lasers.
The American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers (ANSI Z136.1)
This is a VOLUNTARY Standard that applies to the use of lasers.
It is “recognized by” :
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)
IEC 60825 International Standard
LASER SAFETY STANDARDS
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FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS 1 LASER SYSTEMS WITH ENCLOSED CLASS 3b AND 4 LASERS
Protective Housing prevents access to laser radiation above safe level.
Safety Interlocks terminate laser beam if protective housing in opened.
Only authorized personnel may operate laser with interlocks defeated.
Warning Labels alert personnel if opening the housing might expose a laser hazard.
Viewing Windows and Optics limit laser and collateral radiation to safe levels.
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CDRH CLASS WARNING LABELS
CLASS II LASER PRODUCT
Laser RadiationDo Not Stare Into Beam
Helium Neon Laser1 milliwatt max/cw
CLASS IV Laser Product
VISIBLE LASER RADIATION-AVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE TO DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION
Argon IonWavelength: 488/514 nmOutput Power 5 W
Class IIClass IIIa with expanded beam
Class IIIa with small beamClass IIIbClass IV
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INTERNATIONAL LASERWARNING LABELS
Symbol and Border: BlackBackground: Yellow
Legend and Border: BlackBackground: Yellow
INVISIBLE LASER RADIATIONAVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE
TO DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATIONCLASS 4 LASER PRODUCT
WAVELENGTH 10,600 nmMAX LASER POWER 200 W
EN60825-1 1998
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– Laser Controlled Area
– Eye Protection
– Barriers, Shrouds, Beam Stops, etc.
– Administrative and Procedural Controls
– Education and Training
CONTROL MEASURES FOROPEN BEAM LASERS
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CLASS 4 LASER
ND:YAG 1064 nm100 Watts Max. Average Power
VISIBLE and/ or INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION-AVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE TO DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION.
Controlled Area Warning Sign
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LASER SAFETY EYEWEAR
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EYEWEAR LABELS
All eyewear must be labeled with wavelength and optical density.
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LASER PROTECTIVE BARRIER
Photo courtesy of
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The person operating the laser always has the primary
responsibility for all hazards associated with laser use.
WHO HAS PRIMARY RESPONSIBLITY FOR LASER SAFETY ANY TIME A CLASS 4 LASER IS OPERATED?
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• Most beam injuries occur during alignment.
• Only trained personnel may align class 3B or
class 4 lasers (NO EXCEPTIONS!)
• Laser safety eyewear is required for class 3B and
class 4 beam alignment.
• ANSI REQUIRES approved, written alignment
procedures for ALL class 4 laser alignment
activities and recommends them for class 3B.
SAFE BEAM ALIGNMENT
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Operate class 3b and 4 lasers only in an area designed for
laser operation and be certain that the beam is terminated
on a diffuse beam block at the end of its use path.
Do not enter a designated Class 3b or Class 4 laser
controlled area (posted with a DANGER sign) without
approval from a qualified laser operator.
Always wear laser safety eyewear if a class 3b or class 4
invisible beam is accessible.
SAFE WORK PRACTICES