Laser Safety
Andras Kis
Zettl group safety talk
11/16/2006
Laser Components
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Associated hazards:
Laser Beam: eye injury, burns, skin cancer (UV), fire hazard
Active medium: toxic chemicals or gases (organic dyes, BeO in Ar lasers, HF, HeCd, HeHg, HeSe)
Excitation source: high voltage, water cooling
Human Eye
– laser beam can be focused by cornea and the lens to a very tight spot on the retina
400-1400 nm
<400, >1400 nm
<400, >1400 nm
Burns, cataracts
Retinal damage
Eye Injury
Eye Injury From A Pulsed Laser
Skin Burns
CO2 laser reflected from a metal surface
Types of laser eye exposure
Laser hazard classes
Classification by wavelength and output power, according to their ability to produce damage
Labels on setups
Class II
Class IIIa with expanded beam
Class IIIa with small beam
Class IIIb
Class IV
Safety measures
Be informed
Eyewear for classes IIIb, IV for everybody in the room
Beam paths above >200 mW should be guided through tubes
Highest risk during alignment, optical setup modification
IIIb and IV requirements
EHS 280 Laser Safety Training
EHS 281 Laser Safety Retraining (every 3 years)
On the Job Training – provided by PI/supervisor & documented in the Activity Hazard Document
Laser eye exams
Links:
UCB laser safety
LBL laser safety