When integrating high-power laser on production floors some concerns regarding the safety of workers will surely arise. In this blog, we suggest a series of resources that you might find useful to answer many of these concerns. You will find links to technical standards for laser safety, government regulations for selected countries, books and websites about laser safety.
Browsing through standards is one of the best ways to deeply understand laser safety, since major players in the industry have come together to agree on the best ways to safely use lasers of all sorts. Following these guidelines will ensure minimal risk for laser systems users.
It might be important to understand what kind of regulations are in effect in your country because in most countries the employer is responsible for the safety of their employees.
Books are timeless. If standards and regulations seem boring to you, then these books are great for you since they refer to standards in a more casual way.
Below is a compilation of laser safety equipment suppliers.
Laser Safety Facts does a good job of explaining the laser classification as mentioned in the ANSI Z136.1 standard. The Rockwell Laser industries' website is also excellent.
Labelling laser systems with an appropriate warning is mandatory. Her is two companies that provide laser safety labels:
Extensive engineering control measures for a laser system can be found in the McGill University laser safety manual (section 9).
The Laser Safety company provides a filter selection table for laser protection that can be used for selecting laser safety goggles and laser shield for windows or other apertures. Kentek and Thorlabs are also good places for eyewear.
For laser safety barriers, Laser safety company and Kentek have a wide range of protection available.
Lasermet provides interesting products such as this laser safety cabin that can be used when a laser is used without an enclosure. The device is tested for IEC 60825-4 Safety of Laser Products Part 4 - Laser Guards.
Laserax has developed an extensive expertise in the safe use of high-power laser in industrial settings. In order to get a broader picture of the laser safety landscape read our blog post titled The Basics of Laser safety.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact one of Laserax's dedicated laser safety experts.
Laser systems are an integral part of manufacturing processes in several industries. Whether you are an operator or a laser safety officer, understanding the laser safety standards that apply to your country and situation is crucial to ensuring the safe use of lasers. In this article, we’ll define and explain the key laser safety standards, their implications, and how they’re applied across North America, Europe and Asia.
Some lasers are powerful enough to damage your skin, cause serious eye injuries, and set your workplace on fire. This is why governmental and international organizations have put in place strict standards separating laser systems into safety classes based on their hazard risks.
All over the world, laser products are identified with warning labels like the ones above. But what does a Class 1 label mean? And who decides which labels to apply?
