Laser safety in the lab

175 Pages·2013·20.274 MB·English

by  Ken L. Barat

Laser
Safety
IN THE LAB
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Laser
Safety
IN THE LAB
Ken Barat
Bellingham, Washington USA
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Barat,Kenneth.
Lasersafetyinthelab/KenBarat.
p.cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-0-8194-8819-0(alk.paper)
1. Lasers–Safety measures. 2. Laboratories–Safety measures. I.
Title.
TA1677.B3592013
621.36(cid:48)60289–dc23
2011042692
Publishedby
SPIE
P.O.Box10
Bellingham,Washington98227-0010USA
Phone:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
Email:[email protected]
Web:http://spie.org
Copyright (cid:13)c 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation
Engineers(SPIE)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro-
ducedordistributedinanyformorbyanymeanswithoutwritten
permissionofthepublisher.
The content of this book reflects the work and thoughts of the
author(s). Every effort has been made to publish reliable and
accurate information herein, but the publisher is not responsible
for the validity of the information or for any outcomes resulting
fromreliancethereon.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Firstprinting
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People read dedications by authors to their families—know
what? It is all true. Grateful thanks to Pat, Emily, and Leah
Barat.
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Contents
Preface....................................................................................xiii
Chapter1 HazardClassification.......................................... 1
1.1 Introduction........................................................................ 1
1.2 HazardClasses.................................................................. 2
Chapter2 RegulatoryLandscape....................................... 5
2.1 Introduction........................................................................ 5
2.2 ManufacturerRules......................................................... 6
2.2.1 FDA/CenterforDevicesandRadiolog-
icalHealth.......................................................... 6
2.2.2 InternationalElectrotechnicalCommis-
sion....................................................................... 7
2.3 UserRegulationsandGuidance.................................. 7
2.3.1 OccupationalandSafetyHealth
Administration.................................................. 7
2.3.2 FederalAviationAdministration................ 8
2.4 StateRegulations.............................................................. 9
2.4.1 ListofU.S.statesthathavelaserregu-
latoryprograms................................................. 10
2.5 UserStandards.................................................................. 11
2.6 ExportControls................................................................. 13
Chapter3 TheLaserSafetyOfficer..................................... 15
3.1 LaserSafetyOfficer/LaserSafetyAdvisor.............. 15
3.2 LSODuties......................................................................... 15
3.2.1 DelegationofLSOresponsibilities............ 17
vii
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viii Contents
3.3 LaserSafetyCommittee................................................. 17
3.4 ManagementResponsibilityforLaserSafety........ 18
3.5 LaserSafetyProgram..................................................... 18
Chapter4 BiologicalEffects................................................ 21
ContributedbyRobertJ.Thomas.
4.1 Introduction........................................................................ 21
4.2 ExposureType................................................................... 21
4.3 ExposurestotheEye....................................................... 22
4.3.1 Anatomyandopticsofthehumaneye..... 23
4.3.2 Aversionresponse............................................ 25
4.3.3 Dazzle/startleeffects....................................... 26
4.3.4 Wavelength-dependentbiologicaleffects 26
4.4 DamageMechanisms...................................................... 30
4.4.1 Photomechanical/Acousticdamage........... 30
4.4.2 Photoablation.................................................... 30
4.4.3 Thermaldamage............................................... 31
4.4.4 Photochemicaldamage.................................. 31
4.4.5 Effectoflow-powervisiblebeams............ 31
4.4.6 Extendedandpointsources.......................... 32
4.5 Laser-RadiationEffectsonSkin................................. 33
4.5.1 Epidermis............................................................ 34
4.5.2 Dermis................................................................. 34
4.5.3 Subcutaneoustissue........................................ 34
4.6 SkinInjury.......................................................................... 34
4.7 NominalHazardZone.................................................... 35
4.8 Specular Reflection Nominal Ocular Hazard
Distance............................................................................... 35
4.9 TheEffectofOpticalViewingInstruments............. 36
4.9.1 Normallight...................................................... 36
4.9.2 Laserlight........................................................... 36
FurtherReading............................................................................. 36
Chapter5 HazardEvaluationbyLSOorUser
Self-Assessment................................................. 39
5.1 HazardEvaluation............................................................ 39
5.2 DesigningaLaserLab/ExperimentalSetup............ 42
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Contents ix
Chapter6 LaserProgramElementsandLaser
Controls............................................................... 43
6.1 LaserProgramElements................................................ 43
6.2 EngineeringControls...................................................... 43
6.3 AdministrativeControls................................................. 46
6.4 On-the-JobTraining(OJT)........................................... 49
6.5 StandardOperatingProcedures(SOP)...................... 51
6.6 BeamAlignmentProcedures........................................ 52
6.7 Class 3B and Class 4 Indoor Laser-Controlled
Area....................................................................................... 56
6.8 GuidanceforLaser-LabVisitors................................. 58
6.9 LaserLessons-LearnedProgram................................. 59
6.10 EventDescription............................................................. 60
6.10.1 Correctiveactions............................................ 60
6.11 LaserDisposal................................................................... 61
6.11.1 Laser-relatedwaste.......................................... 61
Chapter7 ProtectiveEyewear............................................. 63
7.1 Introduction........................................................................ 63
7.2 EyewearRequirements................................................... 64
7.3 Considerations in Choosing Laser-Protective
Eyewear............................................................................... 64
7.4 ComfortandFit................................................................. 65
7.5 OpticalDensity................................................................. 65
7.6 OpticalDensityTime-BasisCriteria......................... 66
7.7 VisibleLuminousTransmission(VLT).................... 67
7.8 IdentificationofEyewear.............................................. 69
7.9 CleaningandInspection................................................. 69
7.10 UltrafastLasers................................................................. 70
7.11 AlignmentEyewear......................................................... 70
7.11.1 Factorsinselectingalignmenteyewear.... 71
7.12 Eyewear Use with High-Power Lasers (High-
Power,MultikilowattLaserBeams).......................... 71
7.13 OtherFactors..................................................................... 72
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x Contents
Chapter8 SpecialLasersandApplications....................... 75
8.1 FiberOpticSafety............................................................ 75
8.1.1 Diodes.................................................................. 78
8.2 Laser-ScanningConfocalMicroscope...................... 80
8.3 OutdoorLaserSafety...................................................... 81
8.3.1 Outdoorcontrolmeasures............................. 81
8.4 LaserPointersandHandheldLasers......................... 82
8.4.1 Userbeware:examples.................................. 83
8.4.2 Traditionaltypesoflaserpointers.............. 84
8.4.3 Newgenerationofhandheldlaser.............. 85
References....................................................................................... 86
Chapter9 NonbeamHazards............................................... 87
Chapter10 Life in the Laser Lab: Rules for Working in
theLaserLab....................................................... 91
10.1 PriortoStartingWork..................................................... 91
10.2 WorkLikeaLaserGuru................................................ 92
10.3 IndirectLaserBeamViewingTools........................... 93
10.3.1 LaminatedIR-viewingcards........................ 93
10.3.2 IRviewers.......................................................... 95
10.3.3 CCD/webcam.................................................... 96
10.3.4 Beamblocks...................................................... 96
10.3.5 Unsecuredbeamblocks................................. 97
10.3.6 Plasticlaserenclosures.................................. 98
10.3.7 Solidplasticbarriers....................................... 99
10.3.8 Metallaserenclosures.................................... 99
10.3.9 Lasercurtains.................................................... 101
10.4 OpticsonYourTable...................................................... 101
10.4.1 Checkformovement...................................... 102
10.4.2 Secureoptics..................................................... 102
10.4.3 Keepopticsclean............................................. 102
10.4.4 Transportingthebeama“longdistance”. 103
10.4.5 Dropping and picking up items from
thefloor............................................................... 103
10.4.6 Opticalmounts.................................................. 103
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Contents xi
10.5 KnowYourOptics............................................................ 103
10.5.1 Cleaningoptics................................................. 105
Chapter11 LaserAccidents..................................................107
11.1 Introduction........................................................................ 107
11.2 SuspectedLaserInjury................................................... 108
11.3 AFewCaseHistories..................................................... 109
11.4 ThePerceivedIncident................................................... 110
Chapter12 BuildingaLaserSafetyCulture........................111
12.1 Introduction........................................................................ 111
12.2 ManagementTone............................................................ 111
12.3 InstitutionalTraining....................................................... 112
12.3.1 Lessons-learnedclass..................................... 113
12.3.2 On-the-jobtraining(mentoring)................. 113
12.3.3 Administrativecontrols................................. 114
12.3.4 Institutionalassurance.................................... 114
12.3.5 Useractions(stepback,housekeeping)... 115
Chapter13 Lay of the Lab: Hints for Designing Your
LaserLab.............................................................117
13.1 Checklist.............................................................................. 117
13.2 FurtherExamples............................................................. 119
AppendixALaserBasicsAbridged........................................129
A.1 LaserLightCharacteristics........................................... 129
A.2 CommonLaserComponents........................................ 130
A.3 ModesofOperation......................................................... 131
AppendixBLaserCalculationHints.......................................133
ContributedbyRobertJ.Thomas.
B.1 UsefulApproximations.................................................. 133
B.2 ImportantConventions................................................... 134
B.2.1 Repetitivelypulsedlasers(RPLs).............. 135
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xii Contents
B.2.2 Extended-sourceviewing.............................. 136
B.2.3 Diffusereflections........................................... 137
B.2.4 Nominalhazardzones.................................... 137
B.2.5 Protectiveeyewear........................................... 138
References(furtherreading)...................................................... 138
AppendixCLaserSafetyIllustrations....................................141
AppendixDGlossary...............................................................155
Index........................................................................................167
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