Laser Safety: Hazards, Risks and Control Measures

Running head: OCCUPATION HEALTH AND SAFETY
Laser Safety
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1OCCUPATION HEALTH AND SAFETY
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Uses of safety lasers.........................................................................................................................2
Direct risk or hazards of lasers........................................................................................................3
Singapore NEA................................................................................................................................3
Knowledge of the practice guidelines, regulations, standards.........................................................4
Identification of the risks and the hazards.......................................................................................4
Control measures for direct risks.....................................................................................................5
Indirect risk and hazards and the control measures.........................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The LASER is an acronym when expanded means Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation. Through the process of optical amplification, electromagnetic radiation is
emitted by Laser. The principle upon which the Laser is based is called stimulated emission of
photons. Laser characteristics are dependent on the wavelength of the laser beam. Lasers are
monochromatic, coherent, collimated. Monochromatic means the laser light consists of a single
wavelength of light rather than multiple wavelengths; in a laser beam, the wavelengths remain in
phase and the waves are in troughs and crest and remain parallel to each other (Menzel 2013).
Laser light is collimated and remains very narrow and the laser light travels in the same
direction. Due to this property, immense is produced at the place where the laser remains
concentrated. A laser consists of an optical cavity, energy source or pumping system, and a
proper lasing medium. There are different types of lasers and they are mainly classified based on
the lasing material in the lasing cavity. solid state lasers are the ones which use the crystalline
lasing material like, neodymium lasers or ruby; gas lasers are the ones that use the gas mixture
like, helium-neon and carbon dioxide (Nazemisalman, Farsadegh and Sokhansanj 2015).
Diode/semiconductor lasers that use the p-type and n-type semiconducting materials; dye/liquid
lasers are the ones that use organic dye suspended in a liquid medium. Excimer lasers are the one
that uses the mixture of fluorine and chlorine along with inert gases like xenon and krypton and
argon. Lasers are classified based on the types like- class 1, 1C, 1M, 2, 2M, 3R, 3B, 4 (Meschede
2017). This study is based on laser safety and the associated hazards, risks and control measures.
Uses of safety lasers
The products where the class 1 and 1M lasers are used are laser printers, CD players and DVD
players. The product where the class 2 and 2M is used is the barcode scanners. The class 3R

3OCCUPATION HEALTH AND SAFETY
lasers are used in products like laser pointers. The class 3B lasers are used in products like laser
light show projectors, industrial lasers and research lasers (Warwick.ac.uk 2018).
Direct risk or hazards of lasers
The class 1 and 1M are the lasers which are considered as non-hazardous. However, it is
important to note that the level if hazard increases when viewed with telescopes, binoculars,
magnifiers and other optical aids. The class 2 and 2M lasers are lasers in which the hazard
increases when viewed for longer periods of time and the level of hazard also increases when
viewed with the optical aids. The class 3R lasers are the lasers that depend on the beam area and
the power. This can be hazardous when viewed directly for a long period of time and also when
stared directly at the beam of lasers without any eye aid. However, the risk of injury can be more
when viewed along with optical aids. The class 3 B is the class of laser which has immediate
issue of skin hazard from the direct beam and also has the immediate eye hazard when the beam
is viewed directly. The Class 4 lasers are the lasers which cause the immediate skin hazard and
also has the eye hazard due to either the reflected or direct beam of light. it can also present with
a fire hazard. The class 4 lasers are found in products like laser light show projectors, industrial
projectors, research lasers, medical device lasers for the surgery of eye or skin treatment
(Fda.gov 2018).
Singapore NEA
In Singapore, lasers come under the legislation of the Radiation Protection Act and also within
the purview of its regulations. This is also administered by the National Environmental Agency
(NEA). Within the purview of this legislation, all the class 4 and the class 3b apparatus and it
also includes the laser pointers which also belong to these classes are controlled apparatus. The
owners of these laser devices are made mandatory to have the licenses so that a person can