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Johannes Courtial,
departmental laser-safety officer
Dr Johannes Courtial
Kelvin Building, room 157c
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
G12 8QQ
Scotland, U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)141 330 6429
(internal extension: 6429)
e-mail: j.courtial@physics.gla.ac.uk
Eternal laser-safety calendar
| When? |
What? |
| early October |
laser-safety training |
| March |
laser-safety inspection |
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Summary of laser safety in the departments of Physics & Astronomy and Chemistry
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All users of lasers of class III or IV in both departments must be registered and trained in laser safety and the use of lasers!
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All laser equipment in both departments must conform to current safety regulations! A risk assessment must be carried out for all new class-III or class-IV equipment!
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Download guidance note for the safe use of lasers.
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The departmental laser-safety officer is available to advise on all matters relating to laser safety.
Information on laser safety in the department of Physics & Astronomy can be found in the departmental safety handbook and in more detailed material available from the departmental laser-safety officer.
Basic administrative safety controls
The following is an incomplete list of administrative safety controls required by the University for every class-3 or class-4 laser laboratory.
- All entrances and exits must either be interlocked or always locked. If the door is opened without overriding the interlock (usually by entering a code into a key pad when entering, or by pressing a button when exiting) any class-3 and class-4 lasers in the room should either be switched off or securely terminated by an electric shutter. There should also be a warning light (usually above the door) to indicate when the lasers are switched on.
- Suitable laser goggles, suitably marked, must be available before any user entering the room is exposed to dangerous levels of laser light. Usually, goggles are stored just inside the door.
- A laser warning sign (or combination of signs) with a yellow background should be attached to the outside of the door. This should state
- that the room contains hazardous lasers;
- that the door is interlocked, and that the interlock must be overridden before entering and exiting;
- that only authorised users are allowed to enter the room on their own when the warning light is on (visitors are allowed when supervised);
- the classes of any lasers in the room, with additional information such as wavelengths, beam powers, and pulse duration;
- the name and contact details of the person responsible.
- A list of the authorised users should be displayed ideally on the outside of the door, otherwise on the inside of the room near the door.
- A copy of the local rules should be on display near the entrance. A printout of the AURPO Guidance Note No. 7, "On the safe use of lasers in education and research" is acceptable for this.
- A completed risk assessment form should be on display near the entrance.
The various warning signs should be kept up to date.
Departmental laser-safety officer task description
Johannes Courtial and James Gray (University Radiation Protection Officer)
December 8, 2005; modified February 3, 2006
This task description is effective from April 1, 2006.
Aims
The departmental laser-safety officer aims to avoid laser-related accidents in the departments of Physics & Astronomy and Chemistry.
He does so by taking reasonable measures - in the form of the tasks described below - to ensure that
Tasks
To achieve his aims, the laser-safety officer
- arranges for all new users of lasers in both departments to watch the laser-safety video owned by the University (now on DVD). The laser-safety video should be made available to new users of lasers in the department within 1 week of a the new user reporting to the laser-safety officer. The new user then completes the University's laser user registration form. Records of all laser users are held by the University Radiation Protection Service.
- requires all other laser users in the department to watch the laser-safety video at least once every 5 years. The laser-safety officer takes records of attendance at laser-safety video showings. If laser users have not attended a showing of the laser-safety video for more than 5 years the laser-safety officer reports to the head of department that the user in question has not completed the required laser-safety training.
- inspects new laser facilities for class III or IV lasers in the department and advises on their laser safety. This should happen within 1 week of the new laser facility being reported to the laser-safety officer. The member of staff responsible for the new class-III or class-IV facility needs to complete a risk assessment for the use of non-ionising radiation form prior to switching on the new lasers.
- performs, together with the University laser safety officer, an annual inspection of all class-III or IV laser facilities in both departments.
- reminds the research group leaders annually of their laser-safety related responsibilities.
From time to time the laser-safety officer will perform other duties as appropriate.
The laser-safety officer is entitled to secretarial and record-keeping assistance.
Note that it is not the responsibility of the laser-safety officer to ensure that
- all new users of lasers of class III or IV in both departments report to the departmental laser-safety officer before commencing practical laser work.
- all laser operators in both departments have received practical training in the use of the relevant laser equipment.
- all new laser equipment of class III or IV in both departments is reported to the departmental laser-safety officer before the lasers are used.
- any recommendations given by the departmental / university laser safety officer are implemented, as far as reasonably practicable.
(These are responsibilities of the research group leaders.)
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