Atlas nova 635 nm laser pointer alpec power red laser pointer contact the radiation safety office 206. The alliance provides lias members and others, including small businesses with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to laser beam and non. The power emitted by these laser pointers ranges from 1 to 5 milliwatts mw. Class iiib lasers produce sufficient amount of energy to cause personal injury and start fires. The label on a more powerful class 3r formerly 3a laser, such as the 5 mw green 532nanometer pointer shown here, reads danger. The laser pointer is a hightech alternative to the retractable, metal pointer. Lasers and laser pointers safety university of essex. Over the past few months an increasing number of reports have appeared in the popular press, describing incidents in which individuals claim to have suffered eye injury as a result of misuse of laser pointers.
A comprehensive resource for safe and responsible laser use laser classes chart lasers are classified based on their potential for causing injury especially eye damage, since the eye is most susceptible to excess laser light. Laser pointers are completely safe when properly used as a visual or instructional aid. Certified laser safety eyewear required when using these products. How can i check if my laser pointer is fda compliant.
All laser pointers that are available to the australian public must have a radiant power output of less than 1 milliwatt. When buying a laser pointer be sure it is fdacdrh approved. Reproduction of this document in whole or in part is. Covers hazards of highpowered laser pointers 5mw, fdas authority, and tips for consumers. Both versions have the same information, about the hazards of powerful 5mw laser pointers, a summary of the fdas authority over lasers, and tips for consumers. This person should have the authority and responsibility to monitor and enforce the control of laser hazards. We strongly suggest the purchase of a class 2 laser pointer with a wavelength of 630 to 680 nm. Some lasers emit a train of pulses with a pulse repetition frequency up to hundreds of thousands of pulses per second. Laser safety manual environmental health and safety.
If you have any questions about laser pointer safety, contact the uc irvine laser safety officer at 9498246200. Flash blindness and afterimages may last for several minutes. View and download united office kh 4444 laser pointer safety instructions online. General laser safety for consumers illuminating the hazards of powerful laser products. Faa photo, no laser still jpg photo, largest size available, showing the view from a cockpit of an faa boeing 727 simulator used in 2004 faa simulator study of laser light effects on pilots.
Laser safety officer to oversee safety for all operational, maintenance, and servicing situations. Laser pointer safety guidelines overview laser pointers have become ubiquitous in classrooms and lecture halls as they are a very valuable tool during presentations. Laser pointers are designed to illustrate inanimate objects. In summary, laser pointers are very useful tools but they must always be used responsibly.
Pdf laser pointers and aviation safety researchgate. Kh 4444 laser pointer accessories pdf manual download. Laser safety is the safe design, use and implementation of lasers to minimize the risk of laser accidents, especially those involving eye injuries. If your laser pointer does not have hazard labels, or you believe the labels are incorrect, do not use the device. Only class iiib and class iv lasers are covered under osus laser safety. See aurpos guidance on correct labelling for laser devices appendix 10. Many aviationrelated questions are on the faq for doubters page. Lasers for dummies blue, red, green laser pointers. As a consumer product, laser pointers are designed to be safe when used for their intended purpose. The above act provides for new offences of shining or directing a laser. For a safety evaluation of a laser pointer or if you have questions on laser. In new south wales, you can be fined for possessing a laser pointer, and you can go to jail for up to 14 years for a laser assault. We are unaware of any class 2m laser devices intended for consumer use.
Lasers are used by many organizations at florida international university for purposes such as research, teaching. Since even relatively small amounts of laser light can lead to permanent eye injuries, the sale and usage of lasers is typically subject to government regulations. This website is intended for the educational, instructional and informational purposes of the user and is not to be considered a substitute for a knowledgeable and trained laser safety officer lso with the duties and responsibilities as defined in the ansi z6 standard published by the american national standard institute. Laser pointer safety laser classes 1, 1m, 2, 2m, 3r, 3b, 4. Laser applications outside the laboratory 31 glossary 35. For the compact pen sized laser pointers there is an unlimited duty cycle, however we recommend 100 seconds on and 100 seconds off to optimize diode lifetime. However, they can cause serious eye damage when used improperly. Every laser pointer shall satisfy the essential safety requirements specified in the first schedule. Laser pointer safety useful resources this bulletin was produced by the laser institute of america. Lasers with an output below this are considered to be a low hazard. The claims and counterclaims of occupational health and.
For a safety evaluation of a laser pointer or if you have questions on laser pointer safety, contact the lso. Laser pointers sold in the united states are required to carry a warning label. It can be freely copied and distributed without further permission from the lia. Laser pointer safety university of washington, environmental. Plus, laser incidents create a bad image and can lead to laser pointers being banned. Jul 20, 2017 retinopathy from a green laser pointer.
Laser display association lasers and aviation safety patrick murphy abstract when laser beams intersect an aircraft. Most laser pointers contain low to moderate powered lasers that do not pose a. Pdf an inexpensive green laser pointer was found to emit 20 mw of infrared. There are four main classes for visiblebeam lasers. The laser safety manual provides the necessary structure, management and operating procedures to assure the safe use of laser devices in teaching and research laboratories operating under. Do not view a laser pointer using an optical instrument such as a microscope or binocular.
It will be available periodically for members of the georgia tech community have their personal laser pointer s to tested. If you have a question not answered by either faq, please contact us using the link at the very bottom of this page. Safety and health topics laser hazards occupational. These tests were conducted using a 5mw green laser on a patient who fixated the gaze for periods of 1 minute to 15 minutes. The laser pointer produces a small dot of light on the object at which it is aimed, for example, to draw an audiences attention to a.
Case reports a survey of the faas westernpacific region. United office kh 4444 laser pointer safety instructions pdf. Relatively inexpensive batteryoperated handheld laser pointers that are class 3b some class 4 are now commercially available, which are well in excess of the 5 mw legal limit for laser pointers. Laser pointers have become ubiquitous in classrooms and lecture halls as they are a very valuable tool during. Infrared and ultraviolet lasers cannot be class 2 or 2m. Discourage the inappropriate and irresponsible use of laser pointers. Determining whether laser products available to the public are low hazard is based on the risk of injury to the eye.
A webpage and a downloadable pdf brochure from the u. The label on a class 1 or 2 laser with a power output less than 1 milliwatt mw reads caution. This publication is licensed under the terms of the open. A collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful american workplaces. Lasers are assigned a classification ranging from 1 to 4, with a higher class indicating a higher. The role of fluorescein angiography in the detection of laserinduced damage to the retina. There have been enough documented injuries from laser pointers to trigger a warning from the food and drug administration alerts and. Classifications class 2 laser pointers output power is less than 1 mw. Laser hazard warning, danger and notice signs 28 appendix g. Alpec power red laser pointer contact the radiation safety office 206. Laser pointer safety commercial laser pointers are most commonly designed to assist speakers when giving lectures or presentations. Guest contributor ken barat, laser safety officer, lawrence berkeley national laboratory. The laser pointer should be correctly labelled for the class.
Lasers are assigned a classification ranging from 1 to 4, with a higher class indicating a higher power laser that is more hazardous. Subsequently, diode lasers were developed that produced red to. There is a separate faq for doubters people who think concern over laser pointers is overblown. For example, when digital watches became inexpensive enough for every schoolaged child to have one, kids would use the glass faces to shine patches of light at other. Moreover most laser safety officers lsos or facility safety personnel would not consider devices such as a laser pointer as representing a major hazard. These pointers are intended for use by educators while presenting talks in the classroom or at conventions and meetings. Do not point a laser pointer at mirrorlike direct beam. A laser pointer contains a small diode laser that emits an intense beam of light. Only activate the laser pointer when you are using it to point at a nearby object. The latest version will be available at the ilda website. Below is more information about laser pointer safety in general.
As a result very little information is available to users about safe work practices with these devices. Laser pointer safety osu research oklahoma state university. Laser pointer safety a comprehensive resource, for safe. Over the last few years laser pointers have received attention in the press and aroused some public concern. The laser product performance standard of the center for devices and radiological health 21cfr 1040. Government regulations useful resources laser safety requirements in the u. The laser safety officer will also be on hand to answer questions. Frequently asked questions general interest questions below is more information about laser pointer safety in general. Laser pointers typically emit visible light and their output measured in milliwatts power mw. If afterimages persist for several hours, or if a disturbance in vision is apparent, an eye examination should be performed to determine if there is any laser pointer safety factsheet hs020b 806 safety violations hotline 1800452. Laser pointer safety introduction the use of laser diode pointers that operate in the visible radiation region 400 to 760 nanometers nm is becoming widespread. When proper laser pointers are used the eyes natural reflex to blind or turn away from a bright light is enough to.