FLSSS

Laser Safety Standards

Wesley Marshall Laser/Optical Program

US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine

Two Types of Laser Safety Standards

1. Manufacturing

• Federal Product Performance Standard
• Military Standard 1425A
• IEC 825-1-1993

2. User

• ANSI Z136 Series of Standards
• ACGIH Threshold Limit Values
• TB MED 524 (Army)
• IEC 825-1-1993

Differences in Laser Classification

• FDA 21 CFR 1040
• Graphing Solution
• Based on 8-hour exposure
• ANSI Z136.1-1993
• Most conservative
• Per Pulse
• Average Power
• IEC 825-1
• Similar to ANSI Z136.1-1993
• 100 s exposure duration
• Class 1
• Class 2
• Class 2a
• Class 3a
• Class 3b
• Class 4

Product Performance

• Many DOD Lasers are exempt from the Federal Standard (21 CFR 1040)
• Alternate Military Standard is MIL-STD 1425A (Design Standard)
• Off-the-Shelf Purchases are using DOD Exemption to 21 CFR 1040
• Commercial Systems similar to DOD Systems are becoming available to the Public

ANSI Z136 Series of Laser Safety Standards

• Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers
• Z136.2 Optical Fiber Communications
• Z136.3 Health Care Facilities
• Z136.4 Optical Radiation Measurements (draft)
• Z136.5 Educational Institutions (draft)
• Z136.6 Outdoor Environment (draft)

ANSI Z136.1 STANDARD

• Definitions
• Hazard Classification
• Control Measures
• Engineering
• Proper Use
• Safety Program and Training Requirements
• Medical Surveillance
• Non Beam Hazards
• Exposure Criteria
• Measurements
• Examples and Calculations

Revision of ANSI Z136.1 Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers

• Sub-nanosecond pulses
• Specifications for Eye Protectors
• Extended Source Dimensions
• Revised Examples

International Standards

• STANAG 3606 (Military)
• IEC 825-1-1993
• Amalgam of ANSI Z136.1 & 21 CFR 1040
• Key Differences
• Exposure Duration for Unintentional Exposure is 100 s instead of 10 s for invisible lasers
• Includes LEDs
• Different personalities involved
• ICNIRP Standard (Similar to ACGIH)

On the International Scene...

• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP) promulgates occupational and public health guidelines for human exposure.
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) develops product safety standards for electrical equipment . Technical Committee TC76 (Lasers)
• International Standards Organization (ISO) issues standards on optical devices , ophthalmic lenses and eye protection.

American National Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers Outdoors (DRAFT)

• Commercial Aviation
• Laser Light Shows
• Scientific Projects
• DOD Use

Visual Interference Effects

• Flashblindness
• Disability Glare
• Startle
• Dazzle

Standards Development

Goals

• Create one set of rules for everyone
• Hazard classes
• Control measures
• What is Safe
• Promote International Trade
• Laser Safe Environment

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