Laser Safety Program
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The Laser Safety Program has been developed to provide guidance and oversight for the safe use of lasers and laser systems at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The program is modeled after the ANSI guidelines established under Z.136-2007 and best practices. The program focuses on the following areas: 1) inventory and registration of class 3b and 4 lasers used on NIH campuses. 2) verification and promotion of safe work practices regarding the use of lasers 3) laser safety training and equipment parameters for users 4) proper engineering controls and laser setup within laboratories.
DOHS expects the following actions from all laser users on all NIH campuses
- Registration of lasers by contacting the laser safety program manager (online registration coming soon!)
- Completion of a general laser safety standard operating procedures (SOP) document which must be submitted to the laser safety program manager, kept in the laboratory where the laser is housed and reviewed on an annual basis by all users
DOHS provides the following services related to NIH’s laser safety program
- Verification of laser(s) location and setup once registration has been completed
- Onsite inspection of the laser and evaluation of appropriate engineering controls and safe work practices
- Safety training to users of class 3b and 4 lasers
- A generic laser safety SOP document for completion by the laser users