Laser Safety Audit Protocol Now Available

Melanie Powers-Schanbacher, Principal, Bridgewater, NJ

Specialty Technical Publishers, Vancouver B.C. and STC are now offering an audit protocol for use in evaluating laser safety programs. The ANSI Standard 136.1: Audit Protocol for the Safe Use of Lasersis designed to help you evaluate the use of lasers in several types of operations (excluding construction) and to ensure that laser systems are installed, operated, and maintained safely.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) does not have a standard regulating the use of lasers in general industry. Instead, the agency uses the guidance material included in ANSI Z136.1 "American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers" in evaluating the safety of laser systems in applications other than construction.  Field compliance officers are instructed that compliance with the ANSI standard must be one factor that is specifically considered when conducting evaluation, and failure to comply with the ANSI requirements may be a factor in supporting a citation for a violation of OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act).

The ANSI standard provides guidance for the safe use of lasers and laser systems that operate at wavelengths between 0.18 μm and 1 mm. It classifies lasers according to their relative hazards (based on the ability of the laser beam to cause biological damage to the eye or skin during use) and then specifies appropriate control measures for each hazard classification.

This ANSI Standard 136.1: Audit Protocol for the Safe Use of Lasers has been prepared based upon the 2007 edition of the standard.  The requirements of this standard are presentedin STP's standard audit checklist format, organized to provide the guidance you need to assure compliance with the following: