Article | REF: SL6150 V2

Laser hazards Laser beam and no laser beam hazards

Authors: Jean HUE, Jean-Luc ROCHAS

Publication date: December 10, 2016

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ABSTRACT

This article describes the risks due to laser beams and attendant hazards (electrical, chemical, etc.). Before addressing the hazards of laser sources, the many definitions needed to understand laser hazards are given. The article goes on to describe the specific features of the laser risk, which is the potential interaction between humans and the beam. Although general laser safety rules can be proposed, it must be kept in mind that each installation is a special case. The consequences of the interaction between a laser beam and human tissues, especially the eyes, are developed, incorporating the regulations and standards concerning the laser safety. The essential notion of maximum permissible exposure is described in detail.

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AUTHORS

  • Jean HUE: Research engineer at CEA - Doctor of Physics - Engineer, Institut national polytechnique de Grenoble (École nationale supérieure de physique), France

  • Jean-Luc ROCHAS: Mining engineer from Alès, Société Agir Prevention - Risk prevention instructor and trainer, France

 INTRODUCTION

Lasers play an increasingly important role in our daily lives, whether in the home or at work. However, the risks associated with their use are often poorly understood. In today's economic climate, a serious accident, death or disabling injury can jeopardize a development program or a research project.

The aim of this article is to provide a basic understanding of laser safety and to reduce the possibility of generating a laser accident. Risks linked to the use of laser beams, as well as non-beam, electrical, chemical and acoustic risks, are also mentioned.

This article provides an update on the latest legislation and European standards published in 2010 and 2014. It explains the fundamental notion of maximum permissible exposure for skin and eyes, and the various classes of lasers that derive from it. Potential modes of destruction when laser radiation interacts with human biological tissues, as well as the eye's behavior in relation to wavelengths, are presented. All of these risks, which are likely to arise in research laboratories, are analyzed using various quantitative examples.

This article, written from the point of view of the researcher and the preventer, is intended to be pragmatic.

Definitions

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