Is Your Laser Properly Labeled? Safe Handling and Operating Guidelines

All lasers must be labeled from the manufacturer with a hazard classification.  If the laser is custom or modified, it must be reclassified.  The Laser Safety Officer (LSO) is responsible for this hazard evaluation, which must also be documented.

Proper Handling and Labeling for your Laser Equipment

Each unique Health Care Laser System (HLCS) has its own characteristics that must be considered when defining the appropriate safety control measures.  The Nominal Hazard Zone (NHZ) is defined by the characteristics of the laser output.  Differing wavelengths will bias the consideration for skin hazard as opposed to eye hazard.  If the laser is capable of emitting multiple wavelengths, each unique wavelength output must have its own safety control measures, to be defined by the LSO.

Manufacturer Responsibilities

The manufacturer of the laser system is required to evaluate the hazard classification and label it as such.  If the classification is unknown, or the system has been modified, the LSO must perform a hazard classification and label the system.

The manufacturer must also provide technical specifications required to determine the NHZ.  If the system is equipped with differing light delivery systems (fibers, wands, etc.), each of those will have its own NHZ.  The LSO must determine the NHZ for all of the light delivery systems associated with the HCLS. 

End-User Responsibilities 

Engineering control measures are usually built into the laser system by the manufacturer.  Class 3B and Class 4 lasers must be fitted with a guard over the switch that control the emission.  Special care must be taken when operating multiple laser systems with foot switches. 

Operator Considerations

HCLSs often have accessories or peripherals which attach to the system output and perform different functions.  Such accessories include scanners, wands, fibers, and scopes.  The general principles of laser safety apply to these systems as well, especially if they emit the final output of the radiation.  The operator must comply with manufacturer instructions when it comes to installation, operation, removal, and in some cases, disposal.  If these accessories have viewing ports, they must be clearly labeled with recommendations for use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as laser safety goggles.  If the system has an eye safety shutter, its function must be validated before each procedure.

The LSO role in hazard evaluation

If the conditions of the laser control area or the laser itself change as a result of maintenance or service, the LSO must reevaluate the laser control measures.  If the system is upgraded or the software us updated, SOPs may need to be changed and the hazard classification may sometimes need to be recertified and reported to the FDA.  This is only necessary if the hazard classification exceeds that which is found on the manufacturer label. 

Sometimes Class 3B and Class 4 laser systems can be approved for home health care use.  In such cases, control measures will vary widely for each home use application.  The manufacturer should design in a preclusion of inner ocular exposure exceeding the Maximum Permissible Energy (MPE) limit during operation, maintenance, or misuse.  Maintenance should be the minimum required to keep the system clean and operational.  The manufacturer must provide clear written user instructions.

Laser Safety Class details

More details for all of the Laser Safety Classes and how they are classified can be found below:

[1] ANSI Laser Classes blog: https://blog.ansi.org/2018/09/laser-class-safety-1-1c-1m-2-2m-3r-3b-4/#gref

[2] National Laser summary: https://nationallaser.com/laser-classification-safety/

[3] LaserSafetyFacts Laser Classes: https://www.lasersafetyfacts.com/classes-menu.html

[4] Wikipedia Laser Safety / Classes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_safety

Importance of a Laser Safety Officer

These various procedures are why a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) and a laser safety program are crucial to a safe work environment. Find out more about becoming a LSO and creating your in-house employee safety program with our LSO Kit bundle.

For more information about industrial laser safety, check out our courses for Industrial Laser Safety and Industrial LSO certification. For more information about medical, health care, or veterinary laser safety, check out our courses for Healthcare Laser Safety and Healthcare LSO certification today. For cosmetic laser safety, see our Cosmetic Laser Safety and Cosmetic LSO Certification courses for more information. We also have an FAQ section with common answers about our courses, certification options and kit offerings for your LSO to build your own safety program.