Workplace Laser Safety
The American National Standards Institute has developed a series of standards for the safe use of lasers; ANSI Z136. These standards provide guidance for the safe use of lasers and laser systems by defining control measures (engineering, administrative, procedural) for each of seven laser hazard classifications.
The basis of the laser classification scheme is the ability of the laser to cause biological damage to the eye or skin during use. The ANSI standards provide guidelines for developing appropriate control measures that mitigate these hazards.
Most local, State and Federal agencies and organizations* reference the ANSI standards as guidelines for workplace safety and regulatory compliance audits.
Contact LASEResources to develop, implement and document ANSI compliant:
- workplace laser safety programs
- laser safety audits and nominal hazard zone (NHZ) analysis reports
- laser safety training for laser safety officers (LSO), operators, maintenance and service personnel
- application of adequate control measures for the mitigation of laser hazards
- incident investigation and preparation of action plans for the prevention of future accidents
- technical support for laser safety committees
- serve as your company’s acting/advising laser safety officer
*The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) and state or local agencies may reference the ANSI Z136 (series) of standards for workplace laser safety.
**Healthcare organizations such as The Joint Commission, the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST), the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) have referenced ANSI Z136.1 and Z136.3 as guidelines.
Note: Workplace laser safety programs are supported by board certified laser safety officers (CLSO)