A study is reported of the assessment of the scattered laser radiation and the laser interaction plume radiation produced with a standard Neodymium - Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd-YAG) laser welding system used routinely in production of various metal parts. The protocol of this study examined different Nd-YAG laser welding parameters to estimate the occupational exposure from the reflected laser beam and other optical radiations produced during the process. The measurements serve as an initial data base for estimating the occupational exposures to laser and associated optical radiations to workers and passersby. To our knowledge, this study presents the first detailed documentation of potential occupational laser-welding hazards.

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