Laser protocols

The ANSI Z136.1 has several sections were the authority of the laser safety officer (LSO) to alter or adapt the standard’s control measures to their particular laser applications is outlined. Recognizing the ANSI Z136.1 standard is a horizontal standard and is a user guidance document. In addition as part of an on going philosophy of information to laser users the laser safety program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed a number of laser protocols, or codes of conduct. Each protocol outlines an evaluation of a section of the present ANSI Z136.2000 that the LBNL LSO feels does not completely compatible with a research and development use environment. This covers a common error many LSO’s make, while having knowledgeable and legitimate reasons to follow the sprit but not the letter of the standards, they do not document the logic of their variations from ANSI Z136.1.either in their laser safety policies, manual or standard operating procedure. Thus placing them in a precarious position as ANSI Z136.1 becomes more and more the guidance for regulatory bodies (i.e. OSHA, DOE). That of not being in completes compliance. This presentation will review a number of these protocols and their documentation.