Laser safety measures in the work environment of a laser manufacturer

Since the environment of a company that manufactures lasers is different than other industrial environments where lasers are simply used, it is often difficult to implement the standard safety measures that are proposed in text books. For example, lasers that are built on a production floor, and that need to be characterized at different stages of fabrication, are not yet classified and often not yet adjusted to their final output power. Also, the production floor needs to be an open space to optimize flow efficiency; therefore the lasers are not characterized and measured in closed labs. These unique conditions where many operators have to work in close proximity increase the risk of laser eye exposure. This paper will demonstrate how StockerYale Inc. is working to overcome these difficulties, by implementing creative safety measures for its employees.