At the University of Toronto over 260 class 3B and class 4 lasers and laser systems are used in a wide variety of research programs and laser applications. A fomal laser safety program was implemented in the 1990s. Responsibility for the program was assigned to an occupational health and safety specialist who used an outside contractor for training and inspections.
In 2004 responsibility for laser safety was transferred to Radiation Protection Services. One of the radiation safety officers was nominated as the University of Toronto Laser Safety Officer with one third of his time dedicated to laser safety.
Following the model of radiation safety, the laser safety program was updated and improved. The elements of the program and the improvements implemented in the last five years will be presented in this paper.