This is the laser safety homepage of the Department. Its purpose is to provide services and links on laser safety related issues and to provide contact information and procedures.
All potential users of lasers must register with the Laser Safety Officer (LSO). The LSO must also be informed and consulted prior to purchase and installation of any laser (new, used or borrowed).
The Departmental Laser Safety Officer (LSO) is Prof. David Klenerman, phone ext. 36481.
Below is a summary of the do's and don'ts regarding laser safety within the Chemistry Department. There is a fair amount of documentation to complete, but laser safety is not just about filling out and signing bits of paper - it's about good practice and proper training and the LSO is there to help! If you need advice on laser safety or help with a risk assessment contact David.
All lasers within the Department must be sited and operated in accordance with current statutory, University and Departmental rules. The LSO keeps a register of all lasers, their local rules and laser users.
The LSO maintains a register of all class 3 (old class 3A, class 3R and class 3B) and class 4 lasers, including embedded lasers serviced on site and associated users.
The registration form must be used to register new lasers or to make changes to the use of existing lasers. If an existing system has been out of use for a while, the LSO must be consulted before bringing it back into use. Authorisation must be obtained from the LSO before using a class 3 or 4 laser new to the Department, regardless of whether the laser is new, used or borrowed. The LSO should be consulted as early as possible in the planning stages of a new laser installation to obtain advice on appropriate safety measures.
All users have to register with the LSO prior to commencement of laser work and complete the Laser Authorisation Form.
Within the lab the following documents should be readily available:
The standardised risk assessment form divides the laser set-up into 4 sections:
Under the section 'actions required' you should list any possible improvements to the setup, even if you don't have the resources in the near future. This should include the replacement of administrative controls (e.g. a sign saying 'Do not look into the beam') by engineering control (e.g. a beam stop requiring a tool for removal). Give a date for review! Review the risk assessment at least annually and whenever the laser setup changes.
Guidance on how to complete the form can be found here and an example completed form can be found here.
These are rules specific to one particular laser setup, which are identified as a result of the risk assessment. The main purpose of the local rules document is to display within the laser lab a list of the contact details of individuals who can provide advice and assistance (LSO, Departmental Safety Officer, Assistant Radiation Protection Officer, Supervisor), a list of authorised users and a contingency plan (what to do if something goes wrong).
Ideally, the local rules should include details on potentially safety critical operations, protection measures and a summary of hazards. If these details get too lengthy, it is ok to have them as a separate document.
Example Local Rules can be found here.
Without duplicating the laser manual you should have written, safe operating procedures, especially for laser alignment. This document should highlight control measures necessary to reduce the risks (e.g. 'wear goggles during alignment', 'use remote viewing only').
Supervisors have to ensure that Laser Users fully understand any instructions and training given. This should be included with the Laser Authorisation Form. The document should be signed by the User and the Supervisor or Line Manager.
The LSO will survey laser installations twice yearly to check that safety requirements have been met. The inspection checklist can be found here.