The Laser Safety Officer (LSO) | The Laser Institute

Laser Safety Officer (LSO): Role, Responsibilities, and When One Is Required

Lasers are used widely in industrial, healthcare, research, education, and commercial environments. While many users understand that lasers can pose hazards, fewer are aware that there is a formally recognized safety role responsible for overseeing their safe use. That role is known as the Laser Safety Officer, commonly abbreviated as LSO.

Below, we explain what a Laser Safety Officer is, why the role exists, when one is typically required, and how the LSO fits within a broader laser safety program. It is intended for organizations and individuals seeking clear, authoritative guidance, including those who may not yet be familiar with laser safety standards or formal safety designations.

What Is a Laser Safety Officer?

A Laser Safety Officer is a designated individual responsible for overseeing the safe use of lasers within an organization, facility, or defined operation. The role is established and described in the Z136.1–2022 - Safe Use of Lasers, the primary consensus standard for laser safety for end-users around the world (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Appendix A1, Laser Safety Officer (LSO)).

The Z136.1 standard assigns the Laser Safety Officer responsibility for evaluating laser hazards and ensuring that appropriate control measures are implemented and maintained (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Appendix A1, Laser Safety Officer (LSO)). The standard recognizes that the scope of the role depends on the class of lasers in use, the nature of the work being performed, and the complexity of the operating environment.

An LSO may serve in this capacity full time, as a collateral duty alongside other responsibilities, or as an external designee providing laser safety oversight with additional guidance provided in Appendix A1 of the Z136.1-2022 standard. Regardless of structure, the role establishes clear authority for laser safety decisions and implementation.

Why the Laser Safety Officer Role Exists

Lasers present hazards that differ in important ways from many other workplace risks. The severity and nature of these hazards depend on factors commensurate with the level of hazard such as wavelength, output power, beam accessibility, exposure duration, and how the laser is used within a given environment. In some cases, accidental exposure can result in serious eye or skin injury before a person is aware that an exposure has occurred.

The Z136.1 standard establishes the Laser Safety Officer role to ensure that laser hazards are systematically identified, evaluated, and controlled through a combination of engineering controls, administrative procedures, and training (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Section 3, Hazard Evaluation and Classification; Section 4, Control Measures). Rather than relying on informal judgment or individual discretion, the LSO provides informed oversight based on recognized safety principles and risk assessment methods.

By designating a Laser Safety Officer, an organization creates a structured approach to laser safety that supports consistent decision-making, effective hazard control, and ongoing review as conditions change.

When Is a Laser Safety Officer Needed?

Whether an organization needs a Laser Safety Officer depends on the class of lasers in use and the associated level of hazard. The Z136.1 standard places particular emphasis on the designation of an LSO when higher-hazard lasers or operating conditions are present (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Appendix A, Laser Safety Officer (LSO)).

Situations where an LSO is generally expected include:

Use of Class 3B or Class 4 lasers (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Appendix A, Laser Safety Officer (LSO))
Open beam paths where personnel exposure is possible
Research and development environments with evolving configurations
Medical and healthcare applications involving patient and staff exposure
Industrial systems where alignment, servicing, or maintenance activities introduce access to hazardous beams

In lower-risk environments, laser safety responsibilities may be limited and managed through basic controls. However, as laser power, accessibility, or operational complexity increases, informal oversight is often no longer sufficient. In these cases, the Z136.1 standard anticipates the involvement of a Laser Safety Officer to provide appropriate supervision and control (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Appendix A, Laser Safety Officer (LSO)).

Organizations should also consider applicable occupational safety regulations. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recognizes consensus standards such as Z136.1 as authoritative guidance for controlling laser hazards in the workplace (Source: OSHA Technical Manual, Section III, Chapter 6, Lasers).

Authority and Responsibilities of a Laser Safety Officer

The Z136.1 standard assigns the Laser Safety Officer authority to evaluate laser hazards and to establish or recommend control measures necessary to reduce risk to acceptable levels (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Section Appendix A, Laser Safety Officer (LSO)).

While the specific scope of authority varies by organization, responsibilities commonly associated with the LSO role include:

Evaluating laser hazards associated with equipment and operations
Determining appropriate engineering and administrative controls
Establishing and reviewing laser safety procedures
Supporting laser safety training and awareness
Participating in incident investigations and corrective actions
Advising management on laser safety-related decisions

The Laser Safety Officer works in coordination with management, operators, engineers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and environmental health and safety personnel. The role serves as a technical and procedural resource, helping ensure that laser use aligns with recognized safety practices outlined in the Z136.1 standard (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Section 4, Control Measures).

Relationship to the Z136.1 Standard

The Z136.1 standard provides the consensus framework for the safe use of lasers and is widely referenced internationally by industry, academia, healthcare institutions, and government agencies. Within this framework, the Laser Safety Officer plays a central role in implementing and maintaining an effective laser safety program (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Section 4, Control Measures).

The standard does not mandate a single organizational structure or job title. Instead, it emphasizes that laser safety responsibilities must be clearly assigned and supported by appropriate authority and expertise (Source: Z136.1–2022 Safe Use of Lasers, Section 1.3, Laser Safety Programs). The LSO role is intentionally flexible, allowing organizations to scale implementation based on their size, mission, and risk profile while maintaining alignment with consistent safety principles.

Learning More About Laser Safety Officers

The following resources explore common questions in greater depth:

Do I Need a Laser Safety Officer Who Can Serve as a Laser Safety Officer?Laser Safety Officer Duties and Responsibilities Laser Safety Officers in Medical, Research, and Industrial Settings Training and Ongoing Support for Laser Safety Officers

Together, these resources are intended to help organizations understand not only what an LSO is, but how the role supports safe, effective, and responsible use of lasers across many environments.