ILSC 2007 Paper #504 (Consideration of Selected Laser Safety Concerns in the Industrial Environment...or Have You Ever Faced this Issue Before?)

Consideration of Selected Laser Safety Concerns in the Industrial Environment...or Have You Ever Faced this Issue Before?
Authors:
Gene Moss, Corning; Corning NY USA
Ken Barat, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab; Berkeley CA USA
Presented at ILSC 2007

Two experienced Laser Safety Officers offer their own insight into some unique selected industrial laser safety issues seen or experienced. The issues to be presented are safety associated with optical tables, single laser warning lights, walkway laser safety, approaches and techniques for laser enclosures, impact of older workers using lasers, laser warning signs messages, and laser skin exposure. Each issue is presented using a two t...

ILSC 2007 Paper #503 (Project ORION - Laser Safety by Design)

Project ORION - Laser Safety by Design
Authors:
Graham White, AWE; READING Great Britain
S. Melton, AWE; Reading Great Britain
Tom Bett, AWE; Reading Great Britain
Presented at ILSC 2007

Project ORION currently underway at AWE is Building the largest laser system in the UK. This is a MOPA configuration Nd doped glass laser system for high energy density physics research. The laser comprises 10 beams of 30cm aperture delivering 5kJ in 1ns at 351nm to target and 2 beams of 60cm aperture utilising CPA to deliver IPW each at 100nm in 0.5ps pulses. The facility comprises several designated compartments in a building around 100m long and 60m width. The major hazards are g...

ILSC 2007 Paper #502 (A Practical Approach to Safe Use of Lasers in the Research Laboratory)

A Practical Approach to Safe Use of Lasers in the Research Laboratory
Authors:
David Stolarski, Northrop Grumman; San Antonio TX USA
Gary Noojin, Northrop Grumman; San Antonio TX USA
Benjamin Rockwell, USAF; Brooks City Base TX USA
Harvey Hodnett, Northrop Grumman; San Antonio TX USA
Robert Thomas, USAF; Brooks City Base TX USA
Presented at ILSC 2007

A practical approach to laser safety planning for the research laboratory must consider flexibility as a key component. Refinement in experimental design, a process of the scientific method, is inevitable. Each time the optical layout is modified, new hazards must be identified and neutralized ...

ILSC 2007 Paper #404 (Proposed Changes for the Retinal Thermal MPE)

Proposed Changes for the Retinal Thermal MPE
Authors:
Bruce Stuck, USAMRD-WRAIR; Brooks City-Base TX USA
Karl Schulmeister, Austrian Research Centers GmbH; Seibersdorf Austria
David Lund, USAMRD-WRAIR; Brooks AFB TX USA
David Sliney, US Army CHPPM; APG MD USA
Presented at ILSC 2007

Recently, a number of new threshold values for retinal thermal damage became available that allow a more complete analysis of the dependence of the threshold on the retinal spot size diameter for different pulse durations. The data originate from non-human primate (NHP) models, excised retinas as well as computer models and compare well with each other. A distinctive dependence...

ILSC 2007 Paper #403 (An Advanced Visual Function Tool for Assessment of Laser Induced Retinal Injury in the Absence of Ophthalmic Retinal Evaluation)

An Advanced Visual Function Tool for Assessment of Laser Induced Retinal Injury in the Absence of Ophthalmic Retinal Evaluation
Authors:
Harry Zwick, Walter Reed Army Inst. of Research; Brooks AFB TX USA
Mike Boye, USArmy Medical Research DetachmentWalter Reed Army Inst of ResearchBrooks City Base; San Antonio TX USA
Bruce Stuck, USArmy Medical Research Detachment , Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; San Antonio TX TX USA
Peter Edsall, Northrup Grumman Inc; San Antonio TX USA
Andre Akers, USARmy Research Detachment, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; San Antonio TX USA
Presented at ILSC 2007

Laser induced retinal injury occurring u...

ILSC 2007 Paper #402 (Damage Thresholds to the Retina from Elliptical and Array Exposure Sites using CW Lasers)

Damage Thresholds to the Retina from Elliptical and Array Exposure Sites using CW Lasers
Authors:
Paul Maseberg, Fort Hays State University; Hays KS USA
Benjamin Faber, FHSU; Hays KS USA
Robert Thomas, USAF Research Laboratory; Brooks City-Base TX USA
Gavin Buffington, Fort Hays State University; Hays KS USA
Presented at ILSC 2007

A three-dimensional thermal model is used to investigate the damage threshold for hazard assessments of lasers projecting non-uniform or non-symmetric images on the retina. The two source types considered are an array of sources and an elliptical source. In the array of sources, the spacing and size ratios of the sources are va...

ILSC 2007 Paper #401 (Local Susceptibility of the Retina, Formation and Duration of After-images in the Case of Class 1 Laser Products and Disability Glare Arising from HB-LEDs)

Local Susceptibility of the Retina, Formation and Duration of After-images in the Case of Class 1 Laser Products and Disability Glare Arising from HB-LEDs
Authors:
Hans-Dieter Reidenbach, University of Applied Sciences Cologne; Koeln Germany
Presented at ILSC 2007

According to the new European Directive on Artificial Optical Radiation (2006/25/EC) the employer has to determine the exposure and the assessment of risks, i.e. workers shall not be exposed above the exposure limit values, which are based on various ICNIRP guidelines. In addition, the employer shall give particular attention, when carrying out the risk assessment, to any indirect effects amongst others such as temporary blinding. Alt...

ILSC 2007 Paper #303 (Qualification of Personal Protective Equipment for the Use of Hand-held Laser Processing Devices)

Qualification of Personal Protective Equipment for the Use of Hand-held Laser Processing Devices
Authors:
Thomas Puester, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.; Hannover Germany
Oliver Meier, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.; Hannover Germany
Andreas Ostendorf, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.; Hannover Germany
Dirk Wenzel, Saechsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V.; Chemnitz Germany
Hendrik Beier, Saechsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V.; Chemnitz Germany
Presented at ILSC 2007

Hand-held laser processing devices are constantly finding new applications. Starting with precision welding, now systems are available for cutting, welding, cladding, hardening and clea...

ILSC 2007 Paper #302 (Laser Security through Heat Conduction)

Laser Security through Heat Conduction
Authors:
Erwin Heberer, Gela GmbH; Heusenstamm Germany
Joachim Franek, ; Germany
Presented at ILSC 2007

deals not only with the special features of ultra short pulsed lasers but also disputes the physical basics of the security function of laser guard walls in use with high power lasers. By means of an example it is demonstrated that heat radiation is the dominating cooling effect of a laser guard wall. To confirm this, tests with a fiber laser with 4kW and thick guard walls were being made. Through a special test array the influence of heat radiation can be eliminated and the protection effect of heat conduction can be examined. The materi...

ILSC 2007 Paper #204 (A Proposal How to Deal with Low Power Laser in the New European Directive on Artificial Optical Radiation)

A Proposal How to Deal with Low Power Laser in the New European Directive on Artificial Optical Radiation
Authors:
Hans-Dieter Reidenbach, Cologne University of Applied Sciences; Koeln Germany
Joachim Hofmann, Research Laboratory Medical Technology; Koeln Germany
Klaus Dollinger, Cologne University of Applied Sciences; Koeln Germany
Presented at ILSC 2007

Laser safety philosophy for low power laser is based on aversion responses including the blink reflex since many years and former the description of laser class 2 and 2M in the international laser product standard IEC 60825-1 implied this approach for the case of short intrabeam viewing. By contrast we have found in a...