Product Code: ILSC2011_1304

Laser Safety Program at the University of Toronto
Authors:
Sandu Sonoc, University of Toronto; Toronto ON Canada
Presented at ILSC 2011

At the University of Toronto over 260 class 3B and class 4 lasers and laser systems are used in a large variety of research programs and laser applications. A formal laser safety program was implemented in the 1990. The responsibility for the program was given to an occupational health and safety specialist who used an outside contractor for training and inspections. In 2004 the responsibility for laser safety was given to the Radiation Protection Service. 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 permanently updated and improved. The elements of the program and the improvements implemented in the last five years will be presented in this paper.