Product Code: JLA_14_1_57

Authors:
Robert J. Thomas
Benjamin A. Rockwell
Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks AFB, Texas 78235-5215

Wesley J. Marshall
USACHPPM, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5422

Robert C. Aldrich
Sheldon A. Zimmerman
Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia 22448-5100

R. James Rockwell
Rockwell Laser Industries, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243

Over the past few years, a comprehensive rewrite of the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers (ANSI Z136.1) has been conducted. The ANSI Z136.1 is a user standard, as opposed to a manufacturer standard like the Federal Laser Product Performance Standard. As such, differing philosophies for hazard classification and application of safety control measures apply, based upon the user’s perspective. Here we present the second in a series of tutorial articles designed to clarify laser hazard analysis procedures under this new ANSI Standard. The procedure presented allows the reader to effectively determine the appropriate hazard classification for a small-source laser by using known laser output parameters in a step-by-step analysis. © 2002 Laser Institute of America.