New OSHA regulations going into effect August 10 are sending a ripple of controversy throughout manufacturing, construction, and other hazardous industries.
The new law requires that companies that operate in hazardous industries with a staff of fewer than 250 file OSHA form 300A in the event of work-related injury or illness. Those with more than 250 employees will file 300, 300A, and 301.
The new regulations require companies to file electronically with OSHA. Previously, these forms and reports were kept on hand by an employer, and only received by OSHA in the event of an investigation. Under the new law, not only will OSHA receive all reports, the reports will also be available to the public, online.
The transparency of the inner workings of these companies could positively impact the industries by highlighting areas of concern, leading to better work environments for employees. On the flip side, the public accessibility of the information could open the doors to unfavorable press and lawsuits.
Workers in hazardous industries are divided by the new rules. Those in favor of the changes suggest that OSHA’s accessibility to those records can help the administration better target their investigations. Believing that regularly occurring accidents may be symbolic of poor management or other company shortcomings, there is significant hope that the rules will inevitably lead to safer, well-operated workplaces.
Those who oppose the changes feel that the new rules “shame” those in hazardous industries. While few would argue against a push for greater transparency, it is the method and lack of employee and company privacy, that has many concerned. Others raise concerns about the ability to revise reports, after investigation. If the initial information is shared to the public, but is later revised for accuracy, it is easy for the information to be misinterpreted by anyone who comes across the report.
Although the law goes into effect this summer, the record keeping will change over beginning January 1, 2017. The mandatory submission of reports will begin July 2017. The records will be available online shortly after OSHA receives them.
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One of the biggest challenges for those who maintain a home aquarium is keeping the tank free of pests and contaminants, that pose significant threats to the living creatures inside. While there is no shortage of methods to keep your tank balanced and under control, a recent thread on aquarium enthusiast site Reef2Reef revealed a new defense against unwanted aquarium pests: high-powered lasers.
The thread, focused on “best practices” for laser use in aquariums was started by user CalmSeaQuest, gives ample explanation to how lasers can be used to fight Aiptasia, cyanobacteria, valonia, byprosis, snails, crabs, and beyond.
Using an 1800 mW, 445 nm blue laser, CalmSeaQuest was able to remove all traces of the harmful pests. As a Class IV laser, there are a number of significant risks that come with this laser application. Not only could it cause significant physical harm to the user, the lasers could also cause accidental death or injury to fish and coral in the tank. A laser of this level can additionally cause severe eye damage when viewed without protection.
Because of these risks, it is highly unlikely that pest removal via lasers will ever hit the market. However, for those with proper training and practice, it is an exciting new application of laser technology.
A December 2013 laser light show in France. Source: Wikipedia Commons/Kergourlay
By Geoff Giordano
With plenty of summer left to enjoy, it is appropriate to remind revelers to be aware when attending outdoor laser demonstrations or using handheld laser pointers. More and more handheld laser pointers are being sold to consumers and tourists — especially online — and they often exceed the output power listed on the label.
As lasers continue to break new ground as tools of healing, communication and entertainment, knowing how to avoid beam-related eye and skin injuries is paramount. New research illustrates the need for consumers to use caution and be aware of potential dangers.
A study presented at LIA’s International Laser Safety Conference in March warned of the dangers laser pointers present to youths. The study, led by U.K. ophthalmologist Fahd Quhill and related by ILSC General Chair John O’Hagan of Public Health England, presented cases of permanent eye damage suffered by five children in Sheffield, England. Consumer lasers given as gifts or acquired from websites, tourist destinations or modified commercial products cost some of those children more than 50 percent of their vision.
“What do you do” when a laser-related eye injury suffered by a youngster “wipes out the possibility of a whole range of career opportunities (for them)?” O’Hagan asked.
One move toward a solution came in February 2014 with a decision by the European Commission to put controls on laser products intended for consumers. According to O’Hagan, the decision indicates that “child-appealing products shall not cause damage to the eyes or skin in case of any exposure that could occur under any conditions of use, including deliberate, long-term exposure with optical viewing instruments.” The broadly applicable statement also helps regulate products intended for home hair removal. The decision allows the manufacture of products “that can do something to the skin providing (they) can’t harm the eye,” O’Hagan explained.
Meanwhile, increasingly popular laser light displays at concerts and festivals can pose a danger to spectators from unintended exposures to the laser source. Peter Blattner of the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) discussed the agency’s real-time assessment of laser shows and potential irradiation of spectators. The system was tested successfully in the field at about 20 laser shows in Switzerland, those tests often mandated by regulators or show operators. The tests found that all the shows exceeded maximum permissible exposure limits, Blattner said — some by up to 120 times those limits. The shows were adjusted to acceptable levels.
The challenge with laser light shows, said James Stewart of LVR Optical, is that “one minute they are quite smooth and fluid beams, the next minute they can (become) very stationary for a few milliseconds — enough time to create these accentuated, tight finger beams of light.”
Stewart and Blattner noted the prevalence of lower-cost laser projectors available to show organizers.
“As far as nightclubs go,” Stewart explained, “the entry-level (power) is three watts.” He notes that many people who attend his training sessions after recently purchasing a three-watt or five-watt laser for light shows “become a bit disillusioned” when they learn they can’t use the system to scan the crowd in their small venue.
In larger-scale uses, laser systems are typically eight to 30 watts, Stewart said, but typically only one to three watts would be used to scan an audience. He has been involved in assessing audience-scanning laser light shows presented by major global recording artists when they performed in the U.K. Even a one-watt laser will be hazardous at around 200 meters, he noted.
While show presenters can alter the laser beam to be less harmful to audiences, to avoid injury at shows, it is generally advisable not to intentionally stare or look at where the laser beam is coming from.
As O’Hagan pointed out, in some cases people struck in the eye by a beam from a handheld laser pointer were not injured by the beam but from rubbing their eyes after the fact.
To help inform the public, LIA created a primer on laser pointers and tips for using them safely. The guidelines are intended to be shared freely in the hopes of helping avoid accidents.
LIA advises the following in regard to laser pointers:
Never shine a laser pointer at anyone. Laser pointers are designed to illustrate inanimate objects.
Do not allow minors to use a pointer unsupervised. Laser pointers are not toys.
Do not point a laser pointer at mirror-like surfaces. A reflected beam can act like a direct beam on the eye.
Do not purchase a laser pointer if it does not have a caution or danger sticker on it identifying its class. Report suspicious devices to the FDA.
Geoff is LIA’s communications director. Contact him at ggiordano@lia.org to share your experiences with lasers, sound off on issues regarding any facet of laser technology, suggest stories or offer your commentary with a guest article or blog post.
As LIA’s sales and client representative, I travel to a lot of conferences to connect with our partners and learn about new companies. My latest trip took me to Dallas for the Safety 2015 conference by the American Society of Safety Engineers.
Andrew Morrison
Almost all the interest at our booth regarded our laser safety officer training. Many attendees stopping by to pick up a course catalog asked when and where courses were upcoming. (To stay updated on when and where our courses are being held, check out the training tab on our website.)
It was interesting that people who stopped by were either replacing someone and preparing to become their company’s new LSO, or just trying to get familiar with laser safety since their company had lasers onsite.
I also spoke with a few insurance company representatives who stopped by to gather information for their clients who have questions or need to get trained. A few people were just concerned that their company had no program in place and no training for employees, and they realized the dangers of this.
As our Education Director Gus Anibarro will tell you, it’s not enough to name an LSO for your industrial or medical environment — you need to keep that person trained based on the latest ANSI Z136 laser safety standards, as well as state and federal regulations.
In fact, Gus donated some LSO training for the silent auction at Safety 2015. One visitor to our booth couldn’t stay and chat because she said she needed to run over and get her bid in!
Since LIA is an OSHA alliance partner, we have even trained OSHA compliance officers and consultants on the best laser safety practices.
It’s part of everyone’s job at LIA to point you in the right direction so you can keep yourself and your employees and coworkers safe. We’re always ready to help steer you to the training course that best meets your needs.
That’s why I and my coworkers at LIA are always out there at conferences related to our mission. Think about it: Spending a few thousand dollars on laser safety training can help prevent deaths or serious injuries and save you far more money in accident-related costs in the long run.
Andrew Morrison visits about three to five non-LIA industry events annually to represent LIA and stay in touch with our members. To inquire about exhibiting at an LIA conference or advertising in our newsletter or on our website, contact him at amorrison@lia.org.
ORLANDO, FL, Nov. 18, 2014 — Back by popular demand, Laser Institute of America (LIA) is excited to announce that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z136 series of laser safety standards are once again available in digital format. No longer bound to only a hard copy, customers can now enjoy the flexibility of owning an electronic version of the same Z136 standard necessary for their particular profession. These standards, available for purchase from LIA directly, are essential tools for anyone using lasers in their business operations. The ANSI Z136 standards provide guidance for the safe use of lasers in the medical, telecommunication, manufacturing, and educational fields.
All nine of the Z136 standards are now available electronically including the parent standard Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers. Serving as the cornerstone of all Z136 documents, the Z136.1 contains nationwide guidelines for the establishment of laser safety programs in industrial, military, research and development, and educational applications. The Z136.1 was updated and re-released just this year, and contains several updates including new definitions of key terms, all of which are searchable in the electronic format.
