Category Archives: Laser Safety

The Laser Institute Highlights Importance of Laser Safety Following FDA Import Alert

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Orlando, FL – May 29, 2024 – The Laser Institute of America (LIA), the authoritative voice in laser safety and applications, announces a critical update from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding Import Alert 95-05. This alert, titled “Detention Without Physical Examination of Electronic Products that Fail to Comply with Performance Standards or to Have Required Certification,” underscores the necessity of adhering to stringent safety standards for laser equipment imported into the United States.
The FDA’s recent alert emphasizes the importance of safe design and operation of laser products to protect US workers. This alert aims to prevent non-compliant laser equipment from entering the US market, ensuring that all laser products meet the required performance standards and certification criteria.

Key Points from FDA Import Alert 95-05:

  • Compliance Requirements: Laser equipment must comply with applicable performance standards prescribed by the FDA and have proper certification as specified in 21 CFR 1010.2 and section 534(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).
  • Detention Without Physical Examination (DWPE): Non-compliant laser products may be detained at US ports of entry without physical examination, pending further investigation and corrective actions.
  • Conditions for Detention: Products may be detained for lack of a permanently affixed label, deficient test and quality control evidence, or invalid certification reports.

“Ensuring the safety of personnel that work with and around lasers is a top priority for LIA,” said Shaun Oleson, General Manager of LIA. “The FDA’s Import Alert 95-05 serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of compliance with laser safety standards. We urge all manufacturers, importers, and users of laser equipment to adhere to these standards to protect workers and maintain the integrity of the laser industry.”

LIA highlights the following steps for industry professionals to ensure compliance:

  • Review FDA Requirements: Familiarize yourself with the FDA’s performance standards and certification requirements for laser equipment.
  • Ensure Proper Certification: Verify that all laser products have the required certification labels and documentation.
  • Implement Quality Control: Maintain robust quality control and testing programs to meet FDA standards.

The Laser Institute encourages its members and the broader laser industry to review FDA Import Alert 95-05 and take necessary actions to comply with the outlined safety standards. For more information on the alert and to access resources on laser safety, visit the FDA’s official website at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_255.html.

About LIA:
The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is a leading organization dedicated to fostering lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. As the ANSI-accredited Standards Developer of the Z136 American National Standards for the Safe Use of Lasers, LIA sets the benchmark for laser safety standards and offers comprehensive training and resources for laser safety officers and industry professionals. LIA’s mission is to cultivate innovation, ingenuity, and inspiration to promote the continued growth and safe use of laser applications.

For further information, please contact:
Jana Langhans
Marketing Manager, LIA
Email: press@lia.org

LIA Releases 2019 Laser Safety Classroom Training Schedule

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ORLANDO, Fla. (PRWEB) December 29, 2018

LIA, a world-leader in laser safety training, has released their 2019 laser safety training schedule for its classroom courses.

The Laser Safety Officer (LSO) Training, Medical LSO Training, and the LSO with Hazard Analysis Training, will be offered quarterly in Orlando, FL as classroom-based training, while the online versions of the LSO and Medical LSO training will be available year round. LIA’s two-day Industrial LSO Training will continue to be offered as a classroom course on a quarterly basis at IPG Photonics Corporation’s Midwest Operations in Novi, MI.

As more companies and labs integrate laser technology into their work, the need for trained laser safety professionals also grows. Recently celebrating fifty-years of supporting the safe use of lasers, LIA has now announced intentions to improve the user-experience for its online and in-house course offerings. This forms part of LIA’s continued efforts to support laser users by increasing their accessibility to training.

According to the American National Standard Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure the safe use of lasers owned by and/ or operated in facilities under its control; part of this responsibility is to establish a safety program to control laser hazards, appoint a laser safety officer (LSO), and provide appropriate training for the LSO.

LIA offers training for newly appointed LSOs as well as laser safety awareness training online for non-LSO employees who work with or around lasers. For more information about training, contact LIA at lia(at)lia.org or 1.800.345.2737.

Original Article: https://www.onenewspage.com/n/Press+Releases/1zjb79eqmm/LIA-Releases-2019-Laser-Safety-Classroom-Training-Schedule.htm

Laser Safety Focus – The Value of Becoming a Certified Laser Safety Officer

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As we prepare to celebrate National Safety Month in June, we want to highlight the importance of laser safety with a series of laser safety focused blogs starting this month. One of LIA’s missions includes fostering laser safety worldwide. We do so by offering online, classroom & in-house laser safety courses. To learn more, click here.

Are you looking for ways to show your commitment to a higher standard of laser safety?

Do you want to prove to your current or future employer that you possess the knowledge to lead a laser safety program?

 

If this sounds like you, read on to find out more about the Certified Laser Safety Officer (CLSO) exam offered by the Board of Laser Safety (BLS).

“For professionals working around lasers, becoming certified by the Board of Laser Safety (BLS) is one of the highest credentials a laser safety officer (LSO) can earn,” said Laser Focus World Magazine.

LIA collaborates with BLS to enhance laser safety professionals’ knowledge and commitment to laser safety. The BLS is a non-profit, whose mission is to provide a means for improvement in the practice of laser safety by providing opportunities for the education, assessment, and recognition of laser safety professionals.

LIA’s Laser Safety Officer with Hazard Analysis (LSO with HA) training satisfies one of four CLSO exam requirements. A 3-hour pen and paper CLSO exam is offered immediately after the conclusion of most LSO with HA training courses. The CLSO exam is also available as a computer-based exam, which is offered at testing locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

With the ever-growing demand for laser safety professionals and the competitive nature of roles within this field, determining how you will stand out among candidates in your career is imperative. LSO certification can be a pivotal resource for those looking to better complete the tasks in their current role or gain security in their current position and move into a position of more responsibility.

Certification is designed for those who are working in a role as a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) or a position supporting an LSO. Whether you work in a military, research, technical, or industrial application of laser use, this certification will show that you are equipped with the knowledge and ability to manage a laser safety program.

Once certified, you must attain 10 certification maintenance (CM) points over each 3-year certification cycle in order to renew your certification. LIA offers many opportunities for CM points. You can gain these points by attending our International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC), taking select LIA courses or volunteering for various laser safety publication projects.

 

If you are interested in becoming certified, visit www.lasersafety.org or call 407-985-3810.

How Does Industrial Laser Safety Impact 2017 Manufacturing?

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As manufacturing practices continue to change, how will companies ensure the safety of their employees?

Manufacturing is undergoing a revolutionary phase. That is no secret, nor surprise.

Image: Illinois Applied Research Institute

The shift from traditional manufacturing practices into additive processes is creating new challenges and opportunities across a multitude of industries. It is becoming increasingly common for companies to blur the lines of what services, products, or purpose they provide. Sectors in which manufacturing was outsourced or contracted, such as the medical industry, are now finding new opportunities in additive manufacturing.

More and more companies are going into research and development, or on-site production, reshaping the way prototypes and finished products are created.

However, laser-manufacturing innovation poses an unprecedented challenge. You cannot put an employee in front of a powder bed system, wish them luck, and be on your way. Additive manufacturing machinery, often suited with a high-powered laser, requires specific education to ensure the safety of the operator and other employees.

In some cases, the standards, certifications, and proper operation methods are just now being released, especially when it comes to additive manufacturing. However, what about when it comes to the basics of safely operating and working near lasers?

Laser Safety for the Manufacturing Workplace

Working alongside Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), ANSI Z136 standards outline proper laser safety protocol for the workplace. Laser education courses, such as those offered by LIA, can prepare employees for a laser-ready workplace by including hazard analysis calculations such as maximum permissible exposure (MPE), optical density (OD), and nominal hazard zone (NHZ).

For those in a supervising role, the Laser Safety Officer Course a non-mathematical look at the administrative duties regarding laser safety. LSO courses are designed for all levels of experience and fit the needs of safety professionals, engineers, laser operators, and other related experts.

 

LIA Offers a Variety of Laser Training Options.

 

Knowing how to operate laser-based equipment is not enough. Industrial Laser Safety Courses expand upon the knowledge presented within laser processes and addresses the hazards associated in detail, as well as methods to reduce hazardous environments in the workplace.

OSHA and other federal standards are also discussed in the courses, bringing to light the regulatory expectations of a laser utilization in the workplace.

Your Education Options

As the manufacturing world becomes increasingly globalized, it may not always be possible for employees to travel to receive their laser safety education. In this instance, online or on-site laser training options may be worth exploring, allowing employees to receive their laser safety education from the comfort of their home or office.

Need to train an entire crew? On-site education may be your best bet, as it allows the entire staff to be trained at once, with minimal schedule disruptions.

The Laser Institute of America is proud to help serve the industrial communities by offering flexible and convenient learning options in the classroom, online, or even on-site. Receive your laser safety training and education from the leading laser safety source, Laser Institute of America, publisher of the ANSI series of laser safety standards.

For more information on how LIA can help your laser safety program with any of the courses mentioned above, please visit LIA’s Education Page.

The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide.Read about LIA or contact us for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade Advisory: OSHA Now Providing Safety and Health Updates on Twitter

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According to a recent trade advisory, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will now post the latest safety and health updates on its new Twitter account @OSHA_DOL.

OSHA’s new Twitter account will provide critical information for employers, workers, and safety professionals about OSHA initiatives, activities, and publications. OSHA encourages safety and health professionals and companies to follow and retweet information relevant to members and stakeholders, as well as seek internal guidance from OSHA via the Twitter account.

As part of LIA’s fundamental commitment to laser safety support and assistance, we will provide the latest laser safety related OSHA Twitter Updates @LaserInstitute, on our Facebook and LinkedIn social channels, and here at LasersToday.com.

To Follow @OSHA_DOL on Twitter, click here.