Category Archives: Laser Safety

Laser Safety Community Focused on Safeguarding Consumers Who Are Attending Light Shows and Acquiring Pointers

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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.

Report of 11 laser strikes on jetliners over N.J. illustrates continued threat posed by misuse of green laser pointers

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By Geoff Giordano

As word came in from the Federal Aviation Administration that 11 jetliner crews reported being struck by green laser pointers over New Jersey — five of them near Newark Liberty International Airport — I was instantly reminded of some solutions to such potentially devastating acts that were discussed at our International Laser Safety Conference in March.

As evidenced by this latest occurrence — made more startling because Newark Liberty is tucked in amid a densely populated area — there is a reason ILSC 2015 featured at least a half-dozen presentations on the dangers of inappropriate laser pointer use. Laser pointers that strike the cockpit of a plane can temporarily blind a pilot or prevent the pilot from seeing past the glare.

Patrick Murphy, executive director of the International Laser Display Association and founder of the website LaserPointerSafety.com, suggested improved consumer labeling of handheld laser devices. Such “laser safety facts” labeling would make laser hazards more evident, similar to the way nutrition labeling informs consumers.

Current labels “were designed for experts back when lasers were expensive and bulky,” Murphy said. “What does ‘Laser (Class) 2’ mean to a consumer? There’s also no warning on any current labels against aiming at aircraft. People don’t know it’s hazardous (and) they don’t know it’s illegal.” The labels he proposes not only would more clearly state the dangers of pointing handheld laser devices, but they would also facilitate convictions of offenders “if the user has been specifically warned not to aim at aircraft.”

In terms of locating offenders, Trevor Wheatley of The University of New South Wales in Canberra, Australia, stressed the need for a low-cost, “always-on” method for locating the origin of these laser strikes. Wheatley detailed recent research into detection technology using cameras that could be installed on approach paths to commercial or military airfields and send reports to authorities for enforcement. “Education doesn’t seem to be working, banning doesn’t seem to be working, so we thought (in terms of) deterrence, where we increase the chances of (offenders) being caught,” Wheatley explained.

It’s worth noting that about 11 laser pointer strikes on aircraft are reported nightly across the U.S.; the FAA has reported nearly 4,000 such incidents annually in the U.S. since 2011. President Barack Obama in 2012 signed into law strict penalties for such incidents.

It’s also worth noting that these readily available green laser pointers present a further danger on the ground, particularly to youths. A study led by U.K. ophthalmologist Fahd Quhill and related by ILSC 2015 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.

According to a 2010 article by Peter Derenski in Boeing’s Aero magazine, “The human eye sensitivity peaks in the green range and perceives green 30 times brighter than red. When comparing a green and a red laser of equal power output, the green one will appear much brighter than the red.”

At present, laser pointers with output power under 5 milliwatts are legal for sale in the U.S. But “even a ‘legal’ (in the U.S.) 5 milliwatt laser pointer can be a potential hazard if the light distracts or temporarily flashblinds a person such as a pilot,” Murphy notes on his website. “This is why you never aim a laser pointer at an aircraft or the driver of a vehicle.

LIA’s bulletin on laser pointer safety 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 Giordano, LIA’s director of communications, is based in northern New Jersey not far from Newark Liberty International Airport.

DOE Special Operations Report on Laser Safety in Retrospect

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By Jamie J. King

Due to a rash of serious laser accidents from 2001 to 2005, including six eye injuries, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a Special Operations Report (SOR) in February of 2005. A root cause analysis revealed that there were four primary causes for the accidents. They were: inadequate training, inadequate Laser Safety Officer (LSO) conduct, need for better internal oversight, and a failure to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Insufficient training and an inadequate level of understanding of the hazards and controls were cited in each of the accidents analyzed. This was noted at the worker level, with those who oversee the operations, and supervisors of laser users. As many of the accidents involved students, the inadequacy or lack of training and a safety culture at the university level was mentioned. Continue reading →

LIA Spreads the Word on Laser Safety in Dallas

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By Andrew Morrison

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.

LIA Showcases Potential Solutions to Laser Strikes on Aircraft

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By Geoff Giordano

Despite significant criminal penalties, laser pointer strikes on aircraft continue to endanger flight crews, passengers and other citizens. Experts spotlighted the persistent problem by sharing potential solutions at the Laser Institute of America’s International Laser Safety Conference.

With nearly 4,000 laser strikes of aircraft reported annually in the U.S. since 2011, according to the FAA the need for educating the public is clear, according to LIA Executive Director Peter Baker and Education Director Gus Anibarro. When laser beams illuminate the cockpit of an aircraft, they can distract or temporarily blind pilots.

Several experts shared growing concerns about handheld laser devices during ILSC 2015 from March 23-26 in Albuquerque, N.M. Such devices, readily available from online sellers or at tourist destinations, are often mislabeled and more powerful than indicated.

Joshua Hadler, chief laser safety officer of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, detailed NIST’s method for determining laser pointer output. Many of the handheld devices he has tested exceeded the output listed on those devices. Continue reading →