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ILSC 2017: The Source for Laser Safety Updates

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 16, 2016 – Orlando, FL—The 2017 installment of LIA’s biennial International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC®) will take place March 20-23, in Atlanta, Georgia. Laser safety professionals from around the globe will gather to discuss all aspects of laser safety, from bioeffects research to control hazards to best practices for the Laser Safety Officer (LSO).

The conference will be chaired by John O’Hagan with Public Health England. Following the traditions of previous years, ILSC 2017 will feature presentations in three tracks: Laser Safety Scientific Sessions (LSSS), Medical Practical Applications Seminar (MPAS) and Technical Practical Applications Seminar (TPAS).

Karl Schulmeister, Chair for LSSS, assures that ILSC will continue to cover the subject matter that attendees have found most helpful over the years. The topics include laser product safety and bioeffects. The interactions between lasers and tissues as well as injury thresholds for the varying tissues of the eye and skin will be reviewed. Other sessions will focus on eyewear, outdoor lasers, high power lasers, materials processing and broadband incoherent radiation.

Certified Medical Laser Safety Officers (CMLSOs) Vangie Dennis, Patti Owens, Leslie Pollard, along with Kay Ball will lead the MPAS subtitled “Laser Safety: More than Smoke and Mirrors”.

“ILSC 2017 offers learning and networking opportunities to help healthcare professionals meet the challenges of laser technology,” said Ball. “Advancements and exciting new information will be highlighted, while experts will be able to share their knowledge and experiences.”

Owens includes “that day one would include pertinent information regarding the hazards of surgical smoke and plume.” “The latest research will be presented”, said Owens. “Analyzing the toxicity of surgical plume, the impact of chronic exposure to

“The latest research will be presented”, said Owens. “Analyzing the toxicity of surgical plume, the impact of chronic exposure to second hand smoke, recommended respiratory protection, new international initiatives and organizations, along with future legislation for management of this health hazard.”

“The second stimulating day will focus on management of collimated medical devices with exciting lectures addressing new applications of innovative laser technology, retinal and corneal injuries from exposure to lasers and Intense Pulsed Light, veterinary utilization of medical laser devices, Low Level Light therapy and PDT.  Also, the role of the laser safety officer and how to produce positive safety outcomes for both staff and patient will be explored.”

Not to be outdone by their counterparts, co-chairs Certified Laser Safety Officers (CLSOs) Eddie Ciprazo and Jamie King’s theme for the TPAS is “Back to the Basics – Laser Safety 101”.

With something at this event for everyone regardless of their experience level, King notes that both senior and novice Laser Safety Officers (LSOs) will leave with valuable knowledge because of the variety of material that will be covered.

“From basic optics to cutting edge technologies and everything in between,” said King. “It’s here.”

TPAS will provide a full toolbox of information for every LSO in attendance. Wednesday morning kicks off with “So you are the LSO, now what?” and closes Thursday with “Resources for the LSO, don’t reinvent the wheel”.  A first for the conference as well as TPAS, an open forum panel discussion with the FDA is sure to be of interest.

From LSOs and nurses, to safety product manufacturers and laser physicists, attendees will gain invaluable information from sessions and have the opportunity to network with others as a part of the laser safety experts community.

Registration for ILSC 2017 is open now. To learn more and register, please visit https://www.lia.org/conferences/ilsc.

About LIA

Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the professional society for laser applications and safety serving the industrial, educational, medical, research and government communities throughout the world since 1968. www.lia.org , 13501 Ingenuity Drive, Ste 128, Orlando, FL 32826, +1.407.380.1553

 

 

 

 

Weekly Lasers Wrap-Up: Week of 11/7/2016

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The Laser Institute of America LasersToday.com Weekly Wrap-Up aggregates industry news, conference updates, and LIA happenings. Here is the latest:

Conference News

Did you miss out on ICALEO® this year? Lasers Today posted a wrap-up of the event this week, taking a closer look at the sessions, presentations, and awards presented throughout. Official 2016 ICALEO®  proceedings are now available in the LIA Store.  For more about ICALEO®  2016, find the official wrap-up press release here.

LIA Updates

While some may prefer learning in a traditional classroom, many LSOs benefit from online training. For those of you considering online instruction, LIA has provided a handful of tips to help you get the most out of your online training before you even begin! Check out the tips here.

A new LIA White Paper is now available. Entitled Our Growing Industry: How You Can Prepare, the White Paper discusses the proper training and resources LSOs can utilize to ensure employee safety. Readers will also find tips regarding the key elements that make up a strong laser safety plan, tips on selecting eye protection, and more! Download it here.

Attention Students! Are you interested in becoming an LIA Member? If so, Student Membership prices have been reduced to $25! Becoming an LIA Member has numerous perks and advantages such as subscriptions to LIA publications, discounts on courses, conferences, and seminars, and so much more! Become a member here.

Laser News:

Researchers at the Chalmers University of Technology aim to be able to transfer 100gb of data per second in a single fiber, with one core. To do this, the team is focusing on making the laser faster “while consuming less and less energy.” Learn more about the team’s ambitious plans here.

Could a device designed to identify pathogens and toxins be on its way to Mars? A NASA technologist hopes so and is currently testing a prototype Bio-Indicator Lidar Instrument (BILI) for use on a future Mars rover. Using ultraviolet lasers, BILI would be used to scan for biomarker molecules, as a clue to past life on the red planet. Find out more about BILI and Mars rovers here .

Don’t miss a single laser industry update! Sign up today to receive the latest in lasers delivered straight to your inbox. Be sure to follow LIA on Facebook and Twitter for even more laser news.

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. Find us at www.lia.org

LIA to Host Manufacturing Day Event on October 7 for Worldwide Laser Community

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Resource site will provide LIA members and small businesses with information designed to reduce and prevent exposure to laser beam and non-beam hazards in manufacturing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORLANDO, FL – OCTOBER 4, 2016– In celebration of Manufacturing Day 2016, Laser Institute of America (LIA) will provide the worldwide laser community on October 7 with online information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to laser beam and non-beam hazards in industrial workplaces.

Manufacturing Day is an annual national event supported by thousands of manufacturers as they host students, teachers, parents, job seekers and other community members at open houses, plant tours and presentations designed to showcase modern manufacturing technology and careers.

“There is an increasing demand for highly skilled professionals in the manufacturing sector who can design, program and operate technology,” said Jim Naugle, Marketing Director at LIA. “The average age of a manufacturing employee is 56, and between now and 2020 there will be an unprecedented shortage of skilled workers who will need to be replaced.”

Manufacturing Day is co-produced by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Manufacturing Institute (MI), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).   Partners include Edge Factor and the Science Channel and guest producer, Industrial Strength Marketing.

To access LIA’s helpful information, please visit LIA’s official Manufacturing Day page http://bit.ly/2cEqBNo. For more information or questions, please contact LIA Marketing Department at marketing@lia.org.

About LIA

The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the professional society for laser applications and laser safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications and laser safety worldwide. Serving the industrial, medical, research and government communities for over 45 years, LIA offers technical information, training and networking opportunities to laser users from around the globe. Please visit us at http://www.lia.org. More information on Manufacturing Day is available at www.mfgday.com.

Major Change to OSHA Rules Stirs Controversy

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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.

For the latest updates, subscribe to Lasers Today and get OSHA news sent straight to your inbox. Visit LasersToday.com and navigate to the right-hand panel to sign up.