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

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.

Weekly Lasers Wrap Up – Week of January 23, 2017

What happened this week in Lasers? Our LasersToday.com Weekly Wrap-Up aggregates industry news, conference updates, & LIA happenings.

Here are the latest updates: 


Laser Industry News

According to New Scientist, a plasma tidal waves may tell us if black holes destroy information. That’s right – a laser-driven tidal wave could test a question that has long plagued physics: is the information inside a black hole lost forever or somehow preserved through the mysterious machinations of quantum mechanics?

Courtesy: New Scientist

Around the world, interest in additive manufacturing is growing. This week, we took a closer look at the ways additive manufacturing is applied in China. From educational programs to successful 3D printed transplants, to innovators in the field, learn about China’s additive manufacturing initiatives here.


LIA Updates

As lasers become increasingly prominent in medical procedures and applications, there is a greater need for safety training among medical professionals. Nurses make excellent candidates for Medical Laser Safety Officer (MLSO) training. Check out the four ways they benefit from laser safety training here.

Learn everything you need to know about Laser Cutting: Our Laser Institute of America Guide to Laser Cutting has been reduced by 50%. Get your Copy Today.

LIA will be in attendance at SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco, California, this weekend. Stop by Booth #3060 to say hello!


Conference News

The Laser Additive Manufacturing Workshop (LAM®) is just a few weeks away! LAM® features a wide variety of additive manufacturing applications, such as metal feedstock, process monitoring, selective laser melting, and more! Check out the advance program for details on sessions and presentations for this year’s event here.

Registered for LAM, but still need to figure out transportation around the Houston area? Visit the LAM® transportation page for airport information, and rental
car discounts.

Time is running out to register for LAM 2017, taking place February 21-22, 2017 in Houston, Texas. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.lia.org/conferences/lam



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

ILSC 2017: The Source for Laser Safety Updates

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

 

 

 

 

LIA Releases Revised ANSI Z136.1 Standard to Promote Safer Facilities

Updated for the first time in the last seven years, the new American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers will be available through the Laser Institute of America, secretariat of the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z136, which develops the laser safety standards. The ANSI Z136.1 standard guides the safe use of lasers and laser systems by defining control measures for the seven laser hazard classifications.

“There have been extensive changes to the ANSI Z136.1 standard with a focus on increasing usability,” explained Ben Rockwell, chairman of ASC Z136 Standards Subcommittee 1 (SSC-1). “Significant increases in the MPE in the near-infrared will enable a plethora of new laser applications. Several sections were rewritten to reorganize, update and improve technical content to allow for easier access to information necessary for everyday laser safety implementation.”

Continue reading

Life and Breath: Upper Airway Guidelines

By Vangie Dennis

The 2010 EPRI Institute estimated the number of operating room fires occurring annually in the United States are 550-650 which includes about 115-135 airway fires. Airway fires continue to be the most prevalent cause of operating room fire-induced serious injuries and death.  The surgical team should understand ignition sources, fuels and oxidizers present during head and neck surgery and employ the preventative measures to decrease the potential for this type of surgical fire.  This presentation will review legal cases of airway fires with the primary objective and focus on prevention. Continue reading