Lasers and laser pointers safety
The Laser Safety Standard applies to activities using laser products and laser systems as part of the University business that present a significant risk to health and safety. It forms part of the Health and Safety Policy for controlling health and safety risks arising from the use of lasers and compliance with the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010.
The regulations require us to protect employees and others from exposure to laser beams by either eliminating the risk or reducing the risk to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. The standard and its implementation in the University will be periodically audited as part of our health and safety management system, overseen by the University Non-Ionising Radiation Protection Adviser (UNIRPA).
Other health and safety standards that may apply:
Roles and responsibilities
In accordance with the Health and Safety Policy, employees and students are required to comply with the Laser Safety Standard. Managers, principal investigators, and academic supervisors will be referred to as 'responsible persons' in this standard.
Risk assessment
The responsible person must ensure a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is undertaken for the laser work before it starts, and it should be reviewed periodically and updated as the nature of the work changes. The risk assessment outcomes should be communicated to the people at risk.
An adequate risk assessment will cover the lifecycle of the work.
- Laser installation.
- Normal operations, including testing.
- Maintenance and servicing.
- Emergency and unforeseen circumstance.
- Relocation and transportation of lasers.
- Decommissioning.
- Disposal.
At each stage of the laser work a range of laser and non-beam hazards could be present and cause laser users and others harm. Laser risk assessment templates are available for different laser classes: lower risk lasers class 1M and 2M, and higher risk lasers class 3R, 3B and 4. The Association of University Radiation Protection Officers (AURPO) guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf) provides further advice.
Laser class 3R, 3B and 4: risk assessment template (.docx)
Low-risk laser: risk assessment template (.docx)
If your risk assessment indicates that there is a risk of adverse health effects to the skin as a result of exposure to artificial optical radiation you will need to contact Occupational Health and ensure at risk people are placed under suitable health surveillance.
Guidance for Employers on the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations (AOR) 2010 – for information on hazardous sources
Guide to laser and non-beam hazards
Laser beam hazards
The light in a laser beam can be hazardous to exposed eyes and the skin. The risk of harm can arise out of direct exposure to the beam or unexpected radiation release due to misalignment of optical components or broken optical fibre.
Depending on the laser’s power output and wavelength it can cause eye and skin tissue to burn (thermal effects), produce damaging chemical reactions (photochemical effects) or physically damage surrounding tissue (acoustic transients). The eye is particularly vulnerable to damage. Injuries can occur at lower power levels than for skin. Cornea damage occur at wavelengths < 315 nm and retinal damage at wavelengths in the range 400 nm to 1400nm. IR radiation 700 nm to 1mm can cause cornea burns and flash burns to the eye. The skin can experience reddening (erythema), accelerated skin aging and increased risk of skin cancer. In some cases IR lasers can burn the skin.
Laser classification and laser class description
Lasers in the UK should be classified and labelled according to the British Standard on Laser Safety, BS, EN 60825-1:2014. This laser classification system is based on the international standard IEC 60825-1 and has been adopted by most countries in the world. The laser class reflects the potential harm it presents if the beam is exposed to eyes or skin. If you are unsure about your laser’s class or it has Roman numerals on the label don’t take unnecessary risks. Seek advice from the departmental non-ionising radiation protection adviser (DNIRPA) or the University non-ionising radiation protection adviser (UNIRPA).
Class 1
The laser power output is below the level at which it is believed eye damage will occur. Some laser products may contain a higher-class laser but will be a Class 1 laser product because under normal operations the higher class laser beam is inaccessible.
Class 1C
This is used for laser products which are designed explicitly for contact with skin or non-ocular tissue (such as for hair removal). This classification can only be used if the laser complies with an applicable product-specific standard.
Class 1M
The laser beam is more powerful than Class 1. The beam is collimated with a large diameter. This class of laser can become dangerous if viewed using a magnifying optical instrument (such as telescope or binoculars). Note that older lasers or optical fibre communication systems, with highly divergent beams, will also have been classified as 1M. These lasers can become dangerous if viewed using a viewing loupe or similar.
Class 2
The laser power output is limited to below 1 milliwatt (mW) and in the visible wavelength range between 400nm to 700nm. A person exposed to the beam will be protected from injury by their own natural aversion response (blink reflex).
Class 2M
The laser beam is more powerful than Class 2 and in the visible wavelength range between 400nm to 700nm. The beam is collimated with a large diameter. This class of laser can become dangerous if viewed using a magnifying optical instrument (such as telescope or binoculars). Note that older lasers or optical fibre communication systems, with highly divergent beams, will also have been classified as 2M. These lasers can become dangerous if viewed using a viewing loupe or similar.
Class 3R
The laser power output is higher than Class 1 or 2 and may have a maximum power output of 5mW or 5 times the Accessible Emission Limit (AEL) of Class 1 or 2. The wavelength range is between 180nm to 1mm. Exposure to the beam could potentially cause eye injuries and would exceed the exposure limit value, contravening the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010.
Class 3B
3B lasers have a maximum 500mW (half a watt) power output. Hazards arise from direct beam viewing and reflection of the beam. 3B lasers have sufficient power to cause an eye injury.
Class 4
Class 4 lasers have a power output greater than 500mW and there is no upper restriction. They require extreme caution because the direct beam and reflected beam can cause serious eye injury, skin burns and is a fire hazard.
Non-beam hazards
As well as the laser beam hazard, other non-beam hazards are associated with the laser work. Non-beam hazards are grouped into categories. Those most commonly encountered in laser work are:
- Electrical
- chemical, including fume production
- mechanical
- fire
- x-rays and electromagnetic interference
- other hazards
Electrical hazards
Potential sources of electrical hazards are high voltage power supplies and laser cavities. For example, a 2kW CO2 laser typically requires three phase supply at 40kW. No electrical work should be carried by unqualified staff. See the electrical safety standard.
Chemical hazards
Sources of chemical hazards in laser work are laser gases, laser generated fume and particulate matter and cleaning fluids. See the working with hazardous substances standard.
Mechanical hazards
This category covers manual handling of laser equipment and auxiliary equipment, noise, hot work pieces, moving parts in machines and guarding. See the relevant standards and guidance: work equipment safety, buying work equipment: health and safety considerations, and noise and vibration. For advice on manual handling risk assessments, contact your Health and Safety Adviser.
Fire
Class 4 lasers present a fire hazard. Direct and diffuse laser beams from Class 4 lasers can combust materials, especially in oxygen rich environments. See the fire safety standard.
X-ray and electromagnetic interference
X-rays can be generated by laser power supplies and by laser radiation interacting with a material. Electromagnetic interference is generated for radio frequency excited lasers.
Other hazards
Registration and records for laser users
The responsible person will identify potential laser users in the risk assessment and ensure they are registered with the department. All people intending to work with any class of laser, except inherently safe class 1 or class 2 devices or embedded products, must be registered. People who could or are going to modify class 1M or 2M devices must be registered.
The department will maintain an up-to-date record of departmental laser users and have it available to the UNIRPA. A laser user registration form is available from AURPO’s guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf), appendix 2, and a training record form (appendix 13).
Departmental laser user register and training record template (.xlsx)
You need to identify workers whose health is at particular risk. For example, pre-existing medical conditions made worse by light, use chemicals that could react with light to make effects worse and multiple exposure to light sources.
Training
The head of department must ensure adequate training for all registered laser users and others who may be affected by the work. It is the responsibility of the responsible person to ensure laser users receive appropriate training before work starts. Training for DNIRPA is detailed in the health, safety and wellbeing competence and training matrix(.pdf).
All registered laser users must have basic instruction in laser hazards and their control by the DNIRPA, or by an external provider approved by the UNIRPA.
Laser training videos produced by the National Physical Laboratory are available for 3B and 4 laser class users. It is recommended that these are shown in addition to the basic training before work starts. 3B and 4 laser users’ training should also include details from the risk assessments, the laser scheme of work and the emergency procedures for their proposed work and area. Training in the individual laser equipment and devices is the responsibility of the responsible person for the laser.
The responsible person ensures appropriate refresher training is given at regular intervals to registered laser users and when there are significant changes in the risk assessment. Advice on training frequency is available from the UNIRPA.
Other users who are not directly associated with the laser work but could be affected by the work (for example cleaners, maintenance users, serving contractors, other University employees and students etc.) identified by the risk assessment require basic laser safety training and information on the control measures relevant to them to ensure their safety whilst carrying out their work.
The department will maintain an up-to-date training record for departmental laser users and have it available to the UNIRPA. A record of attendance should be made and a training record template is available to AURPO’s guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf), appendix 13, and a departmental laser user register and training record template .(xlsx).
Emergency procedure and incident reporting
If your eyes and skin may have been exposed to a laser beam you should seek medical assistance immediately. You should know the details on where to go for specialist medical help. Details are available from the DNIRPA or UNIRPA. Emergency details form part of the departmental laser local rules. It is strongly recommended that a laminated emergency notice is kept with each laser and can be taken to hospital. The notice should have the laser output characteristics, instructions on what to do in an emergency and details on where to go.
Health and safety incidents involving lasers must be reported as soon as possible to the DNIRPA and the UNIRPA using the health and safety incident reporting procedure and forms. Health surveillance advice must be sought from Occupational Health when required and follow-up appointments may be needed as appropriate.
Management of contractors
Servicing and maintenance of lasers by external contractors needs to be managed by the department. Advanced planning and communication with the contractor is required from the responsible person and the DNIRPA to ensure adequate risk assessments for proposed work takes place. The contractor must submit a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and method statement to the DNIRPA and responsible person for approval. This should be done in reasonable time before the work commences.
It is likely the contractor will need to have a laser-controlled area for their work, and this should be designated to the contractor for the duration of the work. Transfer of control should be recorded, in writing, to the DNIRPA and include a copy of the contractor’s local rules and this work will require a permit to work.
Further information
- Guide to calculating nominal optical hazard distance (NOHD) (.docx)
- NOHD calculator tool (.xlsx)
- ICNIRP guidelines on limits of exposure to laser radiation of wavelengths between 180 nm and 1,000 μm (.pdf)
- HSE guidance on the safety of laser lighting displays
- Health Protection Agency (HPA): Advice on lasers
- Public Health England Ubiquitous laser
Control measures
The responsible person must ensure the risks from the laser work are either eliminated or reduced to as low as reasonably practicable. In selecting the control measures, the hierarchy of controls from the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 must be used. Priority must be given to controls at the top of the hierarchy wherever possible.
- Eliminate the hazard – consider if it is possible to achieve the desired outcome without the use of a laser.
- Substitution by less hazardous process or equipment - use lower power beams which cannot exceed the exposure limit value.
- Engineering controls - enclose the beam unless this is not reasonably practicable (must be justified on the risk assessment). Other examples are interlocks or beam attenuators, shutters or stops. Further guidance is available in BS EN 60825-1, which is available from the Library.
- Administrative controls – such as written safety instructions, signage and procedures.
- Personal Protective Equipment – such as protective goggles or clothing.
For Class 3R lasers, although considered low risk, exposure to the beam would exceed the exposure limit value and therefore proportionate controls must be implemented (as a minimum lasers and optics must be mounted securely and side shields used on optical tables).
Control measures must be effectively implemented, communicated to those people at risk, adequately monitored and maintained throughout the work. The Guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf) has information on general safety procedures for specific classes of laser and basic risk reduction measures.
Use of open beams.
For Class 3B and 4 lasers – routine operation in open beam configuration will rarely be justified and it is expected that these will be totally enclosed wherever reasonably practicable.
Where the use of open beams is necessary for specific purposes, such as alignment, this must be for a limited duration only and must be justified in the risk assessment/local rules to explain why enclosure is not reasonably practicable.
Alignment of beams
There must be a separate risk assessment for working with open beams which identifies the effective controls that will be implemented, shows how these fit into the hierarchy of control and details why more effective controls are not reasonably practicable. The beam path must be enclosed as much as possible to minimise the risk, and secondary side shields used to keep hazardous beams within the confines of an optical table.
In addition, there must be a specific written beam alignment protocol which includes a statement about the risks associated with the alignment, step by step details of the controls to be implemented; training and supervision requirements; details of who is authorised to carry out the alignments; specification of eyewear where this is required; names and contact details of the responsible persons (including laser supervisor and departmental laser safety officer); and full contingency plans for reasonably foreseeable accidents/incidents identified on the risk assessment.
Laser local rules
The head of department ensures local rules are developed, in place and reviewed regularly to locally manage the risk from Class 3R, 3B and 4 lasers. The responsible person(s) and the DNIRPA, or DHSO or HSLO where applicable, will develop the local rules, implement and regularly review them in their area of responsibility.
- Guide to laser local rules (.docx)
Identification of lasers and laser inventory
Class 3R, 3B and 4 lasers must be identified by the responsible person and recorded on the departmental laser inventory. Updated copies of the laser inventory are kept by the department and available to the UNIRPA. The AURPO’s guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf), appendix 1A is a laser inventory template.
Labelling of lasers
The responsible person must identify lasers with the appropriate hazard warning label, according to the risk they present. AURPO’s guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf), appendix 10 and section 4 have guidance on what labels are required.
Laser schemes of work
Class 3R, 3B and 4 laser work must have its own laser scheme of work based on the outcomes of the risk assessment. A laser scheme of work template is available from AURPO’s guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf), appendix 5. The current laser scheme of work must be displayed in a prominent position close the work area and readily available to laser users and others who may be affected by the laser work.
Laser controlled areas
A laser-controlled area is a designated area under the responsibility of the department and responsible person where the laser work needs supervision for the purpose of protection from the laser radiation hazards. This is a legal requirement under the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010. Class 3B and 4 lasers operate in laser-controlled areas. Open beam work for laser classes 1M, 2M and 3R should be carried out in a laser-controlled area. Laser-controlled areas are identified by the department and suitable signs put in place. Guidance is available on what labels are required in the guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf), appendix 10 and in section 4.6. Only authorised laser users can enter the laser-controlled area.
Undergraduate laser use
If reasonably practicable, the lowest class of laser should be used for undergraduate teaching and should be restricted to classes 1, 1M, 2, 2M and visible class 3R.
Undergraduates who want to use class 3B and 4 lasers will be treated as authorised laser users and subject to the normal registration and training process. The responsible person must submit a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and laser scheme of work to the DNIRPA and UNIRPA for approval. This should be done in reasonable time before the laser work commences.
Use of lasers off University premises
Lasers, other than class 1 and 2, must not be used away from the University without the written permission from the head of department. The responsible person must have this permission, a risk assessment and a laser scheme of work and provide it for the DNIRPA and UNIRPA and obtain approval before working off site. It should be done in reasonable time before work starts.
Laser displays and outside laser work on University premises
The responsible person for the display must:
- carry out a risk assessment for the display
- ensure that the requirements of Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on the safety of laser lighting displays are complied with
- statutory notifications are made (for example public entertainment licenses)
- consult the Civil Aviation Authority if the beam goes into air space
- submit the risk assessment to UNIRPA for approval in reasonable time before the scheduled display
Safety of optical fibre communication systems
Where an optical fibre communications system is being installed as part of our infra-structure, the system it should be installed to BS EN 60825-2 safety of laser products, part 2 safety of optical fibre communication systems.
Where such a system is used for research, the system should comply with the above. If this is not practicable the system should conform to section or department local rules
Laser pointers
A laser pointer, or laser pen, is a small visible laser device designed to highlight something of interest by projecting a small bright spot of coloured light onto it. They are usually portable, low-powered, battery-operated, hand-held laser devices. Laser pointers are commonly designed to look like a pen.
Safe laser pointers
It is strongly recommended that alternative presentation tools are used instead of laser pointers. However, if an alternative method is not possible, laser pointers used in the University must meet the following conditions. You must ensure:
- the laser pointer classification is Class 1 or Class 2
- the laser pointer is purchased from a reputable manufacturer or supplier. Higher powered devices can be cheaply and easily bought from the internet and from local retailers. In some cases the actual power output does not correspond with the information provided and can be significantly higher and very dangerous. If you are buying laser pointers for work, refer to the buying work equipment: health and safety considerations
- the laser pointer is not 'home-made'
- the laser pointer has not been modified in any way, for example optics added to focus the beam
- the laser pointer is only used for presentation purposes
Higher class laser pointers are strictly prohibited because the power output can cause significant eye damage and flash blindness. If the laser class is unknown or it is suspected that it may be greater than a Class 2, do not take unnecessary risks and do not use it. A laser pointer toolbox talk (.pdf) has more information on the harm from powerful laser pointers.
Laser pointers used in a malicious way or used for recreational purposes can present a significant risk to health and safety and is also prohibited. Unsafe laser pointer behaviour must be reported to the UNIRPA using the Health and Safety Incident Reporting procedure and forms.
Advice is available from the UNIRPA if you are unsure.
How to use it safely
- Consider an alternative presentation tool or aid.
- Use laser pointers that are Class 1 or Class 2. The laser pointer should be correctly labelled for the class. See AURPO's guidance on correct labelling for laser devices (Appendix 10) (.pdf). If your laser pointer does not have hazard labels, or you believe the labels are incorrect, do not use the device.
- Follow the manufacturing safety instructions.
- Restrict use to the owner only.
- Store the pointer securely, ideally with the batteries taken out.
- Carry out a visual check of the room before the presentation to ensure there are no reflective surfaces which might divert the beam back into the audience or towards the presenter, eg. mirrors, chrome fixtures and fittings, white boards.
- Switch the pointer off and put it down when it is not in use.
Examples of unsafe practice
- Allowing others to borrow the laser pointer, especially children.
- Directing the beam towards the audience.
- Looking into the laser aperture when it is off or on.
Further information
