When it comes to laser safety the ideal solution is to remove the hazard and completely enclose it. Using equipment such as beam dumps, optical table barriers and beam tubes all play an important role in minimising the hazards within a controlled laboratory. However, it is not always possible to fully contain the hazards of the optical table, which means you need to rely on additional controls to deal with the hazards of an open beam.

In laboratories where the beam/s from Class 3B and 4 laser products can be accessed it is important to ensure that access to the area is controlled with an appropriate interlock system and containment products such as laser safety curtains or screens.

Users should be equipped with appropriate PPE before entering a controlled area; however, one thing people sometimes overlook is the hazard that is posed by laser emissions that are below the Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE).

Exposure to visible laser emissions that are below the MPE can still cause serious injury or create additional hazards in a laboratory due to ‘dazzle’. If someone is carrying sensitive or hazardous items/equipment is dazzled by a low power laser beam they could drop the equipment - potentially damaging the equipment and/or creating additional hazards such as broken glass, spilled chemicals, etc.

By using beam blocks, enclosures, curtains and screens you can help protect people from unexpected exposure to laser emissions even if the emission levels are generally considered safe. NewSpec offers a range of laser safety containment products from Kentek that are fully compliant with the Australian and New Zealand Standards.

Please contact our laser safety officer, Andrew Gibson-White, to discuss all your laser safety requirements.