Sylvia
I'll take the opportunity to comment on one piece of this, aside from what may or may not be in the latest standard. (I dont recall guidance
in earlier versions.)
One avenue is to disable (destroy) the laser so it is incapable of further use, particularly by those unaware of the potential
hazards. Otherwise, as many research lasers are very expensive pieces of equipment, an option that might be employed successfully
is reuse by knowledgeable parties. In this case, and consistent with the "golden rule", you may have a procedure where
another university is interested in obtaining your surplus laser, your LSO (you need one according to the standard for class 3b an 4
lasers), communicates with the LSO at the potentially receiving organization. Only when the other LSO indicates that he/she
feels that they are satisfied that they are ready or have sufficient plans to safely put the donated laser into service, that the requisite
paperwork and donation could occur. I have been on both the giving and receiving end of such transactions.
In any case one would be sure to remove the laser from your inventory and any other required registry depending where you reside.
Ken
Ken Kretchman, CIH, CSP, FAIHA
RETIRED EHS DIRECTOR FROM NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Speaking of lasers…is there anything about disposal?
Sylvia Tarin-Brousseau
Safety & Occupational Health Specialist
DEA Southwest Laboratory
Sent from my iPhone
D-CHAS listers,
I am working on a project that includes a table of ANSI Z136.1 classes of lasers. This standard was revised in 2022 (and costs $225!) I have a table for earlier versions, but I would like to update (as necessary) any details. My table
includes Class, Maximum permissible exposure (MPE), Maximum power, and “Safety precautions”. If someone has a copy of the 2022 standard, could you contact me “off-list”?
Thanks.
Dave
dfinster**At_Symbol_Here**wittenberg.edu
David C. Finster
Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry
Wittenberg University
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