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Laser Safety Accordion

Laser Safety

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   Lasers are possessed and supervised by a Laser Custodian.  The Laser System Safety Officer (LSSO) manages Lasers, Custodians, and Workers across the entirety of NPS by a Laser Permit System.   The Laser Permit assigns ownership and inventory responsibility. It may authorize the use of lasers at specific locations. Custodians may also request that Laser Workers be added to their Permit for their equipment.  All class 3B and 4 lasers at the Naval Postgraduate School, must be Permitted for ownership, and Authorized for use.  The following items are to be completed prior to a Permit being issued for ownership of a class 3B or 4 laser:


   There are several additional steps that must be documented to turn a laser on at NPS.  All Class 3B or 4 Laser at NPS must conform to ANSI Z163.1 -2014 "Safe Use of Lasers," ANSI Z163.5 "Safe Use of Lasers in Educational Institutions," and ANSI Z163.8 - 2012 "Safe Use of Lasers in Research, Development and Test". Custodians are strongly encouraged to review ANSI Z136.1-2014 excerpts on Engineering and Administrative Controls for the subject class of laser, as those excerpts outline nearly all the site required controls. Once these items are nearly completed, consider contacting the LSSO to begin work on all of the following:  

Becoming a Laser Worker is relatively simple:

  • Identify and obtain permission from the Custodian to use their lasers
  • Have the Custodian contact the LSSO to update the permit
  • Complete the Initial Laser Safety Training
  • Pass the Initial Laser Safety Quiz (available on Sakai by request of the LSSO) with better than 70%.
  • Complete a Baseline Eye Exam.
  • Complete the specific training your Custodian requires for use of the laser systems.  Ensure the training is documented in the Laser Firing Log. 

Upon completion of these items, the Custodian will receive and sign an updated permit. Upon receipt of this update, you are free to use the lasers as directed by the Custodian.

Custodians should contact the LSSO with as much of the following information as can be obtained in order to complete the registration form:

  • Laser Manufacturer, Make or Model, and Serial Number
  • Lasing Medium (e.g. Nd:YAG, He-Ne, etc.)
  • Operating Wavelength  (e.g. 633 nm, list all parameters for each if more than one)
  • Maximum Power at which the laser could operate (e.g. 600 mW)
  • Laser Hazard Class (e.g. Class 3B)
  • Operating mode of the laser: Continuous Wave, Single Pulsed, or Repetitively Pulsed
  • If Pulsed
    • Pulse Energy (e.g. 50 microjoules/pulse)
    • Pulse Length (e.g. 10 nsec)
    • Pulse Repetition Frequency (if repetitively pulsed - e.g. 100 Hz)
  • Beam Diameter (e.g. 3 mm)
  • Beam Divergence (e.g. 1.5 mrad)

Initial Laser Safety Training

Initial Laser Safety Quiz (available on Sakai by request of the LSSO)

Annual Refresher Training - Please contact the LSSO for the latest annual refresher training.

Custodians and Workers using class 3B or higher lasers need to have an eye exam completed prior to first laser use at NPS.

Instructions for getting a Baseline, Exit, or Incident Eye Exam are here.


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