What is the Laser Safety Program?

The three-fold purpose of the Laser Safety Program is:

  1. To provide a Laser Safety Program to serve those Virginia Tech employees whose job duties require them to operate, maintain, or service a laser system.
  2. To effectively comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and ANSI standards concerning laser use.
  3. To prevent injury and death or property damage from using laser systems.

The primary tools of the Laser Safety Program (LSP) include:

  • Register all class 3b, 3r, and 4 lasers with EHS using the EHS SMS online system,
  • Consulting on engineering and administrative controls for identified hazards,
  • Educating about the potential biological effects of laser use,
  • Training in the proper use of laser systems.

The scope of the LSP includes all Virginia Tech employees whose job duties require them to:

  • Operate, maintain, or service class 3b or class 4 laser systems,
  • Service enclosed class 3b or class 4 laser systems, or
  • Align class 2 laser systems.