What is the Laser Safety Program?
The three-fold purpose of the Laser Safety Program is:
- 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.
- To effectively comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and ANSI standards concerning laser use.
- 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.