Laser Safety Barriers:

1
Laser Safety Barriers Control Measures of the
3rd Kind
Prepared for 4th Annual Laser Safety
Officer Advanced Training Workshop July 15-17,
2008
2
How does ANSI Z136.1 define Laser Barriers?

• LASER BARRIER "A device used to block or
  attenuate incident direct or diffuse laser
  radiation. (ANSI Z136.1)
• Laser Barriers are a PHYSICAL CONTROL MEASURE
• Free standing screens, typically on wheels
• Track mounted curtains or barriers with track
  rollers
• Floor-mounted, immovable screens
• Other similar
• Laser Barriers are considered as a LAST RESORT

3
How does ANSI prioritize Laser Barriers in the
control measures hierarchy?
Laser Safety Risk

• Exposed Beam
• Potential for Exposed Beam

Engineering Controls

• Enclosures
• Interlocks

Administrative Procedural

• Signage
• Work Procedures

Physical Controls

• Screens
• Curtains

4
How not to proceed.
Laser Safety Risk
Engineering Controls
Administrative Procedural
Physical Controls

• Barriers
• Curtains

5
How does the LSO confirm the use of Laser
Barriers as a control measure?
Safeguard an Entryway (Section 4.3.10.2.2)
Surround the Laser (Section 4.3.1.1)
Door latches or room interlocks are not feasible.
No protective housing and when AELs exceed safe
limits.
Permanent or Fixed Conditions
Entry into NHZ is required (during routine
service or maintenance, for example)
Protective housing is removed or interlocks are
defeated and when accessible laser radiation
exceed MPEs.
Temporary Conditions
6
How does the LSO choose a Laser Barrier
configuration?

• Identify area needing to be enclosed.
• Confirm Engineering, Procedural, and
  Administrative Control options have been
  exhausted.
• Calculate power density for point source
  intrabeam and point source diffused laser outputs
  at closest distance to barrier.
• Select a value reflecting operational reality
  and use that to determine which laser barrier
  provides adequate protection.
• Evaluate desire to temporarily remove barrier vs.
  need to establish permanent barrier.

7
Finally, what else should be considered in
defining a Laser Barrier system?

• Clean room compatibility
• CE certification
• Floor mounted, ceiling mounted, free-standing or
  removable designs
• Simple light blocking non-laser protection vs.
  laser attenuating barriers
• A free-standing laser pod design
• Barrier interlocks
• Illuminated signage
• Need for access and frequency of access
• Need for valances at ceiling or skirts at the
  floor
• Hardware requirements
• Ease of installation

8
Who can you contact? What do they offer?

• We will distribute marketing materials from these
  manufacturers indicating the laser barrier and
  containment products they offer
• Kentek Corporation
• LaserVision
• Rockwell Laser Industries
• Wilson Industries

9
Questions?