Non Ionizing Radiation Safety and Chemical Safety

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Non Ionizing Radiation Safety and Chemical Safety

• SK Dua, Ph. D., CHP, CLSO
• Bill Youngblut, MS, CIH, CSP
• Environmental Health Safety
• Florida International University

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Conceptualization

• Get EHS, and engineering professionals involved
  as early as possible.
• Before submitting grant proposal or budget.
• Help identify and correct potential problems.
• Time line issues for local, state, and federal
  safety environmental permits.
• Avoid budget over runs
• Avoid construction delays
• Avoid process startup delays
• Avoid fines

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Conceptualization

• EHS professionals involved should include
• Safety Engineer
• Fire Safety
• Environmental (Air, Water Waste)
• Radiation Laser Safety Officer
• Industrial Hygienist

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Disposal Recycle

• Environmental impact of battery and printed
  circuit board manufacturer and disposal.
• Heavy Metals (Lead, Silver, Gold, Platinum,
  Mercury, Copper)
• Solders, Flux Solder Flux residues
• Rinse water residue
• Airborne concentration levels in manufacturing
• Contain metals, resin
• Consult manufacturer or MSDS for more information
• Batteries Acids, lead
• Circuit board substrate Beryllium

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ORGANIZATION CHART MANAGEMENT IONIZING AND
NON-IONIZING RADIATION PROGRAM
Senior Management Vice President of Research
Alternate
Director, EHS Chairperson Radiation/Laser Safety
Committee
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Ionizing vs. Non-ionizing Radiation

• Ionizing Radiation
• Higher energy electromagnetic waves (X- gamma) or
  particles (alpha beta)
• High enough energy to pull electron from orbit
• Non-ionizing Radiation
• Lower energy EM waves (laser, radio TV
  broadcasting, cell phone, pagers, satellite,
  Microwave ovens, Power lines, Physical therapy-
  RF Diathermy
• Not enough energy to pull electron from orbit,
  but can excite the electron

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Laser Components
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Laser Devices

• The laser is a device, which produces a very
  intense and very narrow (collimated) beam of
  electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range
  180 nm to 1 mm.
• Laser devices are ranked by class (1, 2, 3a, 3b
  and 4) according to their energy or power, and
  hence, their potential to cause injury.
• Laser radiation exposure can cause injury to
• Eye and skin

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Laser Warning Signs and Symbols
American National Standards Institute
International Electro Chemical Society
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Posting Warning Signs

• The entrance door shall have laser label with
  warning sign and laser class.
• The entrance door shall have hazard
  identification chart.
• The entrance door to the laser lab shall have
  lighted sign, Laser in Use whenever laser is
  turned on. Work Management can arrange to install
  the signage. Expenses will be borne by the
  Department/PI. Whenever laser is in use visual or
  audible warning devices should be turned on.

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Laser Safety- Controls

• Engineering Controls
• Administrative and Procedural
• Protective Equipment

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Engineering Controls

• Protective Housings (All Classes). 
• Interlocks on Removable Protective Housings (All
  Classes)
• Key Control (Class 3b or Class 4)
• Viewing Windows, Display Screens, and Collecting
  Optics
• Remote Interlock Connector (Class 3b or Class 4)
• Beam Stop or Attenuator (Class 3b or Class 4)
• Warning Signs

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Administrative and Procedural Controls

• Post laser warning signs.
• Standard Operating Procedures (Class 3b or Class
  4). SOPs for class 4 shall be developed,
  documented, reviewed and approved by Laser Safety
  Officer
• Output Emission Limitations
• Education and Training (Class 3b, or Class 4).
• The laser shall have emergency shut off. It is
  preferred to have shut off both near the laser
  device and at a remote console

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Administrative and Procedural Controls Laser
Beams

• Laser beams, direct/diffused shall be properly
  shielded to prevent inadvertent exposure of eyes
  or skin.
• All beam alignments shall be performed at low
  power (class 1).
• When the lab door is opened the laser should
  either be shut off or reduced in power or should
  be adequately shielded to prevent injury.
• Laser beams should not be at eye level- while
  standing or seated.

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Procedures

• On-line Laser Safety Training
• Laser Purchasing Procedure
• Laser Registration with the State
• Laser Laboratory Inspection
• Laser Research Proposal Review
• Eye Examination
• Beam Alignment
• Laser Operation

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Protective Equipment

• Suitable personal protective equipment, e.g., eye
  protection glasses suitable for the laser
  power/energy and wavelength, will be used.
• Beam shutters/shields shall be available where
  required.

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Bioeffects
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Photochemical vs. Thermal Limits

• Shorter wavelengths in the visible (400 to 600
  nm) can produce chemical changes in retinal
  tissue destroying its functionality. These
  changes can occur for longer exposures and at
  lower levels than thermal burns. Photochemical
  sensitivity decreases with increasing wavelength.
  Both limits must be evaluated in classifying a
  product in the photochemical wavelength range.

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Laboratory Accidents

• 60 of laser accidents in the research setting
  happen during laser alignment, beam manipulation
• Almost all without the user wearing laser
  protective eyewear
• Why?
• Open beams
• - During alignment
• - Flexibility in calibration procedures
• - Experimental set up changes

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Some famous quotes from the laser users who do
not comply with the safety measures

• Dont insult my intelligence.
• Ill get it the work done one way or the
  other.
• That cant happen to me.
• 15 years working with lasers and I havent had
  an accident yet.
• Nothing bad will happen.
• Hey I have two eyes
• Trust me
• I know where the beam is
• All incidents should be investigated to enhance
  the environment, safety, health and quality,
  prevent recurrence, and reduce the possibility of
  severe trends

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Laser Safety- Non-beam Hazards

• Electrical Laser Generated Air Contaminants
  (LGAC)
• Collateral and Plasma Radiation
• Optical Radiation
• Fire
• Explosion
• Compressed Gases
• Laser Dyes
• All non-beam hazards shall be identified and
  prevented.

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Electrical Hazard

• Many laser systems use high voltage and high
  current electrical power. Reports of electrical
  shock, both fatal and non-fatal can be found for
  research, medical, and industrial settings.
• Preventative measures
• No Fluids used or placed near the laser system
• Label the laser system with the electrical
  rating, frequency and watts
• Proper grounding for metal parts of the laser
  system
• Assume all floors are conductive when working
  with high voltage

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Electrical Hazard-Preventative measures

• Provide such safety devices- rubber gloves and
  insulating mats
• Combustible components of the electrical circuit
  are short circuit tested
• Avoid Contact with electrical components.
  Capacitors that can contain electrical charge
  even after the laser is powered off. Discharge,
  short and ground each capacitor before accessing
  the capacitor area
• Inspect capacitor containers for deformities or
  leaks
• Avoid wearing rings, metallic watchbands and
  other metallic objects when working near high
  voltage environment
• Prevent explosions in filament lamps and high
  pressure arc lamps

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Electrical Hazard-Preventative measures

• Include in regular inspection verification of the
  integrity of electrical cords, plugs, and foot
  pedals
• Only qualified persons authorized to perform
  service activities access lasers internal
  components
• Do not work alone
• When possible, only use one hand when working on
  a circuit
• Develop and implement lockout/tagout procedures

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Laser Generated Airborne Contaminants (LGAC)

• High power lasers (beam irradiance of hundreds of
  W/cm2) upon interaction with substrates may
  generate aerosols, gases and vapors, called LGAC.
  These contaminants may adversely affect health,
  environment and materials, and must be
  controlled.
• LGAC are controlled by using proper air
  filtration systems. Local exhaust ventilation
  systems can effectively capture the air
  contaminants in close proximity to an emission
  source. General ventilation is used to reduce the
  concentration of the air contaminants not removed
  by the LEV.

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Collateral and Plasma Radiation

• X-radiation may be generated from electronic
  components of the laser system, e.g., high
  voltage vacuum tubes (gt 15 kV) and laser-metal
  interactions.
• Plasma emission created during laser-material
  interaction may contain sufficient UV and blue
  light.

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Optical Radiation Hazard

• There are several sources of optical radiation
  emissions which can cause eye injury and skin
  burn
• Ultraviolet light from discharge tubes
• Visible / infrared light from pumping lamps
• Blue light and UV emissions from interactions
  between high power laser beam and target material
• Intense bright light and thermal emissions from
  laser welding
• Preventative measures
• Shield the optical radiation by proper enclosure.
• Wear suitable personal protective equipment to
  protect eyes and skin.

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Fire Hazard

• A fire can occur when a laser beam (direct or
  reflected) strikes a combustible material such as
  paper products, plastic, rubber, human tissues,
  human hair and skin treated with acetone and
  alcohol-based preparations. The risk of fire is
  much greater in oxygen-rich atmospheres.
• The three components required for a fire to start
  are
• 1) a combustible material
• 2) an oxidizing agent
• 3) a source of ignition
• Keep these components physically separated from
  each other.

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Explosion Hazards

• Sources
• High pressure arc lamps, filament lamps and
  capacitor banks in laser equipment
• - Enclose in housing
• Metal dust collected in ventilation systems
• - Maintain properly

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Compressed Gases

• Hazardous gases (Cl2, F, HCl HF) are used in
  laser applications. Develop SOP for safe
  handling.
• Safety problems with compressed gases
• Free standing cylinders not isolated from
  personnel
• No remote shut off valve
• Incorrect labeling of cylinders gas lines
• Gases of different categories not stored
  separately
• No leak testing - Loose gas line fittings

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Laser Dyes and Solvents

• These complex fluorescent organic compounds in
  solution with solvents form a lasing medium.
• Concerns
• Dye Powders
• Carcinogens (benzo(a)pyrene)
• Toxic
• Little or no toxicity data
• Before mixing with solvent, concentrated dye
  powder inhalation or skin contact hazard
• Dye Solvents chemical and physical hazards
• Transport dissolved substances through the skin
• Flammable (Chlorobenzene, Cyclohexane, Methanol)
• Toxic (Benzonitrile, Dioxane, Dimethylformaldehyde
  )
• Carcinogenic (Chloroform, Dichloroethane,
  Tetrahydrofuran)

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Caution
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Radiofrequency Energy
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Electromagnetic Fields

• Whenever there is electricity, there are
  electric and magnetic fields, these are invisible
  lines of force created by the electric charges.
• Electric field (unit V/m) exists near an
  appliance that is plugged into and electrical
  outlet (even if it is turned off). Increases in
  strength with voltage.
• Magnetic field (unit A/m, Gauss or Tesla) results
  from the flow of current through wires or
  electrical devices and increases as the strength
  of current increases.

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Electromagnetic Fields

• Electric field can be easily shielded or weakened
  by conducting objects
• Magnetic fields are not weakened and pass through
  most materials and are most difficult to shield.
• Both fields weaken with distance from the source.
• Line sources of magnetic Field 1/d2
• Point sources of magnetic Field 1/d3

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Maximum Permissible Exposure Limits
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Power line magnetic lines are ELF rage of
spectrum
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