The Laser Safety Program facilitates the safe and knowledgeable use of lasers in University laboratories and classrooms, and ensures the protection of the environment. The Laser Safety Program applies to all UW personnel owning, supervising, operating, and working in proximity to Class 3B or Class 4 lasers.
Refer to the sections below and the Laser Safety Manual for guidance in maintaining a safe work environment when using lasers.
Requirements
The purchase or use of a new Class 3B or Class 4 laser must be approved by EH&S Radiation Safety. This includes devices on loan from the manufacturer or from another institution, and Class 1 microscopy station with an embedded Class 3B or Class 4 laser.
Follow the instructions on the UW Procurement website for submitting the laser requisition for EH&S Radiation Safety approval or contact the Laser Safety Officer for additional guidance.
Class 3B and Class 4 lasers at the University of Washington must be registered with the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Radiation Safety Office.
Additionally, if a laser system is classified as Class 1 or Class 2 but contains enclosed Class 3B or Class 4 lasers (e.g., in microscopes or laser cutters), those Class 1 and Class 2 lasers must also be registered.
Laser Registration Process:
- Submit Laser Registration: Log in to the UW EHSA-Laser Registration Portal. If the link does not work, please contact Radiation Safety.
- Submit Risk Assessment Form: For lab renovations, modifications, or the appointment of a new Principal Investigator (PI), the PI is required to complete and submit the Laser Risk Assessment form before proceeding with any lab adjustments as part of the registration process. Also, refer to the Environmental Health & Safety section of the UW Facilities Design Standard for layout requirements for Class 3B and Class 3 laser laboratories.
- Review and Risk Assessment: Upon receiving the registration and the completed Risk Assessment form, the Laser Safety Officer will review the submission and arrange a risk assessment session with the lab or Principal Investigator (PI).
- Finalize Registration: A completed laser registration will include a laser inventory tag, warning signage, and a risk assessment report, which will also address the appropriate laser protective eyewear, provided by the Laser Safety Officer.
- Approval and Inventory Update: After approval, the laser will be incorporated into the lab's inventory or added to the PI Laser Use Authorization (LUA).
Follow the instructions in the EHSA Guide: Laser Registration to register your laser in the EHSA database. If you are unsure of your registration status or LUA, please contact the Laser Safety Officer or Radiation Safety.
The laser supervisor must ensure personnel are adequately trained before allowing them to operate, maintain, service, or work in the vicinity of lasers. Training includes attending the EH&S Laser Worker Safety training, training on the specific laser equipment, and the Laser Safety Procedures used in the lab, provided by the supervisor, Principal Investigator (PI), or experienced user.
Information on specific laser applications is provided on the following focus sheets:
All Class 3B and Class 4 lasers must be inspected by the Laser Safety Officer before first use. Additionally, safety control measures will be discussed to ensure they can be operated safely and meet necessary requirements. For scheduling a hazard assessment or consultation, please contact the Laser Safety Officer.
New construction and renovation
All new laser labs and those undergoing renovation, refer to the Environmental Health & Safety section of the UW Facilities Design Standard and contact the Laser Safety Officer for additional requirements and guidance.
All personnel who work with lasers must be made familiar with the Laser Safety Procedure (or standard operating procedure) developed by the supervisor or PI.
The Laser Safety Procedure addresses alignments, maintenance, and normal operations procedures; all hazards; types of PPE, including laser protective eyewear; and emergency procedures associated with each type of laser(s) or experiment. This document is to be reviewed one year from the date of approval or as conditions warrant, whichever is the shorter time period.
Every two years, Principal Investigators (PIs) and Permit Contacts (PCs) at the University of Washington are required to review and inventory all Class 3B and Class 4 lasers in their possession or laboratories. A Laser Use Authorization (LUA) with the current inventory is sent to all PIs and PCs who have Class 3B and/or Class 4 lasers via email.
PIs and PCs can review and verify their registered laser inventory and LUA through the UW Environmental Health and Safety Assistant (EHSA) database.
Follow the instructions in the EHSA Guide: View and Verify Current Laser Inventory to review and verify your laser inventory in EHSA database.
Under no circumstances should Class 3B or 4 lasers be abandoned, disposed of as regular trash, or made available for public use due to concerns over the misuse of the laser system. Please contact Radiation Safety for guidance or to initiate proper sales, transfer, or disposal of laser equipment.
Before disposing of a laser, it must be disabled and verified as nonoperational, with a Radiation Safety Clearance Tag attached to the laser, before sending it to UW Surplus. Refer to the Preparing Radiation Items for Surplus for additional guidance on sales, transfer, or disposal of laser equipment.
Services available
EH&S provides the following services:
- Laser registration and purchase approval
- Laser worker safety training
- Hazard assessment
- Consultation
Additional Information
The UW Laser Safety Program is administered by the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Radiation Safety team to ensure the safe use of lasers and compliance with the requirements of the Washington State Department of Health WAC 296-62-09005, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z136 Laser Safety Standards, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) 21CFR – Subchapter J, Radiological Health, and other related regulations and standards.
Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (Chapter I, Subchapter J, Radiological Health)
Washington Administrative Code WAC 296-62-09005: Nonionizing radiation
(ANSI) American National Standards Institute’s Z136 series of laser safety standards. A copy of the standards is available at the EH&S Radiation Safety Office.
- ANSI Z136.1 Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers.
- ANSI Z136.8 Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Research, Development, or Testing.
- ANSI Z136.3 Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care Facilities.
Emergency response and reporting
UW personnel are required to submit an incident report to Environmental Health & Safety for any work-related event that results in an injury, illness, exposure to hazardous materials, property damage, or fire, regardless of the work location. UW personnel are highly encouraged to submit work-related near-miss events.
Visit the Incident Reporting page for more information.
Frequently asked questions
Laser protective eyewear must be clearly labeled with the specific wavelength(s) and its corresponding optical density (OD) for which protection is afforded and must comply with the ANSI Z136 standard for laser protective eyewear. Please consult with the Laser Safety Officer before purchasing any laser protective eyewear.
Laser protective eyewear vendors include:
Kentek
Noir
Laservision
Disclaimer: The use of laser protective eyewear is essential for safety and must be strictly adhered to as per the guidelines provided (ANSI). Improper use or selection of protective eyewear may result in inadequate protection and potential harm.