Laser Safety

The Laser Safety Program is established to facilitate and ensure the safe and knowledgeable use of lasers in laboratories, classrooms and the environment.

The Laser Safety Program is administered by EH&S’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) Z136.1-2014 Safe Use of Lasers, and other related regulations and standards. The program applies to all UW personnel owning, supervising, operating and working in the proximity to Class 3B or Class 4 lasers.

The required Laser Safety Program components are as follow: 

  • Laser registration 
  • Hazard assessment by the Laser Safety Officer (LSO)
  • Laser worker safety training
  • Written laser safety procedure 
  • Appropriate laser protective eyewear/PPE

Services available

EH&S provides the following services:

  • Laser registration
  • Laser worker safety training
  • Hazard assessment
  • Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Appropriate laser protective eyewear must be labeled with the wavelength(s) and its corresponding optical density (OD) for which protection is afforded. Please consult with the Laser Safety Officer before purchasing any laser protective eyewear.

Some vendors include:
Kentek
Noir
Laservision
Rockwell Laser Industries

 

Additional Information

Contact

Radiation Safety Contact

(206) 543-0463
Reference Files