Overview of the Laser Safety Program
Contact: Greg Herman, gsh12@psu.edu814-865-6391

Every person who works with lasers at Penn State must first complete the on-line EHS general laser safety training and quiz. A record of your on-line training will be saved to the EHS data management system upon successful completion of the quiz. After the EHS general laser safety training you must receive laser specific hands on training from the supervisor or supervisor designee for each laser you are going to use. You must be trained in the laser specific Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which includes the hazards associated with that particular laser and the hazard controls put in place for your protection. This training will be documented by the supervisor or designee by entering your PSU CAC ID with the laser ID # into the EHS data management system.

Each professor who supervises a laboratory that uses lasers must complete the on-line EHS general laser safety training and quiz. The professor is responsible for ensuring that personnel, equipment, and laboratory are in compliance with PSU Safety Policy SY17. The professor must register all class 3B and class 4 lasers with EHS. This includes lasers with classes other than 3b or 4 that contain class 3b or 4 lasers. Laser registration can be completed through the EHS data management system.

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for each laser registered must be written. A Standard Operation Procedure outline is located on the EHS laser web site. Use it as a template to ensure that all safety aspects of the laser have been addressed. EHS must review and approve the SOP. This SOP is to be placed in a binder and kept in the general vicinity of the laser. This binder will also contain a list of trained laser uses for the laser.

After the laser SOP’s are written the professor is responsible for making sure that all laser users have completed the EHS general laser safety training. The professor must then facilitate the laser specific SOP training for each laser user. This must be documented by entering the laser users PSU CAC ID and the laser ID# into the EHS data management system. A print out of all users trained on this laser can then be printed out and put in the binder with the laser SOP.

The professor is responsible for instituting all personal protective equipment requirements, engineering controls, and administrative controls as specified in the SOP. EHS will review the SOP to ensure that it complies with Safety Policy SY-17.

EHS has incorporated a designee/ alternate role in the EHS data management system that gives a professor the ability to assign an individual to perform the tasks required to meet the laser safety program needs. This can be done through the EHS data management system. Although the ultimate responsibility for laser safety is the professors, the designee role frees them up from the mundane tasks involved to allow better use of their valuable time.

Greg Herman, July 2005