Appendix B: Laser Safety Tips

• Locate beam at waist level or below. Don't place beam at eye level.
• Close and cover your eyes when stooping down around the beam ( where you will pass the beam at eye level).
• When leaning over a table, beware of beam directed upward.
• Enclose as much of the beam as possible.
• Don’t direct beam toward doors or windows.
• Terminate beams or reflections with beam with fire-resistant beam stops. Anodized aluminum or aluminum painted black (which is not necessarily fire-resistant) can work well for this purpose.
• Use surfaces that minimize specular reflections.
• Locate controls so that the operator is not exposed to beam hazards.
• Make sure warning/indicator lights can be seen through protective filters.
• If you can see the beam through your laser eyewear, you are not fully protected.
• View applications remotely.
• Don’t wear watches or reflective jewelry around Class 3B or 4 lasers.
• Don’t wear neckties around Class 4 open beam lasers.
• In reality, all interlocks are defeatable.
• The best defense is good understanding of the hazards.

Alignment

• Isolate process.
• Use lowest practical power.
• View diffuse reflections only.
• Use IR/UV viewing cards/eyewear.
• Where possible, use HeNe alignment lasers.

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