Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Slater24187  
#1 Posted : 16 December 2010 07:30:04(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Slater24187

HI, I need some advice with regards to laser safety, we have had 2 lasers installed. The lasers will form a laser show. My concerns is that the lasers have been fitted at approximately 1 meter from the ground. When testing the show the lasers although are continuously moving are directing towards the public area. The wattage of the lasers are 3.4 & 2.8 milli watts. I am looking at HSG 95 and see that lasers should be installed at 3 meters height. So my concern is. At present is there a risk of laser damage to peoples eyes? I understand this is difficult to gauge without actually seeing the show but I'm no laser expert and require a little advice. Thanks Paul
bob youel  
#2 Posted : 16 December 2010 09:47:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
bob youel

what rating are the lasers?
goose  
#3 Posted : 16 December 2010 14:42:17(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

At those energies they may be class II lasers, you will need to consider what may happen if the display stops and the beam is left facing the public.
johnld  
#4 Posted : 16 December 2010 14:53:55(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
johnld

Before I retired I worked in the HE Sector and regularly had requests from the Students Union for Laser Displays in their dance hall These requests were always refused unless they were able to demonstrate they could comply with HSG 95. On one occasion we discovered that the calculations which had been made by the display company were incorrect and could have put the audience at risk had the show gone ahead. The other consideration is that the natural blink reaction is decayed when alcohol is consumed.
jay  
#5 Posted : 16 December 2010 16:26:31(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jay

The first thing to do is to establish what "class" of laser is being used. More details at:- http://www.hpa.org.uk/To...sersFAQs/laser_FAQSafety Please note that the Control of Artificial Optical Radiations Regulations 2010 (AOR) that came into force in April 2010 now are specific unlike the information in the HPA guidance that precedes the AOR http://www.hse.gov.uk/ra...nising/employers-aor.pdf
Reed21854  
#6 Posted : 17 December 2010 10:59:45(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Reed21854

Hello there I would ask for some further information from the Company putting on the laser show, in particular ask about how much experience they have in lasers. They should be able to provide you with some measurements they have taken and a safety plan which gives details of the different systems being used including the laser classification, the approximate distance from the audience, the wave length mesured in nm and verification of light measurements in mW. The key with laser safety is making sure that the system is safely programmed so that the beam of light is always projected above the audience heads. If the Company cannot provide you with this sort of detail I would be very wary about their competence. It is a crazy situation but you can "dry hire" lasers without a trained operator, which is something best avoided.
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.