Laser and Industrial Hygiene - Essay Example

Running Head: Laser; Industrial Hygiene Laser; Industrial Hygiene Name Institution Instructor’s name Subject Introduction Lasers have become part of everyday life, from scanners in the supermarket, laser pointers to powerful lasers that are designated for use in industries (Young, 2008). Emitting highly collimated monochromatic beam, these beams have been found to have extremely intense electromagnetic radiation mostly when they are energized. Moreover, this radiation emission travels over a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum; from the visible region of ultraviolet through to the infrared region. The emission from the lasers may be as a continuous wave or may also occur in pulses. The radiation produced by the lasers may damage the eyes and also the skin through absorption of heat (Young, 2008). Photochemical effects induces the damage, this is mostly with the ultraviolet region laser. The understanding of the Laser and its effects on health helps prevent injury. This is done by helping the laser user identify, control, and evaluate the potential hazards. It is therefore important that we understand the potential hazards that are associated with the laser as well as the injuries that can be caused by them. Then we can be able to take up the safety precautions to be able to avoid these injuries. Potential Laser Hazards According to the Harvard University radiation safety manual, the laser users encounter many hazards in their daily use of the laser. It is unless the users take up the safety precautions that they can be able to minimize the hazards that come with the laser; this can give significant effects (Shapiro, 1990). The lasers have been classified into four categories depending on the power that they are said to have as well as the potential danger of injury. This is according to the Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health (FDA/CDRH). In the category 4 is the industrial lasers, they are given that classification for being the most hazardous. However, potential hazards are dependent on the laser type, the wavelength as well as the use of the laser (Shapiro, 1990). Beam Hazards Diffuse reflection, direct beam, or the specula reflection coming from a laser can damage the eyes. The direct intrabeam exposures and also the specula reflections associated with class 3b and the class 4 lasers have more critical effects since they have been found to burn the skin, blind people, and they are also know for starting fires (Young, 2008). The class 4 laser’s diffuse reflections have also been found to cause these hazards. With the eyes, it has been found to cause the retinal or corneal burns mostly from acute exposure. Nevertheless, the extent and the location of the injury depend as had said earlier on the wavelength and the classification of the laser. The retinal injury may result from the chronic, exposures of excessive levels of laser radiations that are either visible or invisible. To control the eye hazards, one can use laser safety eyewear. The laser wear ought to be appropriate for a specific laser system or if not, it should have specific controls by other engineering safety. By so doing, you will have reduced the risk or eliminated the hazard of the laser to your health (Young, 2008). Another part at the risk of exposure is the skin where from acute exposures skin burns are possible, this happens under laser radiations of high levels. More emphasis on this hazard is given to the infrared region. Among the effects in the range ultraviolet wavelength are, skin reddening (erythema), accelerated skin aging, and skin cancer. To prevent the skin from these effects, one can always cover their skin with opaque materials shielding themselves against the reflections or the beam. Electrical Hazard In a laser system, it may be possible to access potentially lethal electrical hazards especially in the laser systems that are highly powered. Power supplies of high voltage as well as discharge capacitors are some of the components that present electrical hazards. According to the Lock-Out Tag-Out Program in the Harvard University, it is required that you implement this program when working with the electrical equipments that are energized. Most injuries that are caused by electrical hazards occur during the process of laser setting as well as components servicing; mostly when protective housing has been removed active therefore exposing. Laser electrical components should be handled by qualified personnel who again according to the OSHA lockout/Tag out standards should follow the standards set for servicing the laser systems (Shapiro, 1990). Hazardous Chemicals Some of the materials such as gases and chemical solutions used in the laser systems maybe toxic substances. Moreover, reactions that are laser induced happen to produce hazardous gases and particles within the laser system. For instance, the dyes used in lasing medium mostly for the dye lasers may be extremely flammable for they can be ignited by high voltage components. Some of the high voltage components are such as, high-powered infrared lasers, direct beams, specular reflections which are unforeseen visible or invisible. All these are capable of igniting any combustible materials in any laser operations (Shapiro, 1990). Controlling the Hazards To be able to control the laser hazards, there various things that the use of laser radiation depends upon these being: Laser classification the characteristics of the laser in operation the person operating the laser it is also determined by the general population within the operating laser According to ANSI (American National Standards Institute), the permissible exposure limits that they recommend are based on the retinal damage thresholds and the Len’s light concentration. They therefore have recommended that the maximum permissible exposure for the visible light should be based on a 7mm pupil diameter. This is considered the maximum opening for the iris. It is however recommend that one uses and maintains the exposure levels for below the maximum permissible exposure levels as practical (Shapiro, 1990). The American National Standards Institute recommends that anytime one is operating the laser, they should wear protective eyewear. Hazardous conditions that may result from operations related to laser operations or radiations requires that one wears the protective eyewear. The eyewear such as glasses helps by attenuating the intensity of the light from the laser thereby transmitting enough ambient light that is safe for visibility. Most literature shows that most of the injuries caused by the laser occur during the procedures of beam alignment. To avoid these injuries, there is great need to position the beam exactly and ensure that while performing the alignment protective eye wear is worn. Study shows that most alignment accidents/ injuries occur often with beam viewing. This is because aligning the beam with ultraviolet and infrared lasers requires viewing the beam indirectly (Young, 2008). More often than not, persons using visible beams get tempted to do object aligning with their eyes unprotected. Moreover, literature has shown that the research laser uses stand in the greatest potential for injury more so those who work with visible as well as performing the procedures of alignment. The level of risk can be minimized by the wearing of laser protective eye wear mostly during the alignment procedures. There are special alignment glasses that are available for beam alignment to be able to assist the users who wish to take off their protective glasses as the take on the precision alignment; the lenses help in filtering of the beam. These special glasses transmit a small percentage of the beam to enable them being seen as they strike the target, this is done by filtering the greater percentage of the beam which could have actually caused injury. The point to note from the ANSI literature is that laser users need to use alignment glasses to be able to prevent themselves from injury. And in the case where the alignment glasses are not available, there is need to use the regular protective eye wear are supposed to be worn (Shapiro, 1990). Conclusion Having examined the various hazards that are posed by the use of lasers, there is need to always be self protective. In an event that one suspects that they have been exposed to levels of laser radiation that are excessive, they need to notify a laser permit holder without wasting time. A notification to the RPO should be made immediately and a laser incident report filed. The essence of reporting the incident to the RPO is for him to investigate any exposures suspected to levels that are excessive of laser radiation; he then files a report to the radiation committee. Lasers have been termed as being extremely hazardous and therefore require special controls; these include protective housing with warning labels fitted properly, safety interlocks, an ignition indicator with a beam attenuator. There should also be viewing limitations and a manual cutoff point for the beams. There should also be a nominal hazard zone around the laser. This being the area considered to be most hazardous in the laser operations, areas that are outside the NHZ are safe and therefore should be better working points. Moreover, Radiation protective officers need to conduct laser hazard evaluation and review the manufacturers’ classification of the lasers as well as the laser systems. There should be routine inspections at laser working places to ensure that the control measures are effective and that the information is up to date. References Shapiro, J. (1990). A Guide for Scientists and Physicians. Massachussets: Havard UNiversity Press, Cambridge. Young, J. (2008). Laser Generated Airborne Contaminants Systems. Retrieved April 09, 2011, from Industrial Hygiene News: http://www.rimbach.com/scripts/Article/IHN/Number.idc?Number=29 Read More