Laser Safety Policy

It is a formal requirement of the University that all Departments which have equipment containing class 3B or class 4 lasers have nominated Departmental Laser Safety Officers. It is the responsibility of the Dean to appoint an appropriate person in this capacity. It is recommended that the S c h o o l / Departmental Safety Officer should be consulted on this appointment. Guidance on the t r a i n i n g a n d competency of a Laser Safety Officer is given in Section 2.3.

Implementation of the University Laser Safety Policy within a particular Department lies with the Dean. The Dean should be satisfied that all relevant staff within their area of responsibility are aware of this policy.

This document forms part of 含羞草视频’s Health and Safety policy Version 2; January 2016 Page 4 of 8 The Dean is responsible for ensuring the implementation of this policy, that staff receive relevant training and that the implementation of this policy is monitored by appropriate means.

The Dean is also responsible for ensuring that the Laser Safety Officer has sufficient time and resources to discharge their role.

When appointing persons as Laser Safety Officers, serious consideration should be given to the amount of time necessary to adequately carry out the associated duties together with the persons existing duties. Where necessary, some of the persons existing duties, may need to be transferred to another person/post.

The Departmental Laser Safety Officer is an advisory and monitoring role. The responsibility for ensuring that information provided is incorporated into risk assessment, that risk assessments are carried out and complied with rests with the Academic Supervisor (see Section 2.5).

Persons appointed to the role of Laser Safety Officers should be sufficiently competent through experience and/or qualification to carry out the role. Alternatively they should be willing to undertake training (when necessary) in order to reach an acceptable level of competence. They should also be of sufficient seniority and experience to be able to carry out their duties in relation to laser safety with the recognised authority of the Dean.

Deans shall ensure that the University Health, Safety and Risk Manager is kept informed of the current nominated Laser Safety Officer for their department.

A full list of Departmental Laser Safety Officers and their contact details are available here.

Departmental Laser Safety Officers shall, as a minimum standard, have undertaken the University two day laser safety training course, or hold a formal qualification demonstrating competency in the safety and use of equipment containing class 3B or class 4 lasers.

The appointment of a Laser Safety Officer shall be considered as probationary by the University, until they have completed the basic University two day laser safety course (or the equivalent Public Health England (PHE)/LU laser safety course). This course should normally have been completed within 4 months of appointment.

The primary role/duty of Laser Safety Officers is to ensure the safe use of lasers throughout their designated Department, on behalf of the Dean. The Laser Safety Officer will ensure lasers are used in line with sector safety guidance and relevant British Standards. (See; “Technical references and further reading”). They will act as a source of advice on laser safety to staff and students whose work involves the use of laser equipment. They will liaise between the Department and the University Health and Safety Service on laser safety issues.

The specific duties of Laser Safety Officers shall be determined by the Dean, to suit the particular needs of the area. These shall be clearly documented and formally accepted by the nominated Laser Safety Officer. 

Typical Duties

undertake appropriate training to an appropriate level of competence, thus enabling them to discharge their duties;

•  be fully familiar with the University’s Laser Safety Policy and assist the D e a n to develop, implement and periodically review their local rules, procedures and policy;
• be responsible for advising on, or co-ordinating internal laser safety training required by research workers to ensure that adequate safety information, instruction and training is provided to laser users and any other laser area personnel;
• keep an inventory of all equipment containing high powered lasers (class 3B and 4), used in their Department and update the Un iv ers it y Health and Safety Service whenever new lasers are purchased or where there are changes in location or changes in existing arrangements, which are liable to affect the risk in the use of a laser system;
• monitor that all laser equipment and processes within their area are maintained in a safe condition and in compliance with appropriate statutory requirements;
• liaise with the University Health and Safety Service and the Laser Safety Adviser to establish risk assessment procedures, safe working practices and to ensure compliance with the University Laser Safety Policy;
• oversee/review risk assessments for laser work areas and establish safe working procedures;
• advise Research Supervisors who use lasers, on risk assessments and engineering and administrative controls;
• monitor that safe working practices based on risk assessment are adopted locally, especially for postgraduate work, (in view of the fact that many postgraduate students generally work without direct supervision);
• participate in audits carried out by the University Health and Safety Service as necessary;
• attend and contribute to the Departmental Health and Safety Committee;
• refer promptly to the Head of Department or University Health and Safety Service, any health and safety problems which cannot be resolved in a timescale appropriate to the risk;
• act with the delegated authority of the De an in matters of urgency relating to laser safety.

Academic supervisors carry personal responsibility for carrying out risk assessments whenever using lasers as part of their teaching or research duties.

It is the responsibility of individual academic supervisors to provide adequate instruction and supervision of their students (both postgraduate and undergraduate) to ensure they are working in a manner which is safe, and compliant with the risk assessment.

Responsibility for complying with the Laser Safety Policy rests initially with the Academic Supervisor and ultimately with the Dean.

To ensure there is a source of professional, impartial advice on laser safety, the University Health and Safety Manager will appoint a Laser Safety Advisor. The Laser Safety Advisor will provide advice to the University Health and Safety Service and to Laser Safety Officers on request.

The Laser Safety Advisor will undertake inspections of laser installations and advise on laser operation, practices and procedures etc. as requested by Laser Safety Officers or the University Health and Safety Service. The Laser Safety Advisor will provide advice to the Laser Safety Technical Group via the group meetings.

To ensure consistency in compliance with laser safety requirements and encourage the dissemination of good practice in this field, the University Health and Safety Manager will convene a meeting of the Laser Safety Technical Group on a quarterly basis.

Terms of Reference

Membership of the group shall consist of the Laser Safety Adviser, the University Health and Safety Officer (or nominee), the University Radiation Protection Officer and all Departmental Laser Safety Officer’s.

The technical group will meet 4 times per academic year.

• The technical group will endeavour to ensure that consistent standards are achieved throughout the University and in particular, that compliance with statutory requirements and relevant Codes of Practice and standards are achieved.
• The technical group will provide a forum for technical discussion on safe working with lasers in line with new or proposed legislation or sector guidance.
• The group will provide a forum for the development of consistent standards of working including safe operational procedures and the development of guidelines for approved schemes of work .
• The group will consider the implications of all incidents and injuries caused by exposure to laser radiations and other aspects of laser use.
• The meetings of the technical group will be minuted and details passed to the Health, Safety and Environment Committee.
• The technical group will also consider progress made and where necessary, report to the Health, Safety & Environment Committee, where it appears that policy changes are required.

To liaise with, and adequately support the University Laser Safety Advisor, Laser Safety Officers and the Deans in respect of laser safety matters.

To arrange and facilitate quarterly Laser Safety Technical Group meetings and to report the minutes and details of the meetings to the University Health, Safety and Environment Committee on a regular basis.

Regularly review and amend the University Laser Safety Policy.

To maintain a centrally held register of all equipment containing high powered lasers (class 3B and 4) used in Departments. The University Health and Safety Service is to be updated by Laser Safety Officers whenever new lasers are purchased or where there are changes in location or changes in existing arrangements, which are liable to affect the risk in the use of a laser system.

A generic title adopted by the University that refers to the person within a Department who acts as the main focal point for laser safety matters as detailed in this document. Post holders will be members of the Laser Safety Technical Group.

A nominated post which has a responsibility to Supply technical guidance or information to the University Health and Safety Service or to Departmental Laser Safety Officer’s as required. The post-holder will be a member of the Laser Safety Technical Group.