Photonics Pointers

Kris Sweet

The increasingly widespread use of lasers in a variety of applications and fields will require more people to become familiar with this valuable tool – and with its potential hazards.

The basic approach of virtually all laser safety standards has been to classify lasers by their hazard potential. The (ANSI) Z136.1 (2000) Safe Use of Lasers standard from the American National Standards Institute, for example, places lasers into four classes, with Class 4 being the most dangerous. Laser manufacturers must label all laser systems sold in the US accordingly…