Occupational Hazards in Healthcare Facilities

Occupational Hazards in Healthcare Facilities

Laser Hazards

Lasers used in material processing are usually high-power lasers that may inflict hazards to both the operator and the visitor. Strict safety rules must be followed to prevent such potential hazards. Once proper safety practices are followed, laser material processing is as safe as other material processing techniques.

The most common danger is the damage to the eye. Laser light, even at very low power level, can be much brighter than normal light sources. Laser light can be focused into smaller spot sizes by the lens structure of human eyes. Light in the range of 0.4 to 1.4 µm can be focused on the retina and cause damages, while light in the far infrared can cause thermal damage of the cornea. There are three major cases of eye damage (Osha.gov, 2012). The first is the direct beam damage in which the eye is within the light path. Since the beam is collimated, this is extremely dangerous. This usually happens during laser alignment. The second case is the specula beam damage in which case light from reflective surfaces is reflected into the eye. The reflected light can still be collimated and is as dangerous as the direct beam. Mirrors, metal surfaces, or even a wristwatch, and the like can all be the potential reflective surfaces that cause specula beam damage. The third is the diffusely reflected beam. These beams are usually diverged and are less dangerous than the previous two cases. But for high-power lasers used in material processing, even the diffusely reflected beams can cause damage to the eye and skin (Osha.gov, 2012).

Laser beams may do harm to skin in the form of skin burning. CW high-power lasers and pulsed lasers are especially dangerous for the skin, and even a short exposure in the beam can cause serious skin burning. Specula and stray beams are also dangerous in the case of high-power lasers. Skin absorption of laser energy is wavelength and intensity dependent. Far infrared and UV light are well absorbed while visible light has relatively higher reflection and transmission. For this reason, high-power CO2 lasers are more dangerous than Nd:YAG lasers at the same power level.

There are other potential hazards associated with laser material processing. Some of these risks are electric shock from the laser power supply, possible explosion of the pumping arc light tube, leakage of the gases and liquids used in laser system, and possible toxic vapor or powder in material processing, and the like (Osha.gov, 2012).

Due to the potential risks in laser material processing, installation of laser material processing system should be guided by the laser safety officer, only trained and qualified personnel should be allowed to operate lasers, and safety procedures must be followed in both laser operation and laser component disposition. Some good practices are:

Never put your eyes in the beam path.

Wear coats and suitable safety goggles in laser processing.

Minimize the hazards of reflected light: try to contain the laser ...