LIA TODAY - May/June 2014 Issue

LIATODAY THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE LASER INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

Volume: 22 21 No: 31 MAY/JUNE JAN/FEB 2013 2014

LASER SAFETY TRAINING: A VITAL COMPONENT FOR YOUR FACILITY’S SUCCESS

ILSC 2015: PREPARING YOU FOR THE CHALLENGES OF TODAY’S TECHNOLOGICAL ILSC 2013: EXPERIENCE THE ADVANCEMENTS AND THEIR WORLD’S LEADING LASER IMPACT ON LASER SAFETY SAFETY CONFERENCE

PG 6

PG 6

SUPPORT YOUR LSO & CHOOSE THE RIGHT EYEWEAR PG 8

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF MEDICAL LASER APPLICATIONS IN THE U.S. PG 8

FOCUS:

MEET THE NEW PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Laser Safety Medical Applications

PG 12

Photo provided by Laservision USA: Showcasing Laser Safety Eyewear

Laser Institute of America, America isthe the international society dedicated to fostering lasers, laser applications and laser safety worldwide.

13501 Ingenuity Drive, Suite 128 Orlando, FL 32826 Phone: +1.407.380.1553 www.lia.org

PG 12

ANSI

Z136.3

2011 SAFE USE OF LASERS IN HEALTH CARE IT’S NOT

JUST FOR THE OPERATING ROOM ANYMORE REVISED DOCUMENT ADDRESSES: • New Wavelengths • Audit Requirements & Procedures • Management Model for Diverse Use • Safety Concepts/Personnel Responsibilities • Lasers for Home Use • LSO’s Role in Rental Services • Sample Forms

LIA.ORG/ANSI.3 1.800.34.LASER PUBLISHED BY

2

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

www.lia.org | lia@lia.org

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

3

IN THIS ISSUE: FEATURES Laser Safety Training: A Vital Component for Your Facility’s Success

6

Support Your LSO & Choose the Right Eyewear

8

ILSC 2015: Preparing You for the Challenges of Today’s Technological Advancements and Their Impact on Laser Safety

12

Newly Revised ANSI Z136.1 Standard: Ensure the Safety of Your Facility

16

Corporate Member Profile: SCANLAB America, Inc.

18

Calendar of Events

4

Executive Director’s Message

5

President’s Message

5

Members in Motion

20 20

New Corporate Members

20

ASC Z136 Update

22

BLS Update

23

Laser Insights

24

JLA Editor’s Pick

25

LIA Announces

26

ADVERTISERS ABB, Inc.

11

ANSI Z136.1

17

ANSI Z136.2

18

ANSI Z136.3

2

ANSI Z136.8

22

Board of Laser Safety

23

CMLSOs' Best Practices in Medical Laser Safety

15

ICALEO 2014

25

ILSC 2015

10

IPG Photonics Corporation

28 3

Laservision USA

14

LIA’s EVALUATOR

11

LIA’s In-House Training

13

LIA’s Laser Safety Awareness Online Training

7

LIA’s LSO Online Training

19

LIA’s Medical LSO Online Training

24

LME 2014

21

PennWell (ILS)

19

PhotoMachining, Inc.

15

Photonics Media

15

TRUMPF, Inc.

27

LIATODAY

2014 LIA OFFICERS President-Elect – Robert Thomas USAF Research Laboratory

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

The editors of LIA TODAY welcome input from readers. Please submit news-related releases, articles of general interest and letters to the editor.

Mail us at LIA TODAY, 13501 Ingenuity Drive, Suite 128, Orlando, FL 32826, fax +1.407.380.5588, or send material by email to lia@lia.org.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Laser Safety Officer Training Dec. 2-4, 2014

Orlando, FL

Laser Safety Officer with Hazard Analysis*

Past President – Klaus Löffler TRUMPF Laser & Systems GmbH

Sept. 8-12, 2014

Washington, DC

Secretary – Lin Li The University of Manchester

Oct. 20-24, 2014

San Diego, CA

Nov. 3-7, 2014

Dallas, TX

Treasurer – Stephen Capp Laserage Technology Corporation

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief – Peter Baker Managing Editor – Michelle Williams Copy Editor – Barbara Sams

Kentek Corporation

4

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE LASER INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

President – Yongfeng Lu University of Nebraska – Lincoln

DEPARTMENTS

Member Innovations

LIATODAY

LIA TODAY is published bimonthly to educate and inform laser professionals in laser safety and new trends related to laser technology. LIA members receive a free subscription to LIA TODAY and the Journal of Laser Applications® in addition to discounts on all LIA products and services.

Contributing Editor – Geoff Giordano

BUSINESS STAFF Publisher – Jim Naugle Advertising Sales – Andrew Morrison If you are interested in advertising space in this newsletter or a subscription, call +1.407.380.1553/1.800.34.LASER or email advertising@lia.org.

*Certified Laser Safety Officer exam offered after the course.

Laser Safety Officer Training for R&D Aug. 12-14, 2014

Medical Laser Safety Officer Training* Sept. 6-7, 2014

Washington, DC

Oct. 18-19, 2014

San Diego, CA

Nov. 1-2, 2014

Dallas, TX

*Certified Medical Laser Safety Officer exam offered after the course.

Lasers for Manufacturing Event® (LME®) Sept. 23-24, 2014

Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the professional society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications and laser safety worldwide.

We believe in the importance of sharing new ideas about lasers.

In fact, laser pioneers such as Dr. Arthur Schawlow and Dr. Theodore H. Maiman were among LIA’s original founders who set the stage for our enduring mission to promote laser applications and their safe use through education, training and symposia.

LIA was formed in 1968 by people who represented the heart of the profession – a group of academic scientists, developers and engineers who were truly passionate about taking an emerging new laser technology and turning it into a viable industry.

Whether you are new to the world of lasers or an experienced laser professional, LIA is for you. We offer a wide array of products, services, education and events to enhance your laser knowledge and expertise. As an individual or corporate member, you will qualify for significant discounts on LIA materials, training courses and the industry’s most popular LIA conferences and workshops.

We invite you to become part of the LIA experience – cultivating innovation, ingenuity and inspiration.

MAY/JUNE 2014

Schaumburg, IL

International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO®) Oct. 19-23, 2014

San Diego, CA

Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM®) Workshop Mar. 4-5, 2015

ABOUTLIA

Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL

International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC®) Mar. 23-26, 2015

Albuquerque, NM

Visit www.lia.org for all course and event listings.

President’s Message

Executive Director’s Message

Desired Result----Nothing!

Dear LIA members and LIA TODAY readers, I love the summer, probably because I live in Nebraska and work at a University (no classes in the summer). With clear skies, bright sunshine, and lightweight clothes, summer gives us a sense of freedom and hope. With the first quarter closed and the second quarter coming to an end, it is time to take a break and even plan a vacation.

Whether we are on the job or on vacation, one thing is common—the importance of safety. I am sure you agree that LIA is a society for people who know how to use lasers and use them safely.

Not being an expert in laser safety, I am impressed by the amount of laser safety resources available to us. Because of that, we have made a strategic decision to dedicate this issue to laser safety. We have four articles featuring laser safety: Laser Safety Training: A Vital Component for Your Facility’s Success, Support Your LSO & Choose the Right Eyewear, ILSC 2015: Preparing You for the Challenges of Today’s Technological Advancements and Their Impact on Laser Safety, and Newly Revised ANSI.1 Standard: Ensure the Safety of Your Facility. If you’d like more information regarding laser safety beyond what is contained in this issue, feel free to contact LIA staff because LIA offers many laser safety short courses and laser safety officer training programs.

I recently read a news article that 28 lives were lost in Japan during vacations taken in the Golden Week, the first week of May, which is a vacation period for the nation. We tend to underestimate the value of safety until we see the price people have to pay when accidents occur. I am impressed by the wisdom of the LIA leadership and my predecessors who have invested tremendous time and effort into building up the resources for laser safety at LIA. I hope that you have had a good start to the New Year and that your research and/or business is gaining momentum this spring. I always feel that our overcommitted colleagues and friends should make it a point to take a few days off and enjoy the summer. See you soon at one of the future conferences.

As I see it, at the most basic level, laser safety boils down to: • • • •

Do not look at the beam.

For powerful lasers, do not let the beam hit your skin.

Do not sniff the fumes.

Do not put your hands in the power supply.

Of course, each of these simple instructions gives rise to a large hierarchy of further questions such as: • • • •

How do I determine when a beam can be harmful?

What is the effect of different wavelengths and pulse widths?

Which eyewear do I need to be safe?

Which fumes are harmful, which are not?

Over the last 40 years or so, the laser safety experts have conducted the necessary research to answer these and many more laser safety questions.

The resulting wisdom is captured in both ANSI and IEC Standards.

The ANSI Z136 series of laser safety standards consists of the fundamental Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers standard (updated in 2014, see pg. 16) then progresses through a set of more specific standards such as Z136.3 (health care) through Z136.9 (manufacturing). In order to understand and comply with the appropriate standards, laser safety training (pg. 6) is most valuable.

Of course, the laser industry is far from static. Our International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC®), held every two years (see pg. 12), provides a valuable forum for the latest research to be presented together with sessions on practical applications of this information.

We should all be grateful for the fine work done by our laser safety professionals. Unfortunately for them, their effectiveness cannot be measured directly in sales, profits or market share. When they are successful, what happens? ... Nothing! No deaths, no loss of eyesight, no burns, no lung problems, no lawsuits, nothing. And nothing is what usually happens. So, thank you, laser safety professionals, we appreciate your successful efforts!

Yongfeng Lu, President Laser Institute of America Peter Baker, Executive Director Laser Institute of America

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

5

FEATURED ARTICLE FEATURED ARTICLE

Laser Safety Training:

A Vital Component for Your Facility’s Success

BY GEOFF GIORDANO

After 15 years with LIA, Education Director Gus Anibarro has plenty of stories to tell from his experiences teaching hundreds of laser safety officers (LSOs) and laser users how to safely use these powerful tools.

He can tell you about the retinal damage and painful skin burns — and worse. He can tell you about the non-beam hazards, like compressed gas cylinders that have exploded and blasted through concrete walls. He can tell you how, while auditing laser equipment at a particular facility, he’s found lasers that hadn’t been accounted for in inventory.

“The most notable skin injuries are holes through fingers and third-degree burns,” he said during his safety presentation at the inaugural Lasers for Manufacturing Event® (LME®) in 2011. “I have heard of amputations when people have accidentally put their hand in the path of a beam. I have heard of people (who have) gotten a best-buy date marked right into their forearm.”

Preventing such dire events is the job of a proper laser safety program.

As more manufacturers and job shops utilize the speed and precision of lasers to boost profits, preventing harm to users is increasingly vital. A finely tuned risk-mitigation plan is essential for protecting employees in your facility, be it manufacturing or medical. Such a plan is one of the best “insurance policies” a facility can implement — particularly in the health care setting, where patients can be at risk of airway fires, or in a research environment, where custom-built lasers are common and must be accounted for.

When a company invests in lasers to bolster its production line, “the flipside is they’ve introduced a hazard into the workplace if the lasers are not enclosed,” Anibarro explains. “Now they have to mitigate those hazards.”

Toward that end, LIA’s comprehensive suite of laser safety and training solutions — from classroom and online courses to safety publications including the ANSI industry standards — is geared to help harried LSO’s avoid having to reinvent the wheel.

6

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

Keeping employees safe is more than just the right thing to do.

A sound safety plan helps keep workers on the job, avoiding lost productivity as well as potential workers’ compensation outlays.

The price of implementing such a program will be far less, in the long run, than the cost associated with repeated — and avoidable — injuries.

Then there are the regulatory imperatives. “Some states require that there be a laser safety officer where Class 3B and 4 lasers are present,” he explains. “Some states require that you register your lasers.” And, if OSHA investigates your facility, you want to be sure you’re complying with a safety standard.

“I’ve walked into places that didn’t have laser safety officers but did have a laser safety program in place — but because there wasn’t an LSO, nobody was really following the safety program,” Anibarro recalls. “So they got paid a visit by OSHA as a consequence of an accident.”

It is not entirely uncommon to see LSOs appointed when facilities unearth a potential hazard or suddenly realize they do not comply with a state regulation. In a course he taught recently, “there were people from places where the laser safety officer had retired or quit, so laser safety kind of went by the wayside and a new guy came in and said, ‘We have a hazard here.’ So all of a sudden, they are thrust into the position of LSO, so they come to one of our courses.”

It is at one of Anibarro’s courses that LSOs of all levels of experience learn the nuts and bolts of their jobs, from regulations to hazardcontrol measures like purchasing protective eyewear, curtains or barriers — and, of course, how to write a safety program by first creating a safety policy. “From there, you have to figure out what your program is going to look like, what it will cover, who is going to be trained and what the LSO will document.”

Usually, a company — whether a small shop or a large firm’s safety committee — will scrutinize a proposed laser safety program — which should include a plan for handling accidents, Anibarro says.

According to the ANSI Z136.1 standard in regard to laser safety programs, “management (employer) has the fundamental

responsibility for the assurance of the safe use of lasers owned and/or operated in facilities under its control. Management (employer) shall establish and maintain an adequate program for the control of laser hazards.” Further, “employer and/or facility safety programs and employee training programs shall be provided for Class 3B or Class 4 lasers and laser systems.”

An LSO is a key component to a successful safety program — and support from his or her employer is even more critical. “I went into one facility where the laser safety officer quit because he didn’t get the support of upper management,” Anibarro says.

“If the employer doesn’t give the LSO the responsibility and authority to monitor and enforce a safety program, the job of the laser safety officer becomes twice as hard.”

Not having an LSO to enforce a facility’s laser safety plan can give a false sense of security; he goes on to say, with many skin injuries going unreported. During one course, he recalls, an attendee thought Anibarro was “scaring” the class while educating them about potential laser hazards. The technician

was adamant that he had never suffered an eye injury — but then let on that he suffered numerous burns on his hands and arms.

“Minor as it may be, that is still considered an incident,” Anibarro notes.

At one facility he has visited, employees routinely put their hands into laser chambers to hold material to be welded — and burns are an acknowledged hazard of the job.

To be blunt: When a facility gives short shrift to its laser safety program, bad things happen.

“At one facility, they started having some issues,” Anibarro recalls. “Lasers were being moved around; nobody knew where they were. I found keys in the lasers when the keys should not have been in them. Safety protocol overall wasn’t being followed.

There’s an accident waiting to happen. And if an employee got injured, it would have cost the company some money.”

Convenient Training For All Laser Personnel Learn Learn basic basic physics, physics, biological biological effects, control control measures measures for for safe safe effects, laser environments, environments, and and beam beam and and laser non-beam non-beam hazards. hazards.

Understand Understand the the ANSI ANSI Z136 Z136 standards standards and and regulations regulations that that apply apply to to your your unique laser laser environment. environment. unique Access Access the the course course anywhere anywhere and and work work at at your your own own pace. pace.

The The course course administrator administrator is is able able to to keep keep track track of of all all records records and and certificates upon upon completion. completion. certificates Presented Presented by: by:

Laser Safety Awareness ONLINE TRAINING

www.lia.org/education 1.800.34.LASER

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

7

FEATURED ARTICLE FEATURED ARTICLE

Support Your LSO

& Choose the Right Eyewear

BY TOM MACMULLIN

Wear your eyewear when working with your laser! How many times have you heard that? Your Laser Safety Officer (LSO) can, and should be, your best friend and advocate. Your LSO can base selection of LEP on OD and wavelength, with a further understanding of the unique environments and individuals – to make better choices that are safer and user-friendly as well.

(Reference ANSI Z136.1-2014 4.4.4.2.2 Factors in Selecting Full Protection Eyewear.) Are you and your LSO working together? Remember, your eyes are in their hands.

Technology is Everything… Sometimes Let’s start with the most fundamental question: why do you even need laser eyewear? Our premise is that stricter adherence to the guidelines found in the ANSI Z136 standards would likely result in construction of more laser safe environments. Add a wall; put your laser in an enclosure; isolate laser work from other processes. If your laser lab does not need laser protective eyewear, then you will not worry as much if someone just doesn’t like to wear goggles.

If you include laser eyewear in your laser safety program, perhaps you will consider the coolest technologies on the market. Coated products, for which multiple layers of thin metallic films are applied onto a lens surface, fit this bill with the promise of high protection levels and excellent visible light transmission. However, some coatings are not durable and may scratch off. Other coatings do not provide adequate “angle of incidence” protection; that is, the coating layers must protect against stray radiation that impinges the lens at an angle away from the perpendicular. Current standards require 30 degrees of protection and some products are available with protection up to 40 degrees. If your product selection overcomes these concerns, you should also recognize that adoption of coated laser products creates two-legged mirrors — be sure that everyone in that room is wearing eyewear!

Safety at What Cost?

Perhaps you hear staff complaints that laser glasses are too heavy. This is where polymer eyewear comes in. Most of these products incorporate some form of polycarbonate lenses but other plastics may be used. The advantages in addition to weight include generally lower costs and an ability to shape

8

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

the product into more comfortable or more form-fitting designs.

The downsides: polymer lenses may carbonize if subject to a direct hit by a laser with high power density and then can be quickly penetrated by laser radiation. Also, dyes used in polymers may exhibit photochemical bleaching, a phenomenon in which the intensity of the laser radiation impinging on the dyes exceeds the ability of the material to absorb and dissipate the energy. The effect is to open a temporary window through the lens for the duration of the high intensity exposure. If your environment poses such risks, you may be able to overcome these phenomena by switching to filter glass products. The latest ANSI Z136 standards highly recommend glass eyewear for high-powered lasers.

There are other common drawbacks to polycarbonate laser eye protection. Plastic filters designed for multiple wavelength coverage are often very dark and may distort color recognition in the visible range. The effects are to worsen trip hazards or to camouflage indicator lights. Some LSOs specify two or more pairs of eyewear for complicated environments: we try to discourage this inclination whenever possible. Laser operators will neglect that second pair and try to align a laser without eye protection. Or, worse, they will switch operating modes (think of all the wonderful colors you can get with a tuneable dye laser!) and will not switch out the eyewear.

Through the Looking Glass As much as we love coated eyewear products, we really love filter glass. Costs are usually reasonable. We can often cover multiple bands with a single filter or a combination of filters in a single spectacle. Visible light transmission is usually pretty good; if not, we will select a filter that enhances colors appropriate to a work environment. Glass filters generally provide superior thermal stability when compared to plastic filters and polycarbonate in particular.

Under high heat, however, glass will tend to splinter or shatter due to heat distortion. Glass filters should be treated or coated to hold the pieces together in the event of catastrophic failure due to a direct hit by the laser. It’s interesting to note that even a cracked glass filter provides some laser protection if the pieces remain intact. Look for the ANSI Z87 impact rating on your laser safety eyewear.

Filter glass eyewear, including some combinations with coatings, are the best solution for femtosecond (ultrafast) lasers.

Many technicians rely on the “M” ratings provided by testing

to the EN207 standard. It is our experience that this rating is typically adequate for picosecond pulses and is not appropriate for ultrafast lasers. Our practice is to have our customers test the filters in their environment with their specific femto laser operating conditions.

Just One More Thing What else can go wrong? You’re ANSI Z136 laser safe, right? Did you forget you need dust protection; you will likely then select a goggle. Maybe you need splash or full face protection; select a face shield or a wide and tall polycarbonate wrapping style.

Perhaps you have poor overall eyesight? Filter glass laser eye protection can incorporate a prescription in the lens; polymer

styles are available with clip-in or fit-over features for your vision correction lenses. Hot, sweaty workplace? Consider anti-fogging agents or coatings. Maybe the extra burdens are more serious.

Laser goggles with UV protection or glare reduction required for laser welding are available. We also now offer laser protection in combination with light duty X-Ray protection typically found in hospital operating rooms.

In the end, rely on the advice of your LSO. The LSO has your best interests, and your eyes, in their hands.

Tom MacMullin is President and General Manager of Kentek Corporation. For more information, visit www.kenteklaserstore.com.

Eyewear Materials Technology Selection Eyewear Performance Needs

Filter Glass

Polymer

Coated

Laminated and Combinations

Multiple wavelength coverage

Very good for standard wavelength combinations

A few good choices available

Best overall; product selection currently limited

Often the only solution for unusual combinations

Prescription (Rx)

Good choice; Rx may be in laser lens

Usually requires an adaptor

Good choice; Rx may be in Not typically used; laser lens in newer products thickness and layers impact the optics

Selective far IR wavelength coverage (e.g., 1540nm)

Best current choice

May not be possible depending on wavelength

Technologically feasible, requires custom design

Good choice if combining far IR with other wavelengths

Femtosecond (mode locked) coverage

Best current choice

Some new products emerging

Selective products work well

Selective products work well

Wide field of view

Larger lenses often too Molded single lens heavy products are best choice

Larger lenses often too heavy

Larger lenses often too heavy

8-hour shift wear

Excellent VLT; request Lowest weight; impactimpact resistance from resistant products supplier available

Excellent VLT; request impact resistance from supplier

Not typically used

High power protection

Best choice for direct laser impact

Excellent OD levels available; review each product for direct hit

Excellent OD levels available; review each product for direct hit

Excellent OD levels available; but not for direct hit

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

9

The world’s leading conference on

laser safety Conference General Chair: Benjamin Rockwell, Ph.D, Fort Sam Houston, TX USA Laser Safety Scientific Sessions (LSSS) Chair: John O’Hagan, Health Protection Agency, Didcot UK Technical Practical Applications Seminar (PAS) Chair: Thomas Lieb, L*A*I International, Elk Grove, CA USA Medical Practical Applications Seminar Co-Chairs: Vangie Dennis, Spivey Station Surgery Center, Jonesboro, GA USA Leslie Pollard, Southwest Innovation Solutions, Inc., Richardson, TX USA

Featuring: • Laser Safety Scientific Sessions – get the most updated information on laser safety • Technical Practical Applications Seminar – Participate in panel and hot topic discussions • Medical Practical Applications Seminar – Earn contact hours while experiencing cutting-edge presentations • Poster Presentation Gallery – Join presenters to share ideas!

Plan to attend the conference where safety professionals meet to review current industry standards and learn the latest in laser safety practice and hazard control.

www.lia.org/ilsc

10

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

SAVE THE

DATE

March 23-26, 2015 EMBASSY SUITES | ALBUQUERQUE, NM USA Presented by:

Robotic laser processing.

Superior quality, greater flexibility, lower capital costs.

ABB six-axis robotic laser welding and cutting solutions provide state-of-the-art functionality and greater flexibility at lower capital costs and smaller footprints than traditional laser automation.

ABB LaserWeld and LaserCut cells are the most advanced in the industry, delivering superior path performance, fast, precise motion, and unmatched quality control. Supported by proprietary software and automatic tuning and calibration tools, the cells allow the flexibility to easily and quickly change the product mix in response to evolving market demand. www.abb.com/robotics.

ABB Inc. (248) 391-9000 www.abb.com/robotics Eval Ad Half Page v2C.pdf sales.info@us.abb.com

3/14/11

9:04:21 PM

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Designed for Today’s LSO Enhanced Accessibility Easier Navigation Automatic Updates to System Save Time and Money!

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

11

FEATURED ARTICLE FEATURED ARTICLE

ILSC 2015:

Preparing You for the Challenges of Today’s Technological Advancements and Their Impact on Laser Safety

BY GEOFF GIORDANO

On the heels of significant revisions to two parent laser safety standards, the Laser Institute of America’s biennial International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC®) from Mar. 23-26 in Albuquerque, NM, will again showcase the best user practices in industrial and medical photonics applications.

Chaired again by Ben Rockwell from Fort Sam Houston, TX, ILSC 2015 promises to devote significant time to focusing on new guidelines in the just-revised ANSI Z136.1-2014 and IEC 60825 standards for laser safety.

Rockwell, general chair of ILSC since 2007, ensures that the conference has “topics from the very basic, fundamental laser safety — for example, the best way to do calculations, the best way to read select standards and make your personal interpretations and apply those standards — to very advanced topics like fume extraction, what the latest maximum permissible exposure changes are, and how those are relevant to the bioeffects that really occur in the human.”

ILSC will follow its traditional format of Medical and Technical Practical Applications Seminars (PAS) and Laser Safety Scientific Sessions (LSSS). The industry leading experts in charge of those educational tracks promise a hard-hitting slate of trailblazing content.

At least four key issues confront the laser safety community at the moment, said John O’Hagan, general chair of the Laser Safety Scientific Sessions. “The first is the huge problem of laser products being imported from emerging markets at costs considerably below standard market prices. This may sound like good news for purchasers; however, many of the safety features we may expect are absent. Indeed, some laser products are very dangerous — not only because of potential access to laser beams, but also mechanical and electrical safety issues.”

Second, he said, is the growth of the market for home-use lasers ranging from pointers to devices for all sorts of cosmetic applications. “In the past, the labels provided some indication of the power of the laser beam. There is a lot of experience now of products being mislabeled. Although individual countries or regions may try to regulate the supply of such products, enforcement is challenging. Products may be imported by consumers direct or bought while on vacation. If they are incorrectly labeled, do enforcing authorities have the capability to check the emissions? We are seeing injuries to children who have acquired high-power lasers or who have been given them by their parents.”

Thirdly are the challenges of ever more powerful lasers used in materials processing, O’Hagan continued. “Traditional methods of laser safety management may not be appropriate.

It is tempting to build fortresses around lasers, limiting their practical use. We need some lateral thinking to provide solutions that appropriately manage the risk.” Finally, he said, LSOs may be asked to comment on the safety of non-laser optical radiation sources. “The challenges are different, as are the risks, usually.

Applying standard laser safety control measures to non-laser optical radiation sources is often over-restrictive. ILSC provides an opportunity to share practical experience.”

For the medical sessions, co-chairs Vangie Dennis and Leslie Pollard promise to keep attendees abreast of the “fast-moving future world of lasers in the medical/surgical field.” According to Pollard, “the amazing technological advancements under way in laser technology, optoelectronics, biophotonics, biochemistry, minimally invasive surgical techniques, cell

12

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

biology, semiconductor technology and many other related areas will most certainly blaze the path and begin to incorporate the amazing characteristics of lasers and light technology.” Although lasers have been used in medicine and surgery for decades, “advancements in other areas of science and technology are beginning to allow laser technology to reach for potentials not available in the past. We have been patiently waiting for other technological advancements to allow us to truly engage the unique characteristics of laser light in medicine and surgery.

This amazing era of technological science advancement and synergy has begun.”

ILSC 2015 will “offer today’s medical/surgical laser professional insights and tools for the challenges of today as well as continue to prepare the medical laser safety officer, laser engineer and medical laser professional for technological advancements and their impact on patient applications, medical laser program efficacy and laser safety,” Pollard asserted.

For Technical PAS chairman Tom Lieb, “we want to emphasize the practical things people need to get their job done.” He intends to cover not only the new Z136.1 standard, but the recently published Z136.8 guiding the safe user of lasers in research, development and testing and the Z136.9 for manufacturing environments. He aims to illustrate “what separates them from what we’ve done in the past and what is critical information for carrying on work as an LSO in industry.”

Ultimately, “ILSC has provided an excellent networking opportunity over the years,” O’Hagan said. “Where else can you meet and talk with some of the most experienced laser safety professionals in the world in one place?”

To learn more about ILSC 2015 and to register, visit www.lia.org/ilsc.

ONS I TE T RA I N I NG BRING CUSTOMIZED

Laser Safety Training T O Y O U R FA C I L I T Y

To receive a quote, call today!

1.800.34.LASER

www.lia.org/education/inhouse

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

13

Laser safety CUrtaINs Widest Selection and Fastest Lead Time in the Industry for Custom Projects!

Laservision laser safety curtains are tailored to fit your laser application requirements.

Designed solutions include: • Protection levels:

20, 100, 200, 300 W/cm2 • Colors: black, grey, and white • Laser safety windows

• Clean room

Work Bench-Mounted Curtain Image courtesy of Newport

• Electrostatic Discharge

CeilingMounted Curtain

(ESD) protection • EN 60825-4 and EN 12254 rated versions • Installation options

Call or chat online with one of our Certified Laser Safety Officers today.

Ask us about our University & College Discount Program.

GSA Contract Holder GS-07F-0455X

Floor-Mounted Curtain

ISO Compliant

Optional Sign Pocket

©2014 Laservision USA, LP. All Rights Reserved.

LASER SAFETY: Eyewear

•

Barriers

•

Windows

•

Training

LASERVISION USA • info@lasersafety.com • www.lasersafety.com • 1-800-393-5565 14

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

Read the industry’s

LEADING

magazines

NEW for 2014!

Photonics news from your industry and your part of the world.

To subscribe, visit photonics.com/subscribe.

Available in print and digital formats.

To contribute to Photonics Media publications, submit a 100-word abstract to Managing Editor Laura Marshall at laura.marshall@photonics.com for consideration.

2014LeadingPubs_LIAtoday7.5x4.75.indd 1

2/28/14 9:24 AM

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

15

FEATURED ARTICLE FEATURED ARTICLE

Newly Revised ANSI Z136.1 Standard: Ensure the Safety of Your Facility

BY GEOFF GIORDANO

With the rollout of the updated ANSI Z136.1 parent standard for laser safety, the Laser Institute of America is updating its training courses to reflect the new guidelines, revised for the first time since 2007.

The new ANSI Z136.1 American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers is a must-have for several reasons, says Barbara Sams, executive director of the Board of Laser Safety (BLS®).

“If you have the 2007 version, you need the 2014 to take advantage of the substantial changes” such as new maximum permissible exposure limits (MPEs) and new definitions of key terms. Some sections and appendices have also been dramatically retooled to make them easier to use.

Another key reason to buy now is convenience. “This is going to be the last appearance of the full parent standard,” she says. “The next revision will be smaller, with more of the specifics presented in the companion documents” such as the Z136.3, which governs the safe use of lasers in health care, or Z136.9, which covers manufacturing environments. “Things like control measures will go to the documents for the specific applications and areas where they apply,” Sams explains, “so information on control measures will be greatly reduced” in the parent standard. “MPEs will probably stay in the Dot 1 — but it will be necessary in the future to have both (standards).”

And for now, LIA is still offering an early-purchase discount: $135 for LIA members, $155 for non-members. When the promotion ends, the price will rise to $173 for LIA members and $193 for non-members. (To obtain the newly revised ANSI Z136.1 standard and view a sample of the publication, visit LIA’s online store at www.lia.org/store). LIA is the secretariat of the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z136, which develops the laser safety standards. The ANSI Z136.1 standard guides the safe use of lasers and laser systems by defining control measures for the seven laser hazard classifications.

16

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

The first LIA course to be updated to reflect the many changes in the Z136.1-2014 is the flagship Laser Safety Officer (LSO) with Hazard Analysis course, says Education Director Gus Anibarro. “We ran the updated version of that course in March for the first time,” he says. The three-day classroom-based LSO course was updated in time for St. Louis attendees in June. As for online courses, the LSO course will reflect new guidelines on safety signage.

LIA courses unaffected by the new Z136.1 standard are Industrial Laser Safety Officer Training, Laser Safety Officer Training for Research & Development and all medical courses.

In the March course, “the new standard was well received,” Anibarro says. “We had to talk about changes in the MPEs, and we did example problems based on that.” He will emphasize differences between the 2007 and 2014 versions of Z136.1 for about a year.

The key changes in the 2014 version of the parent standard, as related by Ben Rockwell, chairman of ASC Z136 Standards Subcommittee 1 (SSC-1), include: • 19 new definitions of key terms, including administrative control measure, beam divergence, beam waist, saturable absorption and visible luminous transmission.

• A significant increase in allowed exposure levels for wavelengths between 1.2 µm and 1.4 µm, and a slight decrease in exposure limits for pulses shorter than approximately 10 µs.

• An updated section on “special qualifications” for medicalrelated exposures to include MPEs expressed in terms of illuminance.

• Rearranged Section 4 (Control Measures) and rewritten Section 7 (Non-beam Hazards) to increase comprehension.

• Examples involving new exposure limits added to Appendix B. • Vertical standards — Z136.2 through Z136.9 — now take precedence over this document within the scope of those standards. This makes the Z136.1 officially a horizontal standard.

• The degradation of optics transmission in the UV and NIR is now included in the analysis of hazard classification of lasers.

While some organizations might still adhere to the 2007 or even the 2000 standard, “it’s always best to go with the most current document because, inspection-wise, that’s what OSHA will refer to,” Anibarro suggests. “If you’re following the 2007 standard, I don’t think they’ll ding you for it. But if a compliance officer performs an inspection, he will refer to the most current ANSI standard for safety. Just be aware that if a compliance officer shows up and they ask you where your ANSI standard is, and they see yours is 2007 but they know there is a 2014 standard, they might ask why you’re not following the 2014 standard.

Ultimately it’s the decision of the compliance officer” to make an issue of such an instance.

notes. For such devices “the calculations have gotten a little bit easier. You had three rules to follow for an MPE calculation in the old standard; now you only have two for point sources.”

Furthermore, the MPE tables have been separated out by wavelength ranges to make it easier to find information. “Before we had two MPE tables for the eye and one for the skin; now we’ve got about six tables for the eye and three for the skin.”

Changing from the 2007 standard to the 2014 standard “is not really going to be that difficult for somebody who has a safety program in place. They don’t even have to make changes to signage, because the signage they have has been grandfathered in.” However, the new standard introduces a “warning” sign and explains how to use it in addition to the prior “caution,” “danger” and “notice” signs.

All in all, “it’s not going to be a dramatic impact on companies” to switch to the 2014 standard, Anibarro advises. More convenient, more current — and, for a limited time, at a discounted price — the ANSI Z136.1-2014 standard is a powerful piece of insurance to protect laser users and their employers.

Speaking of injuries, Anibarro says the requirement for medical surveillance has been removed. Now, the standard discusses medical exams and requires one if there is suspicion of a laser eye injury.

To purchase the newly revised ANSI Z136.1 standard, visit www.lia.org/ANSI.1.

In terms of hazard calculations, facilities with lasers that are repetitively pulsed are affected by the change in MPEs, he

REVISED!

Z136.1

Safe Use of Lasers 2014

Provides the Essential Steps for a Safe Program!

LIA.ORG/ANSI.1 1.800.34.LASER

Published by:

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

17

FEATURED ARTICLE

Corporate Member Profile SCANLAB America, Inc.

SCANLAB America, Inc. is the North American subsidiary of SCANLAB AG, Germany. SCANLAB is one of the largest galvanometer scanner production and solutions operations serving worldwide customers. As an industry leader for over two decades, SCANLAB’s products allow for precise laser applications in fields utilizing materials processing as well as medical technologies. With over 15,000 scanners manufactured, tested and installed each year, SCANLAB’s services provide an industry standard for laser users and consumers. SCANLAB has been headquartered in Puchheim, Germany, since 1990. With approximately 200 employees the production is done entirely in Germany.

SCANLAB America, Inc., founded in 2003, is located in Saint Charles, IL. In 2009, SCANLAB Systems Engineering located in Billerica, MA, was introduced as an affiliate to the company.

With the increased engineering and service capabilities offered through SCANLAB America and Systems Engineering, SCANLAB AG has pursued a path of high growth and customer satisfaction.

specialists make sure that industry needs are being met with the right tools. In this way, SCANLAB and its affiliates follow the growing demand for novel technologies and services, and, in doing so, brighten the future of laser applications.

For more information, visit www.scanlab-america.com.

NEW! Safe Use of Optical Fiber Communication Systems Utilizing Laser Diode and LED Sources

The scanning systems are based on moving mirrors and lenses that quickly, precisely and reliably position a laser beam’s focus in three dimensions. SCANLAB’s products turn lasers into highly dynamic and versatile tools for a broad range of applications.

These include: • Laser-based materials processing, e.g. (on-the-fly) marking, welding, cutting, drilling, rapid prototyping, solar panel processing, micromachining • (Bio) medical technology, e.g. ophthalmology, dermatology, confocal microscopy, OCT • Science and research

YOUR SOURCE FOR LASER SAFETY COMMUNICATION

Each line of scanners is quality tested and ensured to provide efficient and safe solutions to a variety of applications.

In addition to their namesake scanners, SCANLAB’s accessories and peripheral products fill the need for more control and precision in the use of the company’s products. Control boards, digital encoders and personalized software add immense value to customer service and ease of use. By working through their customer-guidance teams, SCANLAB’s engineers and service

18

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

LIA.ORG/ANSI.2 1.800.34.LASER

Presented by:

Laser Safety Officer Training Gain More KnowledGe in less TiMe wiTh laser safeTy officer TraininG online!

O

N

L

IN

E

LIA’s Laser Safety Officer (LSO) online training course was designed for all levels of experience and involvement including industrial, military, educational or research applications of lasers. It is tailored to fit the needs of safety professionals, engineers, laser operators, technicians and other professionals assigned the duties of Laser Safety Officer who are not required to perform hazard analysis calculations.

This course meets all LSO training requirements outlined by ANSI, OSHA and ACGIH. You will earn 16 CECs by AAHP, 3.0 BLS CM Points by the Board of Laser Safety and is eligible for ABIH CM Points.

Now Includes Canadian Regulations!

www.lia.org/online-training/lso

REGISTER TODAY! 1.800.34.laser

Presented by:

Magazine • Website • Newsletters The International Resource for Laser Materials Processing Industrial Laser Solutions delivers timely, knowledgeable information on industrial laser materials processing to end users in manufacturing who are interested in understanding the technical and cost benefits of these processes prior to their implementation in production environments.

Subscribe Today!

Log on to www.ils-subscribe.com

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

19

Member Innovations

Members In Motion

New Standard Aspheric Sill Optics introduces a new generation of aspheric lenses. These differ from the high-quality high-end aspheric lenses with a larger tolerance range in terms of the aspheric surface shape. The allowable deviation is a RMSi value of <0.25. This is equivalent with respect to the Präzisionsasphären (RMSi <0.05 microns) a 5x larger tolerance range. The wavefront aberration is in the range of a wavelength based on the machining wavelength.

All other tolerances with respect to surface defects such as scratches, roughness and mechanical dimensions correspond to the high-end standard. The recommended application field is the collimation and focusing of fiber lasers with fiber sizes from 50 microns, for example, integrated into cutting heads or welding optics. For more information, visit www.silloptics.de.

IPG Photonics Nominates Two New Candidates for Board of Directors IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ: IPGP) announced the nominations of Eric Meurice, 57, and Thomas J. Seifert, 50, to be elected to the Company’s Board of Directors at its 2014 annual meeting of shareholders on June 3, 2014. Their nominations are in addition to the nomination of the currently serving Board with the exception of current Director William Krupke, who did not stand for re-election at the meeting. The Board also voted to increase the size of the IPG Board of Directors to 10 members upon their election.

New Super Magenta Drop-In Welding Lenses Typical green welding lenses offer you protection from the things you need protection from during welding — infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) rays. These are invisible and incredibly dangerous to your eyes. Green lenses also protect you from the harsh, bright visible light coming from a torch — but they don’t help you see your work very well through the harsh yellow and orange flares.

Our new Super Magenta drop-in welding lenses are the solution to this lack of optimal vision. These are meant to be used ONLY in conjunction with your existing welding lens. Insert the Super Magenta drop-in lens behind your current lens in your helmet and you’ll have a whole new welding experience. The magenta virtually eliminates the harsh orange and yellow flares that impede your vision, while enhancing the color contrast and visible spectrum of the remaining colors, giving you unprecedented visual acuity while you work. For more information, visit www.phillips-safety.com.

WELCOME NEW

CORPORATE MEMBERS Methodist Medical Center of Illinois Peoria, IL

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation Futtsu, Japan

For a complete list of corporate members, visit our corporate directory at www.lia.org/membership.

20

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

“Eric and Thomas both offer significant relevant experience to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. Valentin Gapontsev, CEO and Chairman of the Board of IPG Photonics. “Eric is a strategic thinker and operator who has experience managing a rapidly-growing, complex, global billion dollar business in the capital equipment and electronic fields. Thomas has extensive background working as an operating executive and chief financial officer of several large publicly held international technology businesses. The deep experience that both of these men will bring to the Board are directly aligned with IPG’s growth strategy.” For more information, visit www.ipgphotonics.com.

Laser SOS USA Reorganization & Expansion Laser SOS USA has experienced another successful year. 2013 was marked by the completion of corporate restructuring, providing our customers access to exciting new products and the expansion of Laser SOS USA into the Aesthetics industry. The company looks forward to the continued service of its customers, and further expansion of its US operations.

Customers will see a new selection of industrial laser spares, componenets and consumables become available on our website over the next few weeks. For more information, visit www.lasersos.com.

Prize Winner of the Innovation Award Laser Technology 2014: Dr. Ralf Preu The Innovation Award Laser Technology 2014, initiated by the associations Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e.V. and the European Laser Institute ELI and provided with 10 000 Euros prize money, has been conferred to Dr. Ralf Preu, director of the division “Photovoltaics -- Production Technology and Quality Assurance” of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg (Germany) on May 7, 2014 in Aachen’s town hall. Dr. Ralf Preu and his team received first place in the open prize competition with the innovation “Laser Fired Contact (LFC) technology for the production of highly efficient silicon solar cells.” For more information, visit www.innovation-award-laser.org.

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

21

ASC Z136

Update

Since December 2011, Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z136 has produced three revised and introduced two new documents into the Z136 series of laser safety standards, bringing the total number of published Z136 standards to nine.

Moreover, with the most recent revision of the Z136.1 (released in March 2014), the vertical standards — Z136.2 through Z136.9 — now take precedence over the Z136.1 within the scope of those standards.

SSC-8 (Z136.8) – This standard provides recommendations for the safe use of lasers in research, development and testing environments, where safety controls common for commercial lasers may be either missing (nonexistent) or disabled. Similarly, in testing environments, lasers or laser systems may be operated in conditions or protocols different from normal operation, including access to levels of radiation higher than the accessible emission limits (AEL) for assigned product class.

“Other special application standards within the Z136 series may deviate from the requirements of this standard. Each deviation is valid only for applications within the scope of the standard in which it appears. Guidance in specialized standards (e.g., Z136.3, Z136.4, et al) that appears to be in conflict with the requirements of this standard shall have precedence within the scope of that standard. The laser safety officer (LSO) shall determine which, if any, of the specialized Z136 standards are applicable…”

Stakeholders: Universities, national laboratories, high technology development labs, start-up companies, military and medical research centers, and laser/optics technician schools.

We invite you to participate in these or any other standards subcommittee. For more information, contact Barbara Sams, bsams@lia.org, +1.407.380.1553 or visit www.Z136.org.

Several standards subcommittees are coming together now to begin the revision process of their respective vertical standards.

If there are aspects of a vertical standard that you particularly like, or particularly don’t like, this is your opportunity to join the related subcommittee and help shape the next revision of that standard.

It doesn’t take travel money or time out of the office; participate electronically via email and the Z136 website. Subcommittee members help develop and review the standards by suggesting changes and improvements, which are then voted on as the revision proceeds.

SSC-4 (Z136.4) – This document is intended to assist users who are required to classify or perform laser hazard evaluations to ensure that appropriate control measures are implemented.

The revised version will address existing and emerging laser technology measurement requirements, e.g., broad-spectrum laser sources, ultrafast laser systems and new high-power systems not previously considered.

ANSI

Z136.8

2012 Safe Use of Lasers in Research, Development, or Testing

We’ve Done the Research So You Don’t Have To.

Stakeholders: Any person or organization required to perform radiometric measurements in order to classify lasers or perform laser hazard evaluations in accordance with ANSI Z136.1.

SSC-5 (Z136.5) – The purpose of this standard is to provide reasonable and adequate guidance for the safe use of lasers in educational environments (excluding graduate level research laboratories) by evaluating and minimizing hazards associated with laser radiation.

Published by:

Stakeholders: Teachers, professors, students and staff who use lasers as part of their academic instruction and development in the university, college, secondary and primary education environments.

22

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

LIA.ORG/ANSI.8 1.800.34.LASER

www.lia.org • lia@lia.org

BLS

Update

A message to our certified laser safety professionals As a CLSO or CMLSO, you chose and met the challenge of becoming certified, you took the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the area of laser safety, enabling you to enhance the credibility of your laser safety recommendations to your peers and management. Are you continuing to take opportunities as they present themselves to maintain your certification?

One opportunity to earn certification maintenance (CM) points is to participate on a laser safety standards or regulations committee external of your organization. This can be at the regional, state, national or international level. Not only will you gain CM points, membership on such a committee allows you to be a part of the laser safety community’s vision, contributing toward the committee’s work, helping to establish guidance measures for our industry. Whether a large or small component, setting regulations or developing a standard, your experience as a laser safety officer lends to the validity of the overall program and helps to ensure a credible product.

standards subcommittees (SSCs) as well as the main committee.

Membership consists of organizations, companies, government agencies and individuals, all with one thing in common — a direct and material interest in the activities of the committee, i.e., the safe use of lasers.

Whether ASC Z136 (national), IEC TC 76 (international), BALSO (regional), or some other laser safety committee, consider membership on a guidance-setting body. Realize you can make a difference.

----Certification maintenance requirements are listed on the BLS website, as well as in the CLSO and CMLSO Certification Maintenance Manuals. Continuing education activities are required to maintain certification; demonstration of professional development activities ensures continued competency.

If you have any questions regarding activities for certification maintenance, please contact the BLS at +1.407.985.3810 or email bls@lasersafety.org.

As detailed in the ASC Z136 Update, this standards developing organization is accepting membership on a number of its

Certification for Laser Safety Officers Providing Professionals a Means for Improvement in the Practice of Laser Safety

Gain a Competitive Advantage by Becoming Certified Today!

Elevate your status as an LSO Stay up-to-date with industry changes Increase both confidence and credibility Demonstrate your commitment to the job Validate your employer’s dedication to a safe working environment

1.800.34.LASER +1.407.985.3810

www.lasersafety.org

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

23

Laser Insights

Featured Abstracts

Laser Insights is a feature to give insight into the very latest developments in laser safety and the possible applications of laser materials processing.

These overviews are designed to give you insight into the content and applications of the papers presented at our conferences and workshops. Visit www.lia.org/laserinsights to begin your search. View complete articles of the abstracts below online under the Featured Category.

Non-Disruptive, Low Loss In-Line Laser Beam Monitoring System for Industrial Laser Processing

BY MICHAEL SCAGGS AND GILBERT HAAS

The BWA-MON (Beam Waist Analyzer MONitor) system is a “smart” focus head that provides “real-time” laser beam measurement, analysis and monitoring of low to very high power lasers in accordance with international standards ISO11146 and ISO13694 related to lasers without disrupting the laser beam in use and with minimal loss.

Prior to the genus of the BWA-MON, any measurement of a focused laser beam required a complete disruption of the beam; regardless of the application. Laser manufacturers that develop or research lasers have to align the laser based upon arbitrary conditions, take it to an M-square measurement setup; make a measurement and if not desirable, go back and realign. This process can take months to fully develop a system. The BWAMON aids the laser manufacturer by allowing them to adjust the laser in real time; so there is no need to remove the laser and test in another location and thereby greatly reduce development, setup and alignment time.

Sapphire Cutting with Pulsed Fiber Lasers

BY CHRISTOPH RUETTIMANN, NOÉMIE DURY AND MARKUS DANNER

With almost 40 years of experience in precision processing of synthetic crystalline materials, Swiss laser manufacturer ROFINLASAG AG has developed a process for cutting sapphire glass, which is now increasingly used in mobile electronic devices and high-quality mechanical watches. Synthetic sapphire is a mono-crystalline aluminum oxide with outstanding technical properties, such as a high thermal conductivity, very high light transmission and complete acid resistance. In addition, it is an outstanding electric insulator and extremely scratch-resistant: With a Mohs’ hardness of 9 sapphire is beaten only by diamond.

Sapphire can be cut with a variety of laser technologies.

Ultrashort pulse lasers, such as picosecond lasers, cut the material using very short pulses. The energy of these pulses is transferred so quickly to the electrons that the chemical bonds of the atoms are destroyed. In contrast to that, pulsed fiber lasers with a pulse length in the range of microseconds to milliseconds work with another cutting process, so-called fusion cutting.

Medical Laser Safety Officer Training GAIN MORE KNOWLEDGE IN LESS TIME WITH LASER SAFETY OFFICER TRAINING ONLINE!

O

N

LI

N

E

LIA’s Medical Laser Safety Officer (MLSO) online course meets the special needs of RNs, OR supervisors, training coordinators and other medical professionals who have been appointed the critical responsibility of LSO. Now, your laser safety training is just a click away!

This course meets all LSO training requirements outlined by ANSI, OSHA and The Joint Commission. You will earn 13 Contact Hours, 2.0 BLS CM Points by the Board of Laser Safety, 4 CECs by AAHP and is eligible for ABIH CM Points.

REGISTER TODAY! www.lia.org/online-training/mlso

24

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

1.800.34.LASER

MAY/JUNE 2014

Presented by:

JLA

Editor’s Pick

The Laser Institute of America’s official refereed publication, the Journal of Laser Applications® (JLA), an online-only journal, is complete with new features for a broader audience. JLA is hosted on AIP Publishing’s robust Scitation online platform, providing the journal with great functionality and the ability to leverage a wide range of valuable discoverability features. JLA features nine topic sections, a faster peer-review process and a more functional website (jla.aip.org) that makes content easier to access and more interactive. Readers will find full-text HTML rendering featuring inline reference links and the ability to enlarge tables and figures by clicking on them. Among the new features are enhanced search functions with more options and better controls to explore returned content in more useful ways.

Green Light Laser Exposure at 532 nm near the Exposure Limit during a Human Volunteer Vehicle Driving Task does not Alter Structure or Function in the Visual System

Subscription Information

BY ZHAOHUA YU, ROLF PERSSON, JOHAN ÖHGREN, STIG SANDBERG, ULF HÖRBERG, FOLKE BERGLUND, KJELL KARLSSON, OVE STEINVALL AND PER G. SÖDERBERG

This study aimed to verify nonexistence of clinically important pathological effects to the visual system after exposure to 532 nm green laser light close to the exposure limit. The present medical surveillance of vision and visual health reported in this paper is the conjunction with a study of driver performance in the presence of 532 nm laser induced glare. The driving time varied between 25 and 55 s, depending on background luminance. The laser was on during the complete test drive. The peak corneal irradiance typically was 3.5 W•m−2 in one test drive. Considering a typical test drive, the typical time integrated corneal radiant exposure for one test drive was estimated to be 53 J•m−2. The number of test drives varied among drivers but was typically 50, thus resulting in a cumulative corneal exposure dose of approxivmately 2.7 kJ•m−2. Altogether, ten subjects were recruited according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.

BY PHONE

For non-members of LIA, call the American Institute of Physics at 1.800.344.6902 for subscription information.

ONLINE

Sign up at jla.aip.org/alerting_services/ table_of_contents_alerts to receive your JLA table of contents email alerts.

www.lia.org

1.800.34.LASER

25

LIA

Announces

Continuous Wave Blog Features a New Look Interested in the latest ‘hot topic’ research and applications in the field of laser technology and safety? LIA’s blog is a great way to discover the very latest developments in laser safety and the possible applications of laser materials processing. This selected collection of overviews and articles are recruited to give you insight into the content and applications of the latest papers presented by top experts in the laser industry at our conferences and workshops.

Now our Continuous Wave blog has been redesigned and streamlined to feature the latest in laser industry news more effectively — with the option to see our most recent posts first, or choose to search for specific laser-related information under our available categories. The new blog design also includes the option for you to subscribe — saving you time by having the latest industry news delivered straight to you. Visit Continuous Wave online and subscribe today at www.lia.org/blog.

33rd

Registration Now Open for ICALEO 2014 Register today for LIA’s International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO®), which will take place in San Diego, CA, Oct. 19-23, 2014. ICALEO has a 32 year history as the conference where researchers and end-users meet to review the state-of-the-art in laser materials processing, laser microprocessing and nanomanufacturing as well as predict where the future will lead. From its inception, ICALEO has been devoted to the field of laser materials processing at macro, micro and nanoscales and is viewed as the premier source of technical information in the field. Each year ICALEO features areas of topical interest. This year’s featured sessions include diode lasers for processing and pumping, laser process monitoring and control, laser processing of biological materials, lasers in nanotechnology and environmental technology, laser hybrid processing, laser manufacturing for alternative energy sources and laser business development.

For more information on ICALEO 2014 and to register, visit www.icaleo.org or call +1.407.380.1553.

LME 2014 – Register Today!

Registration is now open for LIA’s fourth annual Lasers for Manufacturing Event® (LME®). LME is scheduled to take place on Sept. 23-24, 2014 at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL. LME 2014 is the place to see the latest in laser technology and will provide attendees with a one-stop event to learn about automation equipment, laser choices, beam delivery, safety considerations, applications development and meet exhibitors that supply these products and services.

LME attendees will get to see the latest laser equipment, gain valuable ideas from leading producers, find solutions to their manufacturing needs, attend tutorials, meet suppliers and get the tools they need to compete.

A brand-new Lasers for Manufacturing Summit to be held Sept. 22, will bring together C-suite and other top executives who want to hear first-hand expert intelligence on how to use these powerful tools most profitably in a variety of high-value manufacturing applications.

The Summit will precede LME and feature in-depth presentations covering laser manufacturing, additive manufacturing/3D printing and ultrafast lasers. The summit promises a wealth of front-line information tailored to key decision-makers seeking to maximize profits by streamlining manufacturing with lasers.

For more detailed information on LME 2014, including how to register and the most recent program, please visit www.laserevent.org or call 1.800.34.LASER.

26

LIATODAY

FOCUS: LASER SAFETY

MAY/JUNE 2014

Save the Date to Attend LAM 2015 Mark your calendar now for LIA’s seventh annual Laser Additive Manufacturing Workshop (LAM®), which will be held in Orlando, FL on Mar. 4-5, 2015. LAM 2015 will bring industry specialists, executives, users and researchers from around the world to show how laser additive processes can be applied effectively and affordably to today’s manufacturing challenges. This workshop will have a significant impact on the widespread industrial implementations of laser additive manufacturing (cladding, sintering and rapid manufacturing). Industries that will be represented at LAM include aerospace, oil and gas, agriculture, automotive, powder production, military, on- and off- highway transportation, power generation, construction/steel, hardfacing, marine, bio-medical, tooling, dies and molds, and much more!

For more information on LAM 2015 as it becomes available, including vendor and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.lia.org/lam.

13501 Ingenuity Dr., Suite 128 Orlando, FL 32826 USA

031413 8.25 x 8.25 LIA General Ad.ai 1 3/14/2013 12:04:41 PM