|
1
|
GENERAL
|
|
|
|
Sufficient space must be dedicated to allow safe work, including ease of movement, accessing equipment/components and ensuring adequate ventilation around equipment, taking into account the variety of equipment (e.g. laser heads, power units, tools, gas cylinders, chiller units, vacuum pumps, seating etc.) that might be present.
|
E
|
|
|
There must be no ‘line of sight’ to a potential stray laser beam from the external corridor. Ideally, a lobby should be installed or if this is not possible, then some form of protective shielding must be incorporated to prevent the beam from being emitted from the laser controlled area.
|
E
|
|
|
The room entry door must be fitted with a self-closing device.
|
E
|
|
|
There must be a system for a person to make safe the laser before being potentially exposed to a laser (e.g. emergency stop button).
|
E
|
|
|
Walls, ceilings and fittings should be painted with a light coloured matt paint to enhance illumination and minimise specular reflections.
|
E
|
|
|
Windows, in both doors and walls, should be avoided.
Where windows are deemed necessary for non-laser use, then this must be outlined in the relevant risk assessment/local rules and there should be a suitable removable covering installed [as appropriate to the laser in use].
|
D
E
|
|
|
The laboratory should have a high level of illumination that will minimise pupil size in order to reduce the risk of stray laser light reaching the retina. If this cannot be achieved, for research reasons, then the increased risk and operating procedures must be considered further in the accompanying risk assessment and local rules.
Shadows should be minimised whenever overhead lighting is obscured by shelving and equipment. This can usually be avoided by careful positioning of the luminaries or, if necessary, by the use of localised task lighting.
|
E
D
|
|
|
Services to the laser must be provided in such a way as to avoid the introduction of trip hazards (e.g. trailing cables, pipes, hoses) or restrictions on safely accessing the laser equipment and components.
|
E
|
|
|
Low level seating is not permitted inside a laser controlled area, unless fully and adequately screened from the laser.
Seating should be avoided, but if deemed necessary it should enable the user to sit above the height of the laser beam path.
|
E
|
|
|
Fire fighting equipment for the room must be provided.
|
E
|
|
2
|
FIXTURES/FITTINGS
|
|
|
|
It is common for laser equipment to be positioned and stored on gantries or shelving above an optical table. It is also common for the equipment’s services (e.g. electricity, water, gas supply) to be delivered from above the optical table. Where gantries/overhead shelving is in place, the following will apply:
- The position of the gantries/overhead shelving must not restrict access to the optical table or introduce overhead hazards.
- There must be sufficient space to enable individuals to safely access and position equipment on the gantries/overhead shelving.
|
E
E
|
|
|
Optical tables, gantries and any exposed metal where there is a significant risk of it becoming electrically ‘live’ must be suitably earthed.
|
E
|
|
|
The floor should be sufficiently strong enough to withstand the weight of all optical tables, & accompanying laser equipment, including both distributed and point loads.
Gantries/overhead shelving should also be able to sustain the weight of equipment and services, including both distributed and point loads.
Consideration should be given to the possible reorganisation of a room so as to avoid the need for any future structural changes if optical tables and gantries/overhead shelving are relocated.
|
E
E
D
|
|
3
|
ACCESS CONTROL
|
|
|
|
All entry doors must have an appropriate security device to restrict access to authorised persons only. The security device should easily interface to an interlock system.
|
E
|
|
|
An interlock device should be in place on all entry doors so that the beam is stopped when the door is opened. The need for such a device can depend on the class & type of laser involved and the likelihood of exposure to a laser beam. If there is any uncertainty over the need for an interlock device, then the Departmental Laser Supervisor must be consulted.
Where interlock systems are installed, they must conform to the requirements of British Standard PD IEC TR 60825‐14:2004, specifically section 8.3.3
|
D
E
|
|
|
A safety rated door interlock switch must be used as the interlock.
|
E
|
|
|
The interlock should either appropriately interface to the laser power supply or control unit in order to prevent any laser beam emission or a fail-safe shutter installed close to the output aperture of the laser (i.e. avoid the use of separate dedicated electrical sockets that are controlled by the interlock).
|
D
|
|
|
Where entry to a laser controlled area involves the use of an override system to enable access before the interlocks are activated, the following modes of operation should be possible:
Safe Mode:
Interlock control panel is switched on but not ‘reset’, such that the laser cannot be operated.
A ‘green’ warning light is illuminated outside the room indicating ‘No Hazard – Laser Off’.
Entry into the laboratory is possible to those with approved access.
Individuals can exit the laboratory by the operation of a door release button.
‘Laser in Use’ Mode:
Interlock control panel is switched on and has been ‘reset’ such that the laser can be operated and, provided the risk of exposure is suitable, individuals are also able to enter and leave the laboratory without disrupting the laser emission through the operation of a suitable security device.
An ‘amber’ warning light, with pictogram, is illuminated outside the room indicating ‘Laser in Use’.
Entry into the laboratory is possible to those with authorised access via a suitable security device (e.g. programmable proximity card, swipe care or number code), where the use of the device automatically operates the override system. This provides a set time for entry into the laboratory (e.g. 15 seconds), before the lasers are made safe.
Individuals can exit the laboratory by the operation of a door release button.
‘No Entry’ Mode:
Interlock control panel is switched on and is ‘reset’ such that the laser can be operated, but there is a higher risk of exposure from the laser that means individuals are not permitted to enter or leave the laboratory during its operation without restricting the beam emission. The operator inside the room initiates this state by the operation of a dedicated switch (e.g. key control).
A ‘red’ warning light, with pictogram, is illuminated outside the room indicating ‘No Entry’.
Entry into the laboratory is prevented. If someone did enter the laboratory, for instance by the operation of the green break glass emergency button, this would automatically turn the laser off or close the beam shutters.
Individuals can only exit the laboratory by reverting to one of the other modes (i.e. ‘Safe Mode’ or ‘Laser in Use’ mode).
|
E
|
|
|
A system, such as a green break glass emergency button, permits entry into the laboratory in an emergency and immediately ‘makes safe’ the laser.
|
E
|
|
|
The access control system must permit individuals to safely and easily leave the laboratory under all foreseeable circumstances.
|
E
|
|
|
Where the laser itself is positioned in one laser controlled area, but the emitted beam is delivered to a separate laser controlled area (e.g. through the use of fibre optics or laser flight tubes), then the Departmental Laser Supervisor must be consulted in order to agree the specific access control and laser interlock requirements for all areas.
The delivery of laser beams from one laser controlled area to another introduces specific hazards (e.g. safe delivery, protection of fibre optics, shutter systems at wall breaks, impact on fire protection, exposure to non-laser trained users etc.).
|
E
|
|
4
|
STORAGE
|
|
|
|
Storage – sufficient to accommodate the equipment, consumables and waste requirements of the occupants without the need to obstruct aisles and to reduce unnecessary clutter/items near the laser beam pathway.
|
E
|
|
|
Storage of equipment/consumables in corridors to be avoided
|
E
|
|
|
Cupboards must be finished with a matt surface. Glazed fronted cupboard doors are not permitted.
|
E
|
|
5
|
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
|
|
|
|
There should be a designated area for the storage of personal protective equipment e.g. laser eyewear.
The storage device must protect the personal protective equipment from damage.
|
D
E
|
|
|
Consideration should be given to where personal protective equipment can be put on or taken off without exposing the individual to a beam (e.g. inside lobby entry or behind screen). This can sometimes depend on the specific laser risks and ‘nominal ocular hazard distance’ (NOHD). If there is any uncertainty, the Departmental Laser Supervisor must be consulted.
|
D
|
|
6
|
VENTILATION/LOCAL EXHAUST SYSTEMS
|
|
|
|
Where the lasers include the use of hazardous substances, such as dyes, gases or cryogenics, there must be adequate ventilation and/or access to fume cupboards (see specification for wet laboratories for more details).
Consideration also needs to be given to the use of local exhaust ventilation where the laser process itself could release hazardous substances.
|
E
|
|
|
The ventilation system should enable sufficient cooling to the room so as to handle the potential heat gain generated by the laser & associated equipment.
If additional water cooling is installed, in order to help manage the heat gain, then consideration must be given to the impact of potential leaks or condensation on surrounding electrical systems.
|
E
|
|
7
|
MAINTENANCE
|
|
|
|
Where there is a need for regular maintenance to equipment or facilities (e.g. smoke detectors, lighting, portable electrical appliances, gas regulators etc.), consideration must be given to the safe access arrangements taking into account the location of optical tables, gantries/high level shelving and laser equipment inside the room.
|
E
|
