When lasers or laser products are serviced, the normal control measures may be overridden or removed leading to a higher risk of exposure. At these times it may be necessary to introduce a temporary laser controlled area. As with a more permanent laser controlled area, this will involve a combination of administrative controls and personal protective equipment, along with restricting entry to authorised personnel. If the servicing is undertaken by external engineers or contractors, they will set their own control measures and these will need to be obtained so the department can formalise the temporary arrangements.
Laser registration forms, risk assessments or local operating procedures are not usually required for laser products that do not pose a significant risk of exposure during normal operations. However, if servicing or maintenance removes controls measures that could lead to the possible exposure to a hazardous laser beam (e.g. above the maximum permissible exposure limit), there will need to be some formal record to outline the additional control measures at that time.
If these servicing or maintenance activities take place fairly frequently, then a permanent laser controlled area is probably required and all necessary risk assessments and local rules will apply. If the activities are infrequent (e.g. 6-monthly or annually), it will be reasonable to instigate a temporary laser controlled area. That can reduce the need for costly engineering controls, such as interlock systems, security devices, or electronic warning signs. However, there will be greater reliance on administrative controls. In order to determine these temporary arrangements (e.g. room bookings, limited access, temporary signage, permits to work) there should be a laser registration form that identifies the risk. This should be linked to the service engineers (internal or external) own risk assessment and method statements (often referred to as RA/MS), so that the temporary arrangements can be agreed and documented. Supervisors of the equipment should therefore ensure the RA/MS are obtained from service engineers prior to any hazardous laser work taking place.
Further guidance and requirements are outlined in the British standard PD IEC TR 60825−14:2022 and the University’s policy on the control of contractors.
