Laser Safety

The Laser Safety Program is established to facilitate and ensure the safe and knowledgeable use of lasers in laboratories, classrooms and the environment.

The Laser Safety Program is administered by RLS to ensure the safe use of lasers and compliance with the requirements of the New York State Department of Labor, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z136.1-2014 Safe Use of Lasers, and other related regulations and standards. The program applies to all NYU personnel owning, supervising, operating and working in the proximity to Class 3B or Class 4 lasers.

The required Laser Safety Program components are as follow:

Laser registration and hazard assessment by RLS
Laser worker safety training
Written laser safety operating procedure
Appropriate laser protective eyewear/PPE

Laser Registration

All Class 3B and Class 4 lasers or laser system(s) must be registered with RLS. This includes devices on loan from the manufacturer or from another institution, and Class 1 microscopy station with an embedded Class 3B or Class 4 laser. If you are unsure of your registration status, please contact the rls@nyu.edu.

Submit the Laser Registration Form (DOC: 31KB) via email and send to rls@nyu.edu
Once the information is recieved it will be reviewed and entered under the lab's equipment profile into BioRAFT.
The lab must do a laser safety self-assessment in BioRAFT to prepare for RLS's scheduled inspection.

Laser Safety Training

The PI must ensure personnel are adequately trained before allowing them to operate, maintain, service or work in the vicinity of lasers. Training includes completing the RLS Laser Safety course found in BioRAFT, one on one training on the specific laser equipment and the Laser Safety Procedures used in the lab, provided by the supervisor, Principal Investigator (PI) or experienced user.

Laser Safety Standard Operating Procedure (LSSOP)

All personnel who work with lasers must be made familiar with the Laser Safety Standard Operating Procedure (LSSOP) developed by the PI or lab supervisor.

The LSSOP should address alignments, maintenance and normal operations procedures; all hazards; types of PPE; and emergency procedures associated with the particular laser system. RLS has created a template LSSOP (DOC: 54 KB) to assist with this process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where can I get my laser protective eyewear?

Appropriate laser protective eyewear must be labeled with the wavelength(s) and its corresponding optical density (OD) for which protection is afforded. Some vendors include:

How do I properly clean my laser eyewear?

Always follow the manufacterers instructions. Laser eyewear should be cleaned with a mild detergent soap and plenty of lukewarm water. Attention should be paid to the parts of the eyewear that directly touch the skin (e.g., bridge of nose, ears) and care should be taken when cleaning and drying the lens to avoid scratches, especially with glass eyewear with dielectric coatings. AVOID harsh chemicals and other cleaning products as they may damage the lens.