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Lasers

All Class 3B and Class 4 lasers are registered through the UVic Laser Safety Program offered by the office of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment. The program is designed to provide students, staff and faculty with the knowledge to operate and work safely around Class 3B and 4 laser systems. The program is held to the high standards of provincial (WorkSafeBC) and national (ANSI) regulations.

For more information, please contact the Laser Safety Officer (LSO), Paraskevi Lagaditis at

Registration & inventory

All Class 3B and Class 4 lasers/laser systems at UVic are required to be registered with OHSE in order to provide an adequate laser safety program for users.

Click here to access or update your laser registration & inventory:

 

 

Resources

Training

Due to the potential hazards of working with high risk laser radiation, all Class 3B and Class 4 laser operators are required to complete OHSE Laser Safety training in addition to supplemental laser-specific training provided by their supervisor.

Medical surveillance

It is recommended that individuals operating a Class 3B or 4 laser and have successfully completed Laser Safety Training receive a prior to starting work with lasers. 

Individuals not operating, but working in vicinity of Class 3B or Class 4 lasers should contact the to discuss if a baseline eye exam is required. An online Laser Safety Awareness training course is also available.  

Laser classification

Laser systems should be classified by the manufacturer prior to purchasing. If you own or are purchasing a laser please refer to the table below summarizing from the ANSI Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers standard on important information about each laser class. 

Class

AEL Continuous Wave

Description

Class 1

< 1 mW

  • Safe during normal use
  • Visible or non-visible non-ionizing radiation
  • Exempt from control measures

Class 1M

< 1 mW

  • Safe for viewing directly with the naked eye but hazardous with aid of optical equipment
  • Visible or non-visible non-ionizing radiation
  • Exempt from control measures

Class 2

<1 mW

  • Visible non-ionizing radiation
  • Exempt from control measures unless intentional direct viewing of the beam is expected

Class 2M

< 1 mW

  • Visible non-ionizing radiation
  • Exempt from any control measures unless optically aided viewing of the beam is expected

Class 3R

<5 mW

  • Visible or non-visible non-ionizing radiation
  • Low probability of injury
  • Exempt from control measures unless
    • Direct viewing of the beam or specular reflections
    • Unattended operation where beam is directed into general public areas

Class 3B

 

5 – 500 mW

 

  • Visible or non-visible non-ionizing radiation
  • Eye hazard from direct viewing of the beam and specular reflections
  • Normally not eye hazard through diffuse reflections nor fire or skin hazard
  • Control measures required

Class 4

 

>500 mW

 

  • Visible or non-visible non-ionizing radiation
  • Eye hazard from direct viewing of the beam and both specular and diffuse reflections
  • Fire and skin hazard
  • Potential to produce laser generated air contaminates (LGACs) and hazardous plasma radiation
  • Control measures required