Development and construction of a stand for measuring the parameters of laser radiation for hazard evaluation

Project manager: Agnieszka Wolska Ph.D. (Eng.)

Project summary:

"Laser radiation is a hazard for the eyes and the skin. It includes random, short exposure. In the case of laser equipment used in industry, the most frequent hazard results from reflected and scattered laser radiation. This has been confirmed by the preliminary results of a simulation conducted with the Laser Shield Solver, software developed as part of this task.To conduct the measurements, measuring equipment was put together and a mobile stand for measuring the parameters of laser radiation was constructed. A testing procedure NBL-1 ""Measurement of the power/energy of reflected laser radiation for hazard evaluation related to the employee's eyes and skin"" was developed. That procedure was verified and then used in the measurements and evaluation of hazard related to laser radiation reflected at selected workstations with different laser equipment.The obtained results of measurements at workstations with laser equipment, without collective protective equipment, showed that the eyes and the skin were exposed to thermal hazard (high occupational risk). The greatest hazard caused by reflected radiation was present at impulse lasers. The tests confirmed the correctness of the developed procedure, which will become part of the national system of testing and certification."

Unit: Department of Safety Engineering

Duration: 01.01.2005 – 31.12.2007