The Role of the Laser Safety Officer and Laser Safety Programs in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Recent advancements in laser technology have led to its expanded utilization in smaller clinical settings and medical spas, particularly for facial rejuvenation and the treatment of other aesthetic concerns. Despite the increasing popularity of this technology, discussion of laser safety programs has remained limited, mostly to operating rooms at larger clinical institutions. Although smaller facilities do not operate at the same capacity as a large hospital or medical center, the requirements for utilizing a laser are no less stringent. Employers must comply with local and federal regulations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) General Duty Clause, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, and professional recommended practices applicable to their business. Although the laser safety officer (LSO) is often a full-time position within larger facilities, smaller clinical settings and medical spas may be limited in staff number. It is important, therefore, that clinical practices establish laser policies and procedures with consideration of their individual needs and capabilities. In this paper, we will define a laser safety program, highlight basic requirements needed to establish this program, and outline the specific responsibilities of the LSO. To ensure that safe laser practices are being conducted at the healthcare facility, it is imperative that small business owners are aware of these regulations and standards in place for the operation of laser systems.

Laser Protection Properties of Multi-Band Non-Regularized Highly Reflective Films

“…The non-regularized highly reflective TiO 2 /SiO 2 , HfO 2 /SiO 2 , and Ta 2 O 5 /SiO 2 films were prepared and irradiated at 1064 nm and 532 nm to evaluate their laser protection capabilities. (1) The transmittances of the films were tested before and after irradiation and it was found that the transmittances of the three laser protection films under the 532 nm laser decreased compared with those under the 1064 nm laser, indicating that the 532 nm laser had a significant effect on film transmittance. (2) The high-energy laser protection properties of the three highly reflective films were compared at 1064 nm and 532 nm and it was found that the wavelength had a significant effect on film resistance to laser damage.…”

“…To reduce the risks associated with laser use, laser protection lenses must be designed to protect against potentially harmful laser wavelengths. In addition, developing safety rules during laser use [1], preparation of laser protection glasses for specific wavelengths [2], developing optical limiting materials [3], and designing and preparing trap filters [4] were proposed. Therefore, laser protection technologies [5] must be developed to reduce industrial and medical costs while realizing widespread laser applications.…”