Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Radiation
No. There is no legal requirement to register laser equipment although, before using it, employers should carry out a risk assessment. This is a requirement under the general duties of the Management of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Work with lasers is not notifiable to HSE. But when lasers are used outside of the National Health Service for some types of medical purposes (e.g. in the Private Sector), then reference should be made to The Private and Voluntary Health Care Regulations 2001. These are administered by the Department of Health rather than HSE.
There is no risk from the lasers that are found in some office equipment provided that equipment casings (housings and enclosures etc) are undamaged. Many office devices contain 'embedded' laser systems which operate as Class 1 laser products and these are inherently safe.
The power of laser pointers used in presentation work is normally equivalent to a Class 2 or the new class 2M. When used as intended, these products will not cause an eye injury risk. The simple precaution of ensuring that they are never deliberately stared at or shone into people’s faces will be sufficient control for any viewing hazard they present. In the case of Class 3A and the new Class 1M and 2M laser pointers, it is also necessary to ensure that viewing aids, such as magnifying glasses and binoculars, are never used by persons who may be exposed to the laser pointer beam. Given that the use of such devices by members of an audience is highly unlikely, Class 3A and the new class 1M and 2M laser pointers will be in most circumstances no more hazardous than Class 2 devices.
However, HSE is aware of higher power devices in this market (class 3B) and these should only be used by trained persons who know how to ensure that the pointer’s beam will not be shone directly into people’s eyes.
No. These scanners are typically Class 1 laser products and people employed as check-out operators are at no risk from burns to their skin. However, scanning systems used in some warehouse applications (i.e. at premises to which there is no public access) could be up to Class 3A and should therefore only be used by trained personnel.
a) have eye examinations at regular intervals?
No. Employers can if they wish conduct examinations for pre-employment purposes
and they are, of course, a useful follow-up to accidents, but HSE doesn't
recommend their use for routine health surveillance.
b) be provided with protective eye wear ?
This will depend upon the employer's risk assessment made under the Management
of Health and Safety Regulations (downloadable here: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/19993242.htm).
As a general rule, HSE would expect protective eyewear to be worn by people
who operate lasers of a Class greater than 3A in situations where there is
the possibility of personal access to the laser aperture (ie. open beam path
equipment).
There is no legal obligation for employers to provide suncream or sunglasses for outdoor workers. The information in HSE’s leaflets encourages employers of outdoor workers to include sun protection advice in routine health and safety training and advises workers to keep covered up during the summer months.
Yes. Mobile phone operators have publicly stated that the levels of radiofrequency radiation from their transmission masts will comply with the public exposure guidelines published by the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).