PEP-2D.
Laser Safety for The Health Physicist WR Gibbons*, Moffitt Cancer Center
; KL Dillingham, The University of Chicago
Abstract: State and federal agencies comprehensively regulate ionizing radiation through licensing, policies, and consensus standards, and licensees are frequently visited by inspectors from regulatory agencies. Non-ionizing radiation requirements, on the other end of the spectrum, may be as simple as registering devices with state agencies. As time progresses, lasers are becoming more powerful and with that the associated hazards continue to increase. In many academic and research institutions, the responsibility for laser safety may be placed on existing health physics staff who may not be comfortable carrying out the duties of laser safety officers. Awareness of the hazards associated with lasers and more intimate knowledge of the subject will provide a stronger foundation on which to build a laser safety program.
This discussion will engage the audience and introduce key topics to those newly tasked with or interested in laser safety duties while offering those more experienced an opportunity to review the fundamentals and share personal insights. Topics covered will include a brief review of laser safety terminology, aspects of successful laser safety programs, an overview of the Z136 laser safety standards, example laser safety calculations, and discussions on lessons learned.
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