OSHA laser safety policies & standards

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) adopts and enforces regulations designed to eliminate or control workplace hazards. With respect to laser hazards, OSHA has only adopted specific laser standards for the construction industry, and these are considered by many as outdated since they do not recognize established Laser Classes. The lack of specific laser standards requires OSHA to enforce laser control with generic safety standards, including the OSHA Act’s “General Duty Clause” [Section 5(a) (1)] which mandates that employers provide “employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards…”. Obviously OSHA’s interpretation of such a general requirement becomes important to laser users.This presentation will discuss OSHA’s current enforcement policies in the control of laser hazards including: “de minimus” violations of the construction laser standards involving Class 1 lasers; alternative generic safety standards such as the Lockout/Tag-out Standard, the limitations on OSHA’s use of its General Duty Clause and the utilization of FDA’s laser Products Performance Standard, 1CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11, and ANSI Z136.1-1986 to establish what constitutes a “recognized hazard” which must be removed from the workplace.The presentation will also introduce OSHA’s recently adopted Technical Manual chapter on lasers. The chapter was written to provide background information to OSHA Compliance Officers to assist them in preparing for a laser inspection.The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) adopts and enforces regulations designed to eliminate or control workplace hazards. With respect to laser hazards, OSHA has only adopted specific laser standards for the construction industry, and these are considered by many as outdated since they do not recognize established Laser Classes. The lack of specific laser standards requires OSHA to enforce laser control with generic safety standards, including the OSHA Act’s “General Duty Clause” [Section 5(a) (1)] which mandates that employers provide “employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards…”. Obviously OSHA’s interpretation of such a general requirement becomes important to laser users.This presentation will discuss OSHA’s current enforcement policies in the control of laser hazards including: “de minimus” violations of the construction laser standards involving Class 1 lasers; alternative generic safety standards such as the Lockout/Tag-o...