The status of laser standards in the U.K.

Abstract

Any consideration of UK laser safety standards has to be viewed first against the backdrop of UK national safety legislation and second, the developing European and International safety standards scene.Primary legislation in the work environment derives from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which is enforceable in criminal law. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the principal enforcing authority. The Health and Safety at Work Act is an enabling Act which provides broad guidelines for safety in the supply, installation and subsequent use and maintenance of all equipment. Detailed requirements for the manufacture and supply of lasers and laser equipment (products) flow from a combination of British Standards, Codes of Practice and guidance (written and verbal) provided by the HSE. A similar situation exists for users. There is no direct analogy to the US Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Regulations covering laser equipment design and manufacture. BS 7192: 1989 (formerly BS 4803: 1983) does not enjoy equivalent status under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Equally there is no direct analogy to those Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requirements covering specific applications of lasers and, in particular, the restriction on laser class for example, construction site use.The tests for compliance in the UK are around accessibility, for eseeability of injury and consequences of exposure. Engineering safeguards are put firmly before procedural and administrative controls (including the adoption of personal protective equipment).Consumer protection is governed by separate UK legislation and is out with the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive. Leisure and entertainments users e.g. laser discotheques and outdoor displays, are however, subject to the Health and Safety at Work Act.The impact in recent years of developing European and International Directives and Standards relating to lasers and laser equipment, has been to cause the detailed requirements in the UK to be updated and refined but the basic approach to laser safety and general enforcement policy have remained unchanged. The relatively close agreement between UK laser safety requirements and European and International Standards is a measure of the robustness of the early recommendations and the growing consensus around a common, universal laser safety philosophy.Any consideration of UK laser safety standards has to be viewed first against the backdrop of UK national safety legislation and second, the developing European and International safety standards scene.Primary legislation in the work environment derives from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which is enforceable in criminal law. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the principal enforcing authority. The Health and Safety at Work Act is an enabling Act which provides broad guidelines for safety in the supply, installation and subsequent use and maintenance of all equipment. Detailed requirements for the manufacture and supply of lasers and laser equipment (products) flow from a combination of British Standards, Codes of Practice and guidance (written and verbal) provided by the HSE. A similar situation exists for users. There is no direct analogy to the US Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Regulations covering laser equipment design and manufacture. BS 7192: 1989 (formerly BS...