The OSHA and LIA Alliance is committed to providing LIA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by: (1) reducing and preventing exposure to beam and non-beam hazards in industrial, construction, medical and research workplaces; and (2) understanding the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).
Through the Alliance, the organizations will help identify training opportunities and areas of emphasis for Alliance awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The Alliance will also explore and implement a means to evaluate the effectiveness of the Laser Safety training program. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and LIA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and that they may participate in Alliance activities. The Alliance goals include:
Training and Education
- Deliver the Laser Safety Best Practices Seminar three times per year to OSHA staff, On-site Consultation staff, and Compliance Officers in selected Regional/Area Offices. OSHA's State Plan Compliance Officers and Onsite Consultation staff in the selected regions will be invited to attend.
- Develop a web based training program focusing on the Laser Safety Best Practices Seminar that can be accessed by OSHA staff, OSHA State Plan staff and Onsite Consultation staff. The online training webinar will be developed and instituted within the first two years of the agreement.
Outreach and Communication
- Disseminate quarterly (via print and electronic media, social media, electronic assistance tools, and the LIA's web site) information on topics such as OSHA's initiatives, workers' rights, employer and employee responsibilities, and other information on occupational safety and health to employers and workers in the laser industry.
- Provide opportunities annually for OSHA to speak, exhibit, or appear at the Lasers in Manufacturing Event and for OSHA's participation at the biennial International Laser Safety Conference.
- Work with other Alliance participants (e.g., The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources) to make training on laser safety available to their members, as appropriate.
Products and Resources
Alliance Program Participant Developed Products
- 10 Steps to Starting a Medical Laser Safety Program in Health Care Facilities Fact Sheet (PDF). Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed a fact sheet to assist health care facilities establish a medical laser safety program. The fact sheet focuses on the basic information needed to establish an effective laser safety program in health care facilities such as hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, clinics and medical spas.
- Hazards of Laser Welders, Cutters, Heat Treaters and Punch Presses (PDF). Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed " Hazards of Laser Welders, Cutters, Heat Treaters and Punch Presses." The Fact Sheet addresses hazards associated with using high-power welders and cutters in industrial settings.
- Introduction to Laser Safety (PDF). Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed a fact sheet that provides an introduction to lasers and exposure hazards.
- Laser Effects on the Human Eye (PDF). Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed "Laser Effects on the Human Eye." The Fact Sheet focuses on the effect lasers have on the human eye.
- Preventing Injury from Laser Skin Treatment (PDF). Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed "Preventing Injury from Laser Skin Treatment." The Fact Sheet provides information on the potential injury from lasers used for dermatological purposes such as tattoo removal, vascular lesions, and other dermatological surgery.
- Questions That An OSHA Inspector May Ask You About Laser Safety Fact Sheet (PDF). Through the OSHA and Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA developed a fact sheet that provides some of the questions that an OSHA Compliance Officer may ask during inspections of facilities with lasers.
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages
OSHA eTools
- Hospital. †
Additional Resources
- Laser Beam Safety Scheme: Why your health care organization needs to implement an effective medical laser safety program (PDF). Through the OSHA and The Joint Commission (TJC)/Joint Commission Resources (JCR) Alliance, JCR developed an article that that discusses laser safety in healthcare facilities. The article provides information on laser classification, laser hazards, and emphasizes the need for medical laser programs.
- LIA and OSHA Laser Safety Bulletin Podcast.
- National Consensus Standards: The Z136 series of laser safety standards are voluntary consensus standards that have been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the secretariat to the committee that produces the Z136 standards, as well as publisher of the series. The following are available on the ANSI Website.
- Z136.1-2014, American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers.
- Z136.2-2012, American National Standard for Safe Use of Optical Fiber Communication Systems Utilizing Laser Diode and LED Sources.
- Z136.3-2011, American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care.
- Z136.4-2010, American National Standard Recommended Practice for Laser Safety Measurements for Hazard Evaluation.
- Z136.5-2009, American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Educational Institutions.
- Z136.6-2005, American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers Outdoors.
- Z136.7-2008, American National Standard for Testing and Labeling of Laser Protective Equipment.
- Z136.8-2012, American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Research, Development, or Testing.
- Z136.9-2013, American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Manufacturing Environments.