Current Laser Exposure Limits

Abstract

In the previous chapter we examined the evolution of laser safety standards with emphasis on the permissible exposure limits and in this chapter we shall discuss in detail the most recent set of limits, those promulgated by the ANSI Z-136.1 Standard, Safe Use of Lasers 1976. This set of limits is also identical to the threshold limit values (TLV’s) of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). These limits are essentially identical to those given in the proposed International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard being written by Technical Committee #76 of the IEC and are also the values recommended as “best available” in the World Health Organization (WHO) Manual on Non-Ionizing Radiation (1977). If one attempts by some method or other to translate these limits into the BRH classification limits one will find some differences. However, since the BRH standard, as the only Federal standard available, applied to laser emission performance standards and not to occupational exposures it would actually be incorrect to apply the BRH standards in occupational health and safety practice.