AS/NZS 2211.1:1997

1 - AS/NZS 2211.1:1997 LASER SAFETY - EQUIPMENT CLASSIFICATION, REQUIREMENTS AND USER'S GUIDE
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
8 - FOREWORD - USER'S GUIDE-FLOW CHART
9 - SECTION 1 GENERAL
9 - 1 SCOPE AND OBJECT
9 - 1.1 Scope
10 - 1.2 Object
10 - 1.2.1 Classification
10 - 1.2.2 Precaution
10 - 1.2.3 Warning
10 - 1.2.4 Injury reduction
10 - 1.2.5 Protection
10 - 2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
11 - 3 DEFINITIONS
11 - 3.1 Access panel
11 - 3.2 Accessible emission limit (AEL)
11 - 3.3 Administrative control
11 - 3.4 Alignment laser product
11 - 3.5 Alpha min.
12 - 3.6 Angular subtense
12 - 3.7 Aperture, aperture stop
12 - 3.8 Apparent source
12 - 3.9 Beam attenuator
12 - 3.10 Beam diameter
12 - 3.11 Beam divergence
12 - 3.12 Beam expander
12 - 3.13 Beam path component
12 - 3.14 Beam stop
12 - 3.15 Class 1 laser product
12 - 3.16 Class 2 laser product
13 - 3.17 Class 3A, Class 3B and Class 3B (Restricted) laser products
13 - 3.17.1 Class 3A and Class 3B laser products
13 - 3.17.2 Class 3B (Restricted) laser product
13 - 3.18 Class 4 laser product
13 - 3.19 Collateral radiation
13 - 3.20 Collimated beam
13 - 3.21 Continuous wave (CW)
13 - 3.22 Defined beam path
13 - 3.23 Demonstration laser product
13 - 3.24 Diffuse reflection
13 - 3.25 Embedded laser product
13 - 3.26 Emission duration
13 - 3.27 Errant laser radiation
14 - 3.28 Exposure time
14 - 3.29 Extended source viewing
14 - 3.30 Failure to safety
14 - 3.31 Failure to safety interlock
14 - 3.32 Human access
14 - 3.33 Integrated radiance
14 - 3.34 Intrabeam viewing
14 - 3.35 Irradiance
14 - 3.36 Laser
14 - 3.37 Laser controlled area
15 - 3.38 Laser energy source
15 - 3.39 Laser hazard area
15 - 3.40 Laser fibre optic transmission system
15 - 3.41 Laser product
15 - 3.42 Laser radiation
15 - 3.43 Laser safety officer
15 - 3.44 Laser system
15 - 3.45 Levelling laser product
15 - 3.46 Light emitting diode (LED)
15 - 3.47 Limiting aperture
15 - 3.48 Maintenance
15 - 3.49 Maximum angular subtense
15 - 3.50 Maximum output
15 - 3.51 Maximum permissible exposure (MPE)
15 - 3.52 Medical laser product
16 - 3.53 Minimum angular subtense
16 - 3.54 Mode-locking
16 - 3.55 Nominal ocular hazard area (NOHA)
16 - 3.56 Nominal ocular hazard distance (NOHD)
16 - 3.57 Operation
16 - 3.58 Protective enclosure
16 - 3.59 Protective housing
16 - 3.60 Pulse duration
16 - 3.61 Pulsed laser
16 - 3.62 Radiance
16 - 3.63 Radiant energy
17 - 3.64 Radiant exposure
17 - 3.65 Radiant power; radiant flux
17 - 3.66 Reflectance
17 - 3.67 Remote interlock connector
17 - 3.68 Safety interlock
17 - 3.69 Scanning laser radiation
17 - 3.70 Service
17 - 3.71 Service connection
17 - 3.72 Service panel
17 - 3.73 Single element failure (single fault condition)
17 - 3.74 Specular reflection
17 - 3.75 Surveying laser product
17 - 3.76 Tool
17 - 3.77 Transmittance
17 - 3.78 Transmittance (optical) density
18 - 3.79 Visible radiation (light)
18 - 3.80 Workpiece
18 - 3.81 Accessible emission level
18 - 3.82 Alpha max
18 - 3.83 Attenuation
18 - 3.84 Infrared radiation
18 - 3.85 Laser worker
18 - 3.86 Manufacturer
18 - 3.87 Mode field diameter (MFD)
18 - 3.88 Optical fibre
18 - 3.89 Optical fibre system
18 - 3.90 Repetitively pulsed laser
18 - 3.91 Scintillation
18 - 3.92 Shall
18 - 3.93 Should
18 - 3.94 Ultraviolet radiation
19 - SECTION 2 MANUFACTURING REQUIREMENTS
19 - 4 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS
19 - 4.1 General remarks
19 - 4.1.1 Modification
19 - 4.2 Protective housing
19 - 4.2.1 General
19 - 4.2.2 Service
19 - 4.2.3 Removable laser system
19 - 4.3 Access panels and safety interlocks
19 - 4.3.1 Safety interlocks
20 - 4.3.2 Override mechanisms
20 - 4.4 Remote interlock connector
20 - 4.5 Key control
20 - 4.6 Laser radiation emission warning
20 - 4.6.1 Warning devices
21 - 4.6.2 Warning device distances
21 - 4.6.3 Aperture indication
21 - 4.7 Beam stop or attenuator
21 - 4.8 Controls
21 - 4.9 Viewing optics
21 - 4.10 Scanning safeguard
21 - 4.11 Alignment aids
21 - 4.12 ` Walk-in' access
22 - 4.13 Environmental conditions
22 - 4.14 Protection against other hazards
22 - 4.14.1 Non-optical hazards
22 - 4.14.2 Collateral radiation
22 - 5 LABELLING
22 - 5.1 General
22 - 5.2 Class 1
22 - 5.3 Class 2
23 - 5.4 Class 3A
23 - 5.5 Class 3B
23 - 5.6 Class 4
23 - 5.7 Aperture label
23 - 5.8 Radiation output and Standards information
26 - 5.9 Labels for access panels
26 - 5.9.1 Labels for panels
26 - 5.9.2 Labels for safety interlocked panels
26 - 5.10 Warning for invisible laser radiation
26 - 5.11 Warning for visible laser radiation
26 - 5.12 Warning for LED radiation
26 - 6 OTHER INFORMATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
26 - 6.1 Information for the user
27 - 6.2 Purchasing and servicing information
33 - 7 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC LASER PRODUCTS
33 - 7.1 Medical laser products
39 - 7.2 Laser fibre optic transmission system
39 - 8 TESTS
39 - 8.1 General
39 - 8.2 Measurements of laser radiation for determining classification
42 - 9 CLASSIFICATION
42 - 9.1 Introduction
42 - 9.2 Description of laser class
42 - 9.3 Classification procedures
43 - 9.4 Repetitively pulsed or modulated lasers
44 - 9.5 Short emission durations
45 - SECTION 3 USER' S GUIDE
45 - 10 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
45 - 10.1 Primary hazards
45 - 10.2 Hazards incidental to laser operation
45 - 10.2.1 General
45 - 10.2.2 Atmospheric contamination
45 - 10.2.3 Collateral radiation hazards
46 - 10.3 Electrical hazards
46 - 10.4 Cryogenic coolants
46 - 10.5 Materials processing
46 - 10.6 Other hazards
46 - 10.7 Optical fibre systems
46 - 10.8 Additional hazards from optical fibres
47 - 11 HAZARD EVALUATION AND CONTROL MEASURES
47 - 11.1 Risk assessment
47 - 11.2 Hierarchy of control measures
48 - 11.3 Personal protection
48 - 11.4 Outdoor laser installations
48 - 11.4.1 Class 2 laser products
48 - 11.4.2 Class 3A laser products
49 - 11.4.3 Class 3BR laser products
49 - 11.4.4 Class 3B and Class 4 laser products
49 - 11.4.5 Lasers for surveying, alignment, and levelling
49 - 11.4.6 NOHD for Class 3B and Class 4 lasers used outdoors
50 - 11.5 Laser demonstrations, displays andexhibitions
50 - 11.6 Laboratory and workshop laser installations
50 - 11.6.1 Class 2 and Class 3A laser products
50 - 11.6.2 Class 3B laser products
50 - 11.6.3 Class 4 laser products
51 - 12 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
51 - 12.1 General
51 - 12.2 Use of remote interlock connector
52 - 12.3 Key control
52 - 12.4 Beam stop or attenuator
52 - 12.5 Warning signs
52 - 12.6 Beam paths
52 - 12.7 Specular reflections
52 - 12.8 Eye protection
52 - 12.8.1 General
53 - 12.8.2 Identification of eyewear
53 - 12.8.3 Required optical density
53 - 12.8.4 Protective eyewear
53 - 12.9 Optical fibre systems-Inspection
53 - 12.10 Optical fibre systems-Safe viewing procedures
54 - 12.11 Optical fibre systems-Fibre preparation
54 - 12.12 Protective clothing
54 - 12.13 Training
54 - 12.14 Medical surveillance
54 - 12.14.1 General
55 - 12.14.2 Eye examination of laser workers at commencement and termination of employment
56 - 12.14.3 Examination for possible injurious exposure from lasers
56 - 13 MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURES
56 - 13.1 General remarks
57 - 13.2 Limiting apertures
57 - 13.3 Repetitively pulsed or modulated lasers
58 - 13.3.1 Short emission durations
58 - 13.4 Measurement conditions
58 - 13.4.1 General
58 - 13.4.2 Minimum measurement distance
58 - 13.4.3 Apparent sources
58 - 13.5 Extended source lasers
66 - APPENDIX A - EXAMPLES OF CALCULATIONS
68 - A1 MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE (MPE) - INTRODUCTION
68 - A2 MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE (MPE) - INTRABEAM VIEWING
72 - A3 MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURES (MPE) - DIFFUSE REFLECTIONS AND EXTENDED SOURCES
74 - A4 MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE (MPE) - REPETITIVELY PULSED SYSTEMS
76 - A5 NOMINAL OCULAR HAZARD DISTANCE (NOHD)
86 - A6 ACCESSIBLE EMISSION LIMITS FOR DIVERGING BEAM, POINT-TYPE SOURCES
92 - APPENDIX B - MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS
92 - B1 ANATOMY OF THE EYE
92 - B2 THE EFFECTS OF LASER RADIATION ON BIOLOGICAL TISSUE
92 - B2.1 General
96 - B2.2 Hazards to the eye
99 - B2.3 Skin hazards
101 - APPENDIX C - BIBLIOGRAPHY
103 - APPENDIX D - SUMMARY TABLES
108 - APPENDIX E - HIGH POWER LASER CONSIDERATIONS PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE TO MATERIALS PROCESSING LASER PRODUCTS
108 - E1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
108 - E2 ERRANT LASER RADIATION
108 - E2.1 Fault conditions
109 - E2.2 Engineering features
109 - E2.3 Additional instructions
109 - E3 DESIGN OF PROTECTIVE HOUSINGS
109 - E3.1 Protective housing
109 - E3.2 Passive guards
110 - E3.3 Active guards
110 - E4 BEAM STOP
110 - E5 OTHER CONDITIONS
110 - E5.1 Laser exposure of housing and components
110 - E5.2 Associated hazards
111 - APPENDIX F - EYE EXAMINATION AT COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF LASER WORKERS USING CLASS 3B OR CLASS 4 LASERS
113 - APPENDIX G - RELATED STANDARDS

Specifies requirements and procedures designed to protect persons from laser radiation. Intended for application both by users and manufacturers of laser products. It specifies safe working levels of optical radiation, classifies lasers according to their degree of hazard and sets out detailed protective and control measures appropriate to each class. A statement on the effect of laser radiation on biological tissues is given in an Appendix, and other appendices cover maximum permissible exposures, calculations, a medical surveillance chart, and the design of warning labels and signs. It is based on, but not equivalent to IEC 825-1:1993.

This Standard is applicable to safety of laser products. For convenience it is divided into three separate sections: Section One (General) and the Appendices; Section Two (Manufacturing requirements); and Section Three (User's guide).A laser product may consist of a single laser with or without a separate power supply or may incorporate one or more lasers in a complex optical, electrical, or mechanical system. Typically, laser products are used for the demonstration of physical and optical phenomena; materials processing; data reading and storage; the transmission and display of information and such like. Such systems have found use in industry, business, entertainment, research, education and medicine. However, laser products which are sold to other manufacturers for use as components of any system for subsequent sale are not subject to this Standard, since the final product will itself be subject to it.Throughout this Standard, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are included whenever the word 'laser' is used.Any laser product or LED product is exempt from all further manufacturer requirements of this Standard if -(a) classification by the manufacturer according to Clauses 3, 8 and 9 shows that the emission level does not exceed the AEL of Class 1 under all conditions of operation, maintenance, service and failure; and(b) it does not contain an embedded laser or embedded LED.In addition to the hazards resulting from laser radiation, laser equipment may also give rise to other hazards such as fire and electric shock.This Standard describes the minimum requirements.Where a laser system forms a part of equipment which is subject to another Australian/ New Zealand or IEC Standard for safety (e.g. for medical equipment (AS/NZS 3200.2.22), IT equipment (AS/NZS 3260), audio and video equipment (AS 3250) and equipment for use in hazardous atmospheres), this Standard will apply in accordance with the provisions of IEC Guide 104* for hazards resulting from laser radiation. However, if the laser system is operable when removed from the equipment, the requirements of this Standard will apply to the removed unit.The requirements for electrical safety are not covered in this Standard. Such requirements are detailed in AS 3100 and NZS 6200.If no product safety Standard is applicable, then IEC 1010-1 shall apply.The MPE (maximum permissible exposure) values of this Standard were developed for laser radiation rather than for collateral radiation.However, if a concern exists that accessible collateral radiation might be hazardous, the laser MPE values may be applied to conservatively evaluate this risk.The MPE values shall not be applicable to patient exposure to laser radiation for the purpose of medical treatment.NOTE: Appendices A to D have been included for purposes of general guidance and to illustrate many typical cases. However, the Appendices must not be regarded as definitive or exhaustive and reference should always be made to the appropriate clause(s) in Sections One to Three.

First published as AS 2211-1978.
Second edition 1981.
Third edition 1991.
Jointly revised and redesignated AS/NZS 2211.1:1997.