Laser
Safety UPPS
No. 04.05.08
Issue
No. 3
Effective
Date: 07/15/2009
Review:
June 1 E4Y
01. POLICY STATEMENTS
01.01 Individuals
at the university will use lasers in accordance with law and the regulations of
the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) contained in 25 Texas
Administrative Code §289.301, Texas Regulations for the Control
of Laser Radiation Hazards.
01.02 A
laser is defined as an electronic device that emits stimulated radiation to
energy density levels that could reasonably cause bodily harm. A laser may also
produce an intense, coherent, directional beam of light by stimulating
electronic or molecular transitions to lower energy levels. The term
"laser" also includes the assembly of electrical, mechanical, and
optical components associated with the laser. A laser can be a component of a
product or system.
02. LASER SAFETY COMMITTEE
02.01 The Laser Safety Committee will review and
monitor the use of laser radiation at Texas State. This committee is appointed
by and directly responsible to the president.
02.02 The
Laser Safety Committee consists of a department chair or school director, the
laser safety officer, the director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk
Management and additional members as deemed appropriate.
02.03 Members
of the Laser Safety Committee are appointed in the following manner:
a. By
June 15 of each year, the dean of the College of Science will submit to the president,
via the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, recommendations for:
1) A
qualified person to serve as chair of the committee for the succeeding academic
year,
2) A
qualified person to serve as laser safety officer, and
3) other
committee members as deemed appropriate by the dean.
b. The
committee meets at the beginning of each academic year and at such other times as
are deemed necessary by the chair of the committee.
03. DUTIES OF THE LASER SAFETY OFFICER
03.01 The
laser safety officer is the delegated authority for the daily implementation of
policies regarding the safety use of lasers. The laser safety officer shall:
a. Insure
that each user of lasers is in compliance with Texas Regulations for the
Control of Laser Radiation Hazards, §289.301;
b. Maintain
records as required by the above mentioned regulations;
c. Stop
any operations not in compliance with the above mentioned regulations; and
d. Conduct
periodic surveys to verify the current inventory of covered lasers.
04. PROCEDURES FOR PROCUREMENT OF LASERS
04.01 Each
account manager considering the procurement of a laser (with the exception of
laser printers) shall include the laser safety officer in the planning stage
prior to procurement to assure proper compliance with state regulations.
04.02 The
account manager shall supply the following information to the laser safety officer:
a. Manufacture
model and serial number;
b. Wave
length and power of emission and class of the laser; and
c. Description
of appropriate precautions to be taken in its use and installation.
05. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS
05.01 Reviewers
of this UPPS include the following:
Position Date
Director, Environmental Health, June 1 E4Y
Safety &Risk Management
Laser Safety Officer June 1 E4Y
06. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
This
UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities
and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document
until superseded.
Director,
Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management; senior reviewer of this UPPS
Vice
President for Finance and Support Services
President