Ill. Admin. Code tit. 32, § 315.100 - General Operator Requirements
a) Administrative and Procedural Controls
1) The registrant shall provide personnel
operating lasers written operating and safety procedures. These procedures
shall include restrictions required for the safe operation of each laser and
shall include the topics listed in the laser safety program of subsection
(a)(2).
AGENCY NOTE: Sample standard operating procedures for the use of laser systems are contained in Appendix A. The Agency recommends these procedures be modified and adopted for each registrant's specific use of lasers.
2) The registrant
shall provide for initial and annual in-service training in laser safety for
individuals using laser systems to ensure their awareness of the registrant's
laser safety practices and policies. The in-service training shall include the
following topics:
A) Operating and emergency
procedures for the lasers;
B) Use
of laser protective devices, including selection and use of protective
eyewear;
C) Clear warnings and
precautions to avoid possible exposure to laser radiation in excess of the MPE;
and
D) Requirements for safe
operation of lasers as described in this Part.
3) Personnel operating lasers shall be
instructed in and able to demonstrate competence with the registrant's
operating and safety procedures.
4)
Alignment of laser optical systems (e.g., mirrors, lenses and beam deflectors)
shall be performed in a manner that assures that no one is exposed to laser
radiation above the MPE.
5) A
controlled area shall be established when exposure to laser radiation in excess
of the MPE limit is possible. The controlled area shall meet the following
requirements:
A) Be posted as required by
Section
315.150.
B) Access shall be only by permission of the
laser safety officer or a trained designated representative.
6) Unenclosed Beam Paths
A) An evaluation of the expected beam path
and the potential hazards from reflective surfaces that may be encountered
shall be conducted before operating the laser. All reflective surfaces shall be
excluded from the beam path at all points where the laser radiation exceeds the
MPE.
B) If applicable, the
stability of the laser platform shall be evaluated to determine the constraints
that shall be placed upon the beam traverse and the extent of the range of
control.
C) No laser shall be
operated or made ready for operation until the area along all points of the
beam path where the laser radiation will exceed the MPE is clear of
individuals, unless the individuals are wearing appropriate protective
devices.
b)
Requirements for Safe Operation
1) Operator
Supervision
A) The laser system shall be
operated at all times under the direct supervision or control of an
experienced, trained operator who shall maintain visual surveillance of
conditions for safe use and terminate laser emission in the event of
malfunction or any other condition of unsafe use.
B) Unattended use of the laser system shall
be permitted only when the laser safety officer has implemented appropriate
control measures that provide adequate protection and laser safety training to
those who may enter the laser controlled area during times of unattended
use.
2) Maximum
Permissible Exposure (MPE)
A) No individual
shall be exposed to levels of laser radiation higher than the MPE, as described
in Tables A and B.
B) In those
cases in which MPE is known for particular wavelengths and pulse durations,
exposure to laser radiation shall be prohibited.
C) Measurements and calculations performed to
determine MPE limits shall be made in a manner consistent with the criteria
contained in ANSI Z136.1 -2000.
3) The minimum laser radiant energy or laser
power level required for the application shall be used.
4) All service procedures shall be performed
by qualified personnel who are trained in laser radiation protection.
5) Protective eyewear, when specified by the
laser safety officer, when engineering or other procedural and administrative
controls are inadequate to eliminate potential exposure in excess of the
applicable MPE, shall be worn by all individuals with access to Class 3b and
Class 4 levels of laser radiation. The protective eyewear devices shall meet
the following requirements:
A) Provide a
comfortable and appropriate fit all around the area of the eyes sufficient to
protect the eyes from laser radiation.
B) Be in proper condition to ensure the
optical filters and holder provide the required optical density or greater at
the desired wavelengths, and retain all protective properties during use of the
device.
C) Be suitable for the
specific wavelength of the laser and be of optical density adequate for the
energy of the laser.
D) Have the
optical density or densities and associated wavelengths permanently labeled on
the filters or otherwise permanently identified.
E) Be examined by the registrant's laser
safety officer, or designee, at intervals not to exceed 6 months, to ensure the
reliability of the protective filters and integrity of the protective filter
frames.
F) Eyewear not meeting the
requirements of this subsection (b)(5) shall not be utilized as protective
eyewear.
6) When there
is a possibility of exposure to laser radiation that exceeds the MPE limits for
skin as specified in Table B, the registrant shall require the appropriate use
of protective gloves, clothing and shields.
7) Laser products certified by a manufacturer
to be compliant with the requirements of 21 CFR 1040 applicable at the date of
manufacture shall be maintained in compliance with the requirements. Certified
laser products that have been modified shall comply with this Part.
c) Engineering Controls
1) Each laser product shall have a protective
housing that prevents, during operation, human access to laser radiation that
exceeds the limits of a Class 1 laser (see
21 CFR 1040.10,
Table I), wherever and whenever human access is not necessary in order for the
laser system to perform its intended function.
2) Safety Interlocks
A) A safety interlock, which ensures that
laser radiation is not accessible above MPE limits, shall be provided for any
portion of the protective housing that, by design, can be removed or displaced
without the use of tools during normal operation or maintenance.
B) Adjustment during operation, service,
testing or maintenance of a laser containing interlocks shall not cause the
interlocks to become inoperative or the laser radiation to exceed MPE limits
outside the protective housing except where a controlled area, as specified in
subsection (a)(5), is established.
C) For pulsed lasers, interlocks shall
prevent firing of the laser.
D) For
continuous wave lasers, the interlocks shall turn off the power supply or
interrupt the beam.
E) An interlock
shall not allow access to laser radiation in excess of MPE limits when the
interlock is closed.
F) Multiple
safety interlocks, or a means to preclude removal or displacement of the
interlocked portion of the protective housing upon failure, shall be provided
if failure of a single interlock would allow human access to levels of Class 3b
or Class 4 laser radiation.
3) Viewing Optics and Windows
A) All viewing ports, viewing optics or
display screens included as an integral part of an enclosed laser or laser
system shall incorporate suitable means to attenuate the laser radiation
transmitted through the port to less than the MPE during maintenance or
operation of the laser.
B) When
optical systems such as lenses, telescopes and microscopes are used that were
not supplied as part of a certified laser product, the laser safety officer
shall determine the potential hazard and specify administrative procedures and
the use of controls such as interlocks or filters.
4) Warning Systems
A) Each laser system shall provide visual or
aural indication during the emission of accessible laser radiation.
B) Any visual indicator shall be clearly
visible through protective eyewear designed specifically for the wavelengths of
the emitted laser radiation.
C)
Visual indicators shall be positioned so that viewing does not result in
exposure to laser radiation in excess of the MPE.
D) An indication shall be provided prior to
emission of the radiation to allow appropriate action to avoid
exposure.
5) Additional
Requirements for Indoor Class 4 Laser Controlled Areas
A) Latches, interlocks or other appropriate
means shall be used to restrict access to controlled areas.
B) Measures shall be designed to allow both
rapid exit by the laser personnel at all times and entrance to the controlled
area in an emergency condition.
C)
For emergency conditions, a control-disconnect switch or equivalent device
(panic button) shall be available for deactivating the laser or closing the
shutter.
D) During tests requiring
continuous operation, the laser safety officer or a trained designated
representative shall be permitted to momentarily override the safety interlocks
to allow access to other authorized personnel if it is clearly evident that:
i) There is no optical radiation hazard at
the point of entry; and
ii) The
necessary protective devices are being worn by the entering
personnel.
E) Optical
paths (e.g., windows) from an indoor facility shall be controlled in such a
manner as to reduce the transmitted values of the laser radiation to levels at
or below the MPE. When the laser beam must exit the indoor controlled area (as
in the case of exterior atmospheric beam paths), the operator shall be
responsible for ensuring that the beam path is limited to controlled air space
or controlled ground space when the beam irradiance or radiant exposure is
above the appropriate MPE.
Notes
Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 20200, effective December 9, 2013
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