Radiation Safety Committee
-
NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA
Howard Ackland
Telfer Building K07
Telephone +61 2 9351 7722
Facsimile +61 2 9351 5868
Mobile 0402 463 978
email howarda@usyd.edu.au
Secretary
File Reference: 2007/3252
2 December 2008
INFORMATION SHEET
No. 12
LASER POINTERS
Changes to NSW legislation require that from 1 December 2008 laser pointers
with a power output greater that 1 milli-watt [mW] will require persons to obtain a
“permit to use” from the NSW Police Department.
The Radiation Safety Committee recommends that laser pointers not exceeding
1mW should preferably be used in the University. However the Committee
acknowledges that higher power pointers can be used and leave this decision up
to individual users.
In addition to the Police requirements, the University Radiation Safety Officer
advises that any laser pointer with a power output exceeding 5mW MUST NOT
be used. “Green light” laser pointers are readily available in powers exceeding
this level and the safety requirements for this Class of laser, as detailed in the
Laser Safety Standard AS2211, can NOT be complied with in a lecture theatre
situation.
Therefore all staff should check the power output of laser pointers in their
possession. If the pointer exceeds:
 1mW - a permit to use must be obtained
 5mW - it should no longer be used
If the power of any laser pointer is unknown then it should not be used until this
can be determined.
Further information about these requirements can be obtained from the NSW Police
website:
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/structure/corporate_services/firearms/laser_poi
nters/laser_pointers_-_questions_and_answers , or from:
The University Radiation Safety Officer
Mr. Howard Ackland
Phone ext. 17722
e-mail: howarda@usyd.edu.au
219514006
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