Risk Assessment
IMS-MRL LASERS
Describe the product and
application
Describe the Laser
Date: 08/04/09
Name of Assessor: Margaret Blount
The Departmental Microscopy Facility contains four lasers connected to the Zeiss LSM 510 META confocal
microscope in room HR-36-04-150 and two lasers connected to the Zeiss Palm Microbeam Rel.4.2 in room
HR-36-04-151. The Department also has a FACS analyser which incorporates two lasers, this is currently
housed in the large laboratory on level 5, HR-35-05-120.
The Zeiss LSM 510 META is attached to 4 lasers:
1. Ar/ML 458/477/488/514, Class 3B, 30mW
2. HeNe 594, Class 3B, 2mW
3. HeNe 633, Class 3B, 5mW
4. Diode 405, Class 3B, 50mW
The Zeiss Palm Microbeam Rel.4.2 is attached to one laser:
1. Cutting laser – 355nm, pulse energy ≥90μJ, Class 3B: Laser class of system during normal
operation is 1M.
The FACS analyser is attached to two lasers:
1. Argon Ion 488 laser, class 3B, 15mW.
2. Diode laser 635, Class 3B, 10mw.
The laser beams are delivered by a closed fibre optic system to the confocal head. In the confocal
microscope the laser light is conducted via enclosed optical fibres into the META head and into the optical
system of the microscope.
In the Palm Microbeam, the laser is housed in a LaserUnit where the laser light is generated and focused
whence it is conducted into the microscope via an enclosed microscope adapter.
In the FACS analyser the lasers are housed in a separate compartment from the sample loading area and
are only accessible by the manufacturer’s authorised engineers.
Describe the Laser Process
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Laser light is applied, through the microscope objective, to the sample. In the confocal microscope the laser
beam scans the sample; In the microbeam the laser is used to cut areas of the sample via software
operated by the user, using an image generated on the computer screen. In the FACS analyser the sample
is aspirated into a chamber enclosed within the laser housing where it is subjected to laser illumination and
fluorescence is detected by probes also within this housing.
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Risk Assessment
Describe the Environment
The confocal system is in a dedicated, purpose-built room, 150, which is air conditioned. Access to the
microscope is limited to trained users. The room itself is enclosed and air conditioned. It contains one
fluorescence microscope and one confocal microscope, incorporating 4 lasers, two PCs.
The Palm Microbeam is in a separate purpose built room, which contains the Palm Microbeam, a
conventional light microscope and other small equipment.
The FACS analyser is situated within the communal laboratory; it is not possible for users to access the
laser beam.
Who uses the product or
could affect its operation?
Underline the part(s) of the
life cycle of interest
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Authorised users (see appendix A for list of authorised users), maintenance staff (see appendix B for list of
maintenance staff), service engineers
Planning, Design, Manufacture, Testing, Transport, Installation, Commissioning, Normal Operation,
Maintenance, Servicing, Modification, Decommissioning, Disposal
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Risk Assessment
Assessment Number:
Assessed by:
M.A. Blount
STEP 1
List significant hazards
Assessment Date: 08/04/09
Review Date: 08/04/10
STEP 2
List groups of
List existing controls
people who are
at risk
Activity/Facility Assessed: Microscopy and FACS
Location: IMS-MRL, level 4 and 5
STEP 3
Are these
What is the risk
Actions Required
controls OK?
factor from
(See over)
these hazards?
All
Lasers are fully contained in
cabinets. Only qualified service
personnel are permitted to
open these boxes.
Instructions to this effect are
contained in the local rules and
are part of pre-use training
required for authorisation.
Yes
Low
Cooling system
Laser cabinets are actively
ventilated to external source.
Integrity of system is checked
by maintenance technician.
System is serviced regularly
(on contract)
Yes
Low
Add to inspection checklist
Explosion of mercury arc lamp
Lamp is changed regularly
after 300 hours by technician.
Housing of lamp is designed to
contain explosion. Adequate
ventilation and contingency
plan devised in case of
emergency (set out in local
rules)
Yes
Low
Add to inspection checklist
Equipment interconnections -Trip hazard
and possible damage to equipment
(e.g.fibre breakage)
All optical guides and other
equipment interconnections
are kept out of the way.
Yes
Low
Add to inspection checklist
The Laser:
Electric shock from high voltage power
supply
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3
Risk Assessment
Assessment Number:
Assessed by:
M.A. Blount
STEP 1
List significant hazards
Assessment Date: 08/04/09
Review Date: 08/04/10
STEP 2
List groups of
List existing controls
people who are
at risk
Activity/Facility Assessed: Microscopy and FACS
Location: IMS-MRL, level 4 and 5
STEP 3
Are these
What is the risk
Actions Required
controls OK?
factor from
(See over)
these hazards?
Beam Delivery:
Exposure to laser radiation, Class 3B,
UV-A and visible wavelengths.
UV-A – Short term – burns to skin
Long term – premature cataracts in lens
of eye. Associated with malignant
melanoma in skin
Visible – retinal hazard
Laser beam is divergent when objectives
in place
All
Beam delivery
1. Optical fibres encased
in flexible metal
coverings and are
attached by screws on
fixings at all points.
They are routed
behind the equipment.
Only qualified service
personnel are
permitted to
disconnect this
equipment.
2. Beam contained within
microscope optics –
interlocked to prevent
viewing laser through
microscope optics.
3. Free air from objective
to sample ≤1.0cm gap.
Users instructed not to
insert reflective
material into beam
path.
Users may not alter the UV
light source. Exposure is
limited at the sample. Users
are advised to block the UV
light source by switching off or
using filter when changing
samples. Avoid exposure to
UV as much as possible.
Instructions contained in the
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Yes
Low
4
Risk Assessment
Assessment Number:
Assessed by:
M.A. Blount
STEP 1
List significant hazards
Assessment Date: 08/04/09
Review Date: 08/04/10
STEP 2
List groups of
List existing controls
people who are
at risk
Activity/Facility Assessed: Microscopy and FACS
Location: IMS-MRL, level 4 and 5
STEP 3
Are these
What is the risk
Actions Required
controls OK?
factor from
(See over)
these hazards?
local rules and are part of pre
use training required for
authorisation.
Exposure to laser beam when changing
samples
Interlock stops laser beam
when condenser tilted back
thus exposure is impossible
during normal operation.
Yes
Low
Yes
Low
Yes
Low
The Laser Process:
Reflections of laser radiation from sample
and metalwork
Chemical hazards from samples
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Users
Users
Light intensity at the process
site is reduced. Viewing of
sample and operation of
microscope is via software
controls on the computer
screen at such an angle to the
microscope that the user is
unlikely to view any laser
reflections in the unlikely event
of a problem occurring.
It is necessary to swing back
the condenser assembly to
change samples, this operates
an interlock preventing
inadvertent exposure to lasers
emissions.
Users are not permitted to
change the objective lenses.
Only microscope oil and
ethanol are used. Exposure to
the former is controlled by
wearing gloves (see COSSH
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Risk Assessment
Assessment Number:
Assessed by:
M.A. Blount
STEP 1
List significant hazards
Assessment Date: 08/04/09
Review Date: 08/04/10
STEP 2
List groups of
List existing controls
people who are
at risk
Activity/Facility Assessed: Microscopy and FACS
Location: IMS-MRL, level 4 and 5
STEP 3
Are these
What is the risk
Actions Required
controls OK?
factor from
(See over)
these hazards?
form)
Biological hazards from samples
Users
Refer to individual biological
risk assessment
Contamination
All
Ditto
Small room - Risk of tripping or
inadvertent damage to system due to
overcrowding.
Users
The room is equipped and
intended for a maximum of 5
people in normal
circumstances, as explained
during training.
Use by inadequately trained users
Users
Environment & People:
Prolonged use of equipment can result in
eye strain and ergonomic hazards
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Users
All users must be authorised;
before this can occur they
must have received proper
training. They must also sign a
declaration that they have read
the local rules.
Ambient lighting kept as high
as possible, restrict length of
time using equipment,
workstation designed for ease
of use and fully adjustable
chairs provided.
Yes
Low
Yes
Low
Yes
Low
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