LASER ACTIVITY RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
This form must be completed in respect of each registered laser used on University premises.
School / Dept / Unit
Science / Engineering
A: Laser associated hazards and existing controls
1. Has the laser been
registered with the
University Laser
Safety Officer (see
laser safety website at
http:///www.le.ac.uk/c
hemistry/Lasersafety/l
asersafetyweb.html
2. Give brief details
of the laser to be used,
and its location.
Yes
If this form is used to
record a review of a
previous assessment,
you may refer to that
assessment and just
note changes.
Location: Cell 2 main Engineering building, thermo lab, room G06
3. Give a brief
summary of the work
activity.
Used for pumping a Sirah dye laser and on its own for LIF and Raman
spectroscopy
State whether open
beam work is proposed.
Part of the beam will be open and expanded but shielding will be applied
where practicable
4. List significant
hazards
Take into account laser
class; beam position in
relation to doors &
windows; use of optical
devices within the
beam; beam stops; nonbeam hazards such as
high voltage, toxic
materials, etc
Stray reflections from mirrors and lenses.
Operators will be in the room with the laser during set up and maintenance.
Possible fire hazard from laser and open flames from gas burners it is used
on.
Do not forget hazards
which may be
exacerbated by poor
visibility as a
consequence of
working in a darkened
room – e.g., trip
hazards.
5. Relevant University
or local guidelines or
standards
If Local Rules used,
please attach a copy to
this form.
D:\106761970.doc
Continuum Precision II PR8000 class 4 pulsed emitting 1200mJ at 1064nm,
10Hz repetition rate.
Tick appropriate box(es) for safety guidelines, etc., used :
British Standard Published Document PD IEC TR 60825-14:2004 – “The safety of laser products”
Local Rules -
Location of Local Rules………………………………………………………
6. List who might be
exposed to the
hazards (e.g. staff,
students, visitors,
consider numbers at
risk)
Registered staff, PG and UG students.
Visiting academics and research sponsors covered by their institutions laser
safety schemes
Use separate entries
for normal operation
and operation during
beam adjustment or
laser servicing, etc.
7. How might they be
harmed? (type(s) of
injury or health
problem that might
result)
Eye damage.
Burns to skin
Please use a separate
entry for each type of
potential injury that
could be caused by
exposure to a hazard
8. List control
measures in place to
reduce risks
Use the information
from the checklist on
the registration form to
compile the list of
control measures.
Group controls under
the headings of
“Engineering controls”;
“Administrative
controls” and “personal
protective equipment”.
Note that “engineering
controls should fail to
safety, for example
failure of a bulb in an
illuminated sign should
be interlocked to a
beam shutter.
For each control
identified above, assess
whether this is
adequate, is actually
used in practice and
state whether this is
regularly checked,
where appropriate.
Note that protective
eyeware must not be
relied upon as a
primary control
measure.
D:\106761970.doc
Admin controls:
door signs
restricted issue of keys to laser and enclosure
written procedures for using and setting up laser
Engineering controls:
laser interlocked to door with local override
key control of laser
enclosed beam path (where possible) and beam stops
beam below standing eye level
control and measurement systems outside enclosure
operators in enclosure only for set up and maintenance
remote view of enclosure from control room via cctv
low intensity used for setup
Personal protective equipment:
eye protection available in control room for set up and maintenance
B: Assessing the residual level of risk and further action needed
9.1 How severe is
any injury or health
effect likely to be?
9.2. How likely is
exposure to the
hazard?
9.3. Calculate the
risk score by
multiplying the 2
scores in Q9.1 & 9.2
Tick one box
(S =score given
in brackets)
Tick one box
(P =score given
in brackets)
Risk Score
(S x P) =

X

Minor
(1)
Very unlikely
Serious
(2)
Unlikely
Major
(3)
Possible
 (1)
 (2)X
 (3)
Low
Medium
High
 (13)
(46)X
(89)

Fatal
(4)
Likely
 (4)
Very High
(1216)
10. Immediate further action to be taken to make the situation
safe / reduce risk to health
Action to be
taken by
whom?
Implementation
Date
11. Further action or additional controls needed to reduce risk as
low as reasonably practicable
Action to be
taken by
whom?
Implementation
Date
Name of principal user
(please print)
Name of Assessor
Dr. Chris Coats
Paul Williams
Signature of Assessor
12. Date for Review
(maximum 12 months from date of this assessment)
D:\106761970.doc
Date: