• Specific Year
    Any

RADIATION SAFETY (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1983 - SCHEDULE 14

RADIATION SAFETY (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1983 - SCHEDULE 14

[Regulation 55]

Requirements to be complied with in respect of premises in which class 4 lasers are operated or used

1.                 The entire beam path of the laser shall be enclosed and that enclosure shall be equipped with interlocks in accordance with Section 4.3 of the laser safety standard in order to prevent the operation or use of the laser if that enclosure is not properly installed.

2.                 The laser or its laser system shall be provided with a master switch which, when a key, magnetic card, cipher combination or other similar device is removed makes it impossible to operate the laser or its laser system.

3.                 The beam of the laser or its laser system shall be terminated in an absorbent fire resistant material, which shall be inspected periodically for signs of deterioration.

4.                 If the laser or its laser system is operated or used without its entire beam path and interaction site enclosed, that operation or use shall take place in a controlled area which is permanently isolated from other areas within the premises concerned.

5.                 Except in medical laser installations, safety latches or interlocks designed —

            (a)         to prevent uncontrolled entry into; and

            (b)         to enable rapid exit from; and

            (c)         to enable rapid entry in an emergency into,

                the controlled area referred to in item 4 shall be installed.

6.                 It shall be possible temporarily to override entrance safety switches to permit persons to operate or use the laser or its laser system whilst that operation or use is continuous.

7.                 In the case of a pulsed laser, power supplies thereto shall be as far therefrom as possible.

8.                 In industrial laser installations, the laser or its laser system shall be —

            (a)         operated or used; and

            (b)         monitored by means of closed circuit television or through a viewing window of approved design,

                from a position outside the controlled area referred to in item 4.

9.                 A control switch shall be situated in the controlled area referred to in item 4 for the purpose of switching off the laser in the event of an emergency.

10.                 Surfaces within the controlled area referred to in item 4 must be rendered non‑reflective by means of approved materials to reduce the possibility of hazardous diffuse reflections.

11.                 In the case of an infrared laser, surfaces within the controlled area referred to in item 4 which are exposed to reflections from that laser shall be protected by screening with approved fire‑resistant material close to the reflecting source of that laser.

[12, 13.         deleted]

14.                 Approved ear protection shall be provided for persons operating or using the laser during noisy applications thereof.

15.                 The requirements of Part IV shall be complied with in respect of any ionising radiation produced by the laser.

16.                 High pressure arc lamps and filament lamps in the laser or its laser system shall be enclosed in housings capable of withstanding the maximum explosive pressures resulting from the disintegration of those lamps.

17.                 The target of the laser and elements of its optical train which are liable to shatter during the operation or use of the laser shall be enclosed in housings or otherwise protected to prevent injury as a result of any such shattering to persons operating, using or observing the laser.

18.                 Approved shielding shall be provided in respect of ultraviolet, visible and infrared collateral radiation from a laser discharge tube, optical pump source or other part of the laser or its laser system.

[19.         deleted]

20.                 The illuminance level in the controlled area referred to in item 4 shall be not less than 350 lux at all working sites during the operation or use of the laser.

21.                 An alarm system, consisting of lights visible through protective eyewear, shall be used to give warning of the operation or use of the laser.

22.                 Area warning signs complying with Section 10.5 of the laser safety standard shall be displayed at the entrance to the controlled area referred to in item 4.

23.                 All persons having access to the controlled area referred to in item 4 shall be authorised to do so by or on behalf of the person in whose name the premises concerned are registered.

24.                 Persons operating or using the laser system are to undergo eye examinations in accordance with section 10.11 of the laser safety standard.

        [Schedule XIV amended: Gazette 10 Oct 1986 p. 3846; 15 Oct 1996 p. 5452; 17 Aug 2010 p. 4048; 20 Sep 2016 p. 3968; 7 Mar 2017 p. 1527.]