Laser Safety Roles and Responsibilities

 
Laser Safety Officer (Program Manager, Laser Safety)

  1. Review, recommend, coordinate, and assist with laser system evaluations on the purchase of Class 3b and Class 4 laser systems.
  2. Provide assistance in evaluating, assessing and controlling hazards.
  3. Active member of Laser Safety Committee
  4. Maintain records of laser systems, laser safety liaison, and laser assistants.
  5. Coordinate/conduct laser safety training.
  6. Participate in accident investigations involving lasers.
  7. Periodically audit the departmental Laser Safety Program.
  8. Perform laser safety audits on scheduled intervals or more frequent as deemed necessary.
  9. Ensure that proper safety and operational training is provided to the Laser Safety Liaison, Laser Assistants.
  10. Work collaboratively with hospital physician credentialing mechanism to ensure that physicians are properly credentialed for specific laser systems.
  11. The LSO shall ensure that a written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) plan is developed. The plan will describe the intended use of the laser device, its associated safety features and the procedures to assure the safety to laser operators and other persons in the vicinity of the laser device. The SOP must also include the names of all laser operators.
  12. Ensure that laser rental company or any similar contract laser service that operate within the facility has supplied the LSO evidence or documentation of appropriate training of the rental company’s laser technicians and periodic maintenance of their equipment.
  13. Conduct comprehensive Laser Safety Audit/Inspection of the facility’s laser safety program, protective safety equipment and accessories.
  14. Become a member of American Society for Laser Medicine and Society (ASLMS), in order to stay abreast of developments in the medical laser field, and disseminate such information to hospital physician staff as deemed appropriate.
  15. Maintain continuing education on an annual basis in the area of medical/surgical laser use or safety.

 


Department


Identify laser products that are covered by the ANSI Standard Z136.3 – 2005 and establish procedures to ensure that the ANSI standards, VUMC laser safety policies, a are followed.
Ensure individual who work with or around lasers have received the proper laser safety training.
Establish a safety review procedure to determine that adequate hazard analyses and corrective actions have been completed for all applicable laser systems.


Laser Safety Liaison

  1. Be knowledgeable of the education and training requirements for laser safety, the potential laser hazards and associated control measures for all lasers under their control
  2. Report known or suspected accidents to VEHS and Laser Safety Officer.
  3. Ensure that lasers under their control are not operated or modified without approval from the LSO, supervisor or principal investigator.
  4. Ensure that all administrative and engineering controls are followed.
  5. Maintain inventory control and a permanent record of the status of all Class 3B, and Class 4 lasers
  6. Ensure that individuals working with lasers have attended and taken the general laser safety training and provide laser operators with training in the administrative, safety and standard operating procedures.
  7. Classify and label any unclassified lasers
  8. Attend scheduled VUMC laser safety training programs.
  9. Notify VEHS immediately in the event of an exposure to a Class 3 or Class 4 laser.
  10. Report known or suspected accidents to VEHS and Laser Safety Officer.
  11. Provide standard operating procedures (SOP), in accordance with ANSI Z136.1-2005 and any established VUMC policy, for all laser operations involving Class 3 and Class 4 lasers detailing alignment, operation and maintenance procedures.

Laser Assistants

 

  1. Laser assistants shall be assigned to set up and operate the laser equipment, and monitor the laser treatment controlled area for safety during laser procedures. From the time the laser switch is activated, to the time it is turned off, the laser assistant shall control the operating panel and monitor room for compliance with safety policies and procedures.
  2. Attend laser safety training.
  3. Familiar with laser wavelength specific safety hazards and non-beam hazards
  4. Follow standard operating procedures and comply with requirements established by the Laser Safety Committee, and VUMC policies.
  5. Report known or suspected accidents to the supervisor, EHS, and the LSO.
  6. Committed to implement laser safety standards and policies.