Laser Eye Exposure from a Specular Reflection

What went right?

• Laser user alerted the Principal Investigator (PI) and group laser safety contact of the incident. 

• The PI contacted Environment Health & Safety (EH&S) Laser Safety to inform them that a laser eye exposure incident involving one of their staff occured.

• Research group paused laser operation.

• Research group held a meeting to discuss eye exposure incident and laser safety issues specific to ensure laser researchers have and wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed in accordance with the campus laser safety policy and group laboratory safety operating procedure(s) (SOPs). 

• Research group created a laser safety corrective action plan.

What should have been done differently?

• Laser user should have used tools that do not have a reflective surface or coating.

• Laser user and the other researcher in the same room should have worn appropriate laser protective eyewear as required. 

• Laser user should have installed appropriate laser beam curbs or barriers (including those of appropriate height) to contain or block any stray laser reflections.

What was the cause of the eye exposure?

• The direct cause of the incident was the insertion of a ball driver tool with a reflective surface into the path of the 0.02 W continuous wave beam (420 nm), which reflected the laser beam into the eye of a nearby researcher.
• The laser user was not adequately trained (hands on) and lacked experience with building an optical layout with an active beam present, including appropriate laser safety beam management. 

What corrective actions will be taken?

• Research group will replace tools that have reflective surfaces/coating with tools that have matte black finish. 

• Research group will draft a separate procedure for all “new” optical builds. This procedure will include safety requirements.  

• Research group will review and revise all laser SOPs incorporating new procedures for working in the lab. This will include photos of how alignment mode can be turned on for each optical system. Group will submit revised SOPs to the EH&S Laser Safety program for review.

• Research group will have a procedure to ensure that all laser users have met the campus laser safety initial training requirement prior to working on any optical experimental set-up and are provided appropriate “hands-on” training.