This is reminder was sent to Laser Use PIs as follow-up to the Vice Chancellor of Research, Katherine Yelick’s, October 28, 2022 message.
SUBMIT BY 01/31/2023: All PIs must submit an attestation that they have organized a safety pause meeting by January 31, 2023. Failure to provide proof of compliance with these requirements will result in the suspension of lab activities.
Laser Safety Pause Reminder
In response to 2021-2022 laser exposure incidents, a mandatory laser use pause was held on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 to promote engagement by PIs and reset expectations around laser and lab safety. During the pause, laser safety presentations were held to encourage knowledge transfer, improvement of safety practices, and the strengthening of safety awareness culture within labs and shops. A recording of the presentations can be found here
This is a reminder the Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety Committee (NIRSC) mandated that ALL campus laser PI users must participate in laser safety pause activities and attest by the deadline of January 31, 2023
Required Actions
All PIs who run labs that involve the use of lasers must hold an in-person meeting with the sole purpose of addressing laser safety issues in the lab. During the safety pause meeting, PIs should personally ensure that:
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All lab members are up to date on training,
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All LUAs are in place and up to date, and that
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All SOPs are complete and have been read and signed by all laser users in the lab.
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All PIs must submit an attestation that they have organized a safety pause meeting by January 31, 2023.
Importantly, the meeting should also involve the identification, discussion and mitigation of specific laser hazards in the lab. These specific laser hazards are often not ones that general training outside of the lab can help the user identify. Review NIRSC’s Guidance for Laser Labs for the Safety Pause for more information.
Safety is the responsibility of everyone in the lab, at all levels. It is not our goal to single out individuals or labs, but rather to reinforce a culture of safety across campus, identify and address major safety risks, empower all individuals to report any concerns, and learn from incidents when they occur.
If you have questions or concerns, please email lso@berkeley.edu. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.