Appendix B: Laser Laboratory Visitor Policy

• A laboratory visitor is any person who is present in the laboratory as an invited guest of any UC Berkeley employee or student researcher.
• Visitors who are to be in the laboratory for a period of more than one day but less than 30 days are considered short term researchers.
• Persons who will be in the laboratory for a period of more than 30 days are considered to be campus laser users.

It is the policy of the UC Berkeley Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety Committee to require the same level of laser laboratory safety for all visitors and short-term researchers as is required for laser users. All visitors and short-term researchers are to be escorted by a person whose name appears on the Laser Use Authorization (LUA) as a laser user.It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to assure that the laser users in their facilities are informed of, understand, and follow this visitor policy.

It is the responsibility of the visitor’s laser user escort to provide the visitor with an appropriate safety orientation covering the hazards in the laser laboratory. The escort shall also provide appropriate safety equipment and require the visitor to use the safety equipment.

Short-term researchers must be escorted by an approved laser user and they are not authorized to work independently with lasers. Under these arrangements, they do not need to be added to an LUA. If they wish to work independently with a laser, they must become an approved laser user by attending UC Berkeley’s laser safety training and be added to an active status LUA. 

As a reminder, no unregistered use of lasers is allowed under any circumstances. The LUA indicates the registered use(s) of the laser system. All LUA and UC Berkeley Laser Safety Policy requirements must be followed at all times

It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to ensure that persons who are not invited into the laser laboratory or who fail to follow directions regarding safety policy or the use of safety equipment are immediately escorted from the laser facility.

Normally, it is not necessary to inform EH&S of the presence of visitors. It is necessary to inform EH&S of the presence of short-term researchers, although it is not necessary to add them to the LUA. EH&S must be immediately informed of new laser users as specified in the Laser Safety Manual.

Although it is primarily the responsibility of the escort to provide a safe environment for laboratory visitors, consideration should be given to the following:

• Unless it is absolutely necessary to have the laser energized during the visit, it is recommended that all lasers and laser power supplies be turned off and the activation keys removed during the visit.
• Minors are not allowed in laboratories that contain hazards unless they are registered University of California students or are registered participants in a University-sanctioned project, program, or tour. In all cases, minors must be properly supervised while in laboratories.
• It is recommended that any laser demonstration be conducted so that the laser beam is directed away from any visitor, regardless of the laser eye protection being used.

• Except as required for medical treatment or the instruction of medical staff, every effort should be made to limit the presence of visitors in the laser treatment room.
• Except as required for medical treatment of the eye, appropriate beam management shall be practiced to prevent eye exposure from any medical laser.
• Persons not receiving laser eye treatment who are present in the laser treatment room shall be provided, instructed in the use, and required to use appropriate laser eye protection.

If you need more information, please contact the laser safety officer at (510)643-9243 or lso@berkeley.edu.