Laser Safety

Ensuring the safe use of lasers, laser systems, and non-ionizing radiation sources.

Laser Safety Inspection Form

Please see the below items that will be checked during your laser safety inspection. Reviewing the checklist can help you prepare for your inspection.

Laser Use Authorization (LUA) Form

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2018

New Laser User Onboarding Checklist

2024

Guidance on laser use requirements for all new users of Class 3B and / or Class 4 laser systems.

Eye Exposure to Specular Reflection

July 31, 2015
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety
What happened?

A researcher was diagnosing a power loss from a Spectra Physics 3900 Ti-Sapphire (oscillator) that is pumped by a Spectra Physics Millennia eV DPSS laser. During this procedure, they noticed some leakage in the form of a slight green diffuse light being emitted from the end of the metal tube connecting the DPSS pump laser to the Ti-Sapphire laser. The researcher attempted to re-adjust the beam tube to eliminate the leakage to improve the beam tube alignment. As he touched the beam tube, it became dislodged from its mounting, striking the 532 nm laser beam as it fell, causing...

Laser Eye Exposure from a Specular Reflection

June 17, 2024
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety
What happened?

A researcher walking towards an optical table was exposed to a laser beam that reflected off a hex ball driver tool. Another researcher at a nearby bench was installing an optical component on a breadboard when the hex ball driver he was using inadvertently moved into an active beam path. The hex ball tool had a reflective surface.

Laser Eye Exposure from a 1 Watt Class 4 Laser Beam

January 5, 2022
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety
What happened?

A researcher was exposed to a 1 watt continuous wave beam from a Ti-Sapphire (852 nm) laser while visually inspecting a non-linear crystal on the optical table with a dielectric mirror. The researcher was unaware that the beam was present and it was directed into their right eye. The researcher was not wearing laser eye protection because they thought the laser was off.

Shortly after finishing the visual inspection, the researcher noticed a spot in their field of vision and realized that they had been exposed to the 852 nm laser beam. The researcher was seen at the...

2025 Fall Semester Reminders for Labs

September 10, 2025
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety
The fall semester is under way, and Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) would like to help get you started on the right foot with some key lab safety reminders

Laboratory Safety Manual

The laboratory safety manual provides an overview of lab safety procedures and policies.

Laser Safety Vendor Fair

An all-star showcase of the best in lasers, optics, and safety, brought to you by the Office of Environment, Health & Safety.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Labs

EH&S provides campus researchers with lab coats, safety glasses, and goggles. Please contact the PPE coordinator at ppe@berkeley.edu if you have any questions or comments about personal protective equipment for your lab.

We also distribute N95 masks to employees when campus is impacted by unhealthy air quality due to wildfire smoke (when AQI exceeds 150). View distribution schedule.