Recent and Upcoming Changes in the ANSI Z136 Series of Standards for Safe Use of Lasers Ben Edwards, MS, CLSO, RRPT Duke University Medical Center edwar086@mc.duke.edu NCHPS Fall Meeting- Charlotte, NC November 7, 2008
Overview of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z136 Committee Structure (see z136.org) ANSI Z136 Committees Accredited Standards Committee (ASC): main Z136 committee Administrative Committee (ADCOM): oversight & coordination Standards Sub-Committees (SSC): manage individual standards (10: dot one to dot ten ); 5 year cycle Technical Sub-Committees (TSC): provide expertise as needed in seven technical areas Editorial Working Group (EWG): review standards for consistency, style & terminology
Vertical & Horizontal Standards Longshoring Lockout/Tagout Horizontal or general: apply to any industry, e.g. OSHA machine guarding or lockout/tagout
Z136 Family of Standards Dot One Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers (2007)
Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers Horizontal Standard Designed as a general foundation, to apply to any laser in any setting Just finished review cycle published in 2007 Changes include: Adoption of IEC hazard Classification scheme (i.e. added 1M, 2M, 3R, slight changes in parameters) Added section on refresher laser safety training Relaxed medical surveillance requirement [New easier-to-use format]
Z136.1-2007 Contents 1. General (Scope, Application, Laser Safety Programs) 2. Definitions 3. Hazard Evaluation & Classification 4. Control Measures 5. Education & Training 6. Medical Examinations 7. Non-Beam Hazards 8. Criteria for Exposures of Eye & Skin [MPEs] 9. Measurements 10. Revision of Standards Referred to in this Document
Z136.1-2007 Appendices A. Laser Safety Programs* B. Calculations for Hazard Evaluation & Classification C. Hazard Evaluation & Control Measures D. Guide for Laser Safety Training Programs E. Medical Examinations F. Non-Beam Hazards G. Biological Effects H. Products Classified under Previous Standards * App. A is part of the Standard (i.e. required); remaining appendices are informative (i.e. recommended)
Z136.1: The Future Targeted for Resolution in Next Edition: Revising MPEs & related alpha max values TSC-1 [Bioeffects] assisting with scanning systems Reorganize Non-beam hazards section; add optical fiber & nanoparticle information Discussion ongoing: changing the document to use SI units and refine or standardize the way that equations are formatted Also non-ansi Z535 compliant use of Danger instead of Warning signal words Goal: Final draft for Committee review January 2010
Z136.2 Optical Fiber Communication Systems Harmonizing with the IEC 60825 Part 2 and Part 12 Requesting TSC-1 [Bioeffects] assist with issues related to scanning systems fiber to the home is becoming a safety issue Measurements to characterize hazards associated with fiber systems Not intended to address visual communication systems; 0.6 µm 1 mm Section 7 (Non-Beam Hazards) addresses glass fiber particles but not confined spaces Draft anticipated in mid 2008, new version by 2009(?)
Z136.3 Health Care Facilities HCLS now used in Spas, etc.; plan to change title to drop Facility & review who is exposed 136.3.1 (Veterinary Use) subcommittee completed work & disbanded; recommended terminology change from human to patient Interest in intense light sources, but ADCOM ruled they re not lasers, so no pursuit Plan draft for review in next 6 months
Z136.4 Measurement [Recommended Practice; not a safety standard] First edition published 2005 Harmonizing with IEC Developing leadership succession plan Looming issue: consensus on measurement angle Estimate publication of next revision in three years
Z136.5 Educational Next revision to be published soon Z136.6 Outdoor Expect revision 2010 Z136.7 Protective Equipment [Recommended Practice] Covers testing and labeling of eyewear, barriers, etc. First edition of Standard published in 2008
Three New Vertical Standards 136.8 R&D and Testing: hope to publish in 2010 136.9 Manufacturing: aiming to avoid conflicts with existing manufacturing standards; by 2010 136.10 Entertainment, Displays & Exhibitions: have a general outline; 2010 Goal: Take application-specific information out of Z136.1 and place it into these vertical Standards
New ad hoc committee from ANSI Z136 and IEEE ICES/TC95 to look at interface between these standards, around 1 mm wavelength; to address recent interest in THz frequency applications Technical Subcommittees Other Developments TSC1 (Bioeffects): Updating 1.105 1.5 µm MPE, published recommended limits in Health Physics; ; Also, alpha max: retinal injury threshold depends on retinal irradiance diameter in time-dependent manner TSC4 (Control Measures): reviewing definition of fail safe interlocks, and Z535 sign conventions TSC5 (Non-Beam Hazards): Nano particles, optical fiber fragments, ionizing sources